John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton books in order
British politician and historian
- Lived
- 1834–1902
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 4
- Also writes as
- Lord Acton
John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton published 3 non-fiction books and 1 other book, beginning with A Lecture on the Study of History (1895). The best-known is Letters of Lord Acton to Mary Gladstone (1904).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton
Start here
Letters of Lord Acton to Mary Gladstone
John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Essays on Freedom and Power (1948)
Other books in order
Letters of Lord Acton to Mary Gladstone (1904)
Free to read
All free classics
About John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton
John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli,, better known as Lord Acton, was an English Catholic historian, Liberal politician, and writer. A strong advocate for individual liberty, Acton is best known for his observation on the dangers of concentrated authority. In an 1887 letter to an Anglican bishop, he famously wrote, 'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely', underscoring his belief that unchecked power poses the greatest threat to human freedom. His works consistently emphasised the importance of limiting governmental and institutional power in favour of individual rights and personal liberty.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton FAQ
- How many books has John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton written?
- John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton published 3 non-fiction books and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Letters of Lord Acton to Mary Gladstone.
- What is John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton's last book?
- A Lecture on the Study of History (1895).
- What is John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton's most famous book?
- Letters of Lord Acton to Mary Gladstone (1904) is John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton's most widely read book.
- Does John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton write under a pen name?
- Yes: John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton has also published as Lord Acton.
- Can I read John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton's books for free?
- Yes. 5 books by John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.