James Beattie published 1 non-fiction book, 4 poetry collections and 4 other books, beginning with An Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth, in Opposition to Sophistry and Scepticism (1771). The best-known is The Minstrel (1772).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with James Beattie
Non-fiction in order
Dissertations Moral and Critical (1783)
Poetry in order
The Minstrel (1772)
Essays (1776)
Essays: On Poetry and Music, as They Affect the Mind (1778)
Elements of Moral Science (1792)
Other books in order
An Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth, in Opposition to Sophistry and Scepticism (1771)
Evidences of the Christian Religion (1786)
Scoticisms (1787)
The Theory of Language, 1788 (1968)
Free to read
All free classics
About James Beattie
James Beattie was a Scottish poet, moralist, and philosopher.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
James Beattie FAQ
- How many books has James Beattie written?
- James Beattie published 1 non-fiction book, 4 poetry collections and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read James Beattie's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Minstrel.
- What is James Beattie's last book?
- Dissertations Moral and Critical (1783).
- What is James Beattie's most famous book?
- The Minstrel (1772) is James Beattie's most widely read book.
- Can I read James Beattie's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by James Beattie are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like James Beattie
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.