John Gay books in order
English poet and playwright
- Lived
- 1685–1732
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 8
John Gay published 1 novel, 1 poetry collection, 2 plays and 4 other books, beginning with Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus (1714). The best-known is Fables (1727).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Gay
Start here
Fables
John Gay's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus (1714), with Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope
Poetry in order
Poems on Several Occasions (1731)
Plays in order
Achilles (1733)
The Beggar's Opera (1800)
Other books in order
The Shepherd's Week (1714)
Three Hours After Marriage (1717)
Fables (1727)
Polly (1729)
Free to read
All free classics
About John Gay
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peachum, became household names.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Gay FAQ
- How many books has John Gay written?
- John Gay published 1 novel, 1 poetry collection, 2 plays and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Gay's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Fables.
- What is John Gay's last book?
- Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus (1714).
- What is John Gay's most famous book?
- Fables (1727) is John Gay's most widely read book.
- Can I read John Gay's books for free?
- Yes. 4 books by John Gay are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Gay
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.