Jefferson Davis published 3 non-fiction books, beginning with Speeches of the Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi (1859). The best-known is The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Jefferson Davis
Start here
The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government
Jefferson Davis's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881)
A Short History of the Confederate States of America (1890)
Free to read
All free classics
About Jefferson Davis
Jefferson F. Davis was the only president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865, leading the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Before the war, he was a member of the Democratic Party who represented Mississippi in the House of Representatives from 1845 to 1846 and in the United States Senate from 1857 to 1861. From 1853 to 1857, he served as the 23rd United States secretary of war during the administration of President Franklin Pierce.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Jefferson Davis FAQ
- How many books has Jefferson Davis written?
- Jefferson Davis published 3 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Jefferson Davis's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government.
- What is Jefferson Davis's last book?
- A Short History of the Confederate States of America (1890).
- What is Jefferson Davis's most famous book?
- The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881) is Jefferson Davis's most widely read book.
- Can I read Jefferson Davis's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by Jefferson Davis are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Jefferson Davis
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.