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Portrait of James Boswell

James Boswell books in order

Scottish lawyer, diarist and author

Lived
1740–1795
Country
United Kingdom
Books
6

James Boswell published 6 non-fiction books, beginning with The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with James Boswell

Non-fiction in order

  1. An Account of Corsica (1768)

    282 pages

    Buy

  2. The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1784)

    524 pages

    Buy

  3. The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson (1784)

    414 pages

    Buy

  4. The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791)

    618 pages

    Buy

  5. The Life of Samuel Johnson, Ll.d (1793)

    622 pages

    Buy

  6. Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, Ll. D., 1773 (1961)

    520 pages

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About James Boswell

James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck, was a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, born in Edinburgh. He is best known for his biography of the English writer Samuel Johnson, Life of Samuel Johnson, which is commonly said to be the greatest biography written in the English language. A great mass of Boswell's diaries, letters, and private papers were recovered from the 1920s to the 1950s, and their publication by Yale University significantly elevated his standing among modern scholars.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

James Boswell FAQ

How many books has James Boswell written?
James Boswell published 6 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read James Boswell's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Life of Samuel Johnson.
What is James Boswell's last book?
The Life of Samuel Johnson, Ll.d (1793).
What is James Boswell's most famous book?
The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) is James Boswell's most widely read book.
Can I read James Boswell's books for free?
Yes. 13 books by James Boswell are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.

Authors like James Boswell

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.