John Hay published 1 novel, 5 non-fiction books, 2 poetry collections and 7 other books, beginning with Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle, and Little Breeches (1871). The best-known is William McKinley (1902).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Hay
Start here
William McKinley
John Hay's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Bread-winners (1883)
Non-fiction in order
Castilian Days (1882)
The Republican Party (1904)
Addresses of John Hay (1906)
Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary (1908)
Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and Letters of John Hay (1939)
Poetry in order
Poems (1894)
Other books in order
Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle, and Little Breeches (1871)
Speech of John Hay at the Unveiling of the Bust of Sir Walter Scott in Westminster Abbey, May 21, 1897 (1897)
In Praise of Omar (1898)
Speech of the Honorable John Hay, Secretary of State (1901)
William McKinley (1902)
A Poet in Exile (1910)
Abraham Lincoln (1939)
Free to read
All free classics
About John Hay
John Milton Hay was an American statesman and official whose career in government stretched over almost half a century. Beginning as a private secretary for Abraham Lincoln, he became a diplomat. He served as United States Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Hay was also a biographer of Lincoln, and wrote poetry and other literature throughout his life.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Hay FAQ
- How many books has John Hay written?
- John Hay published 1 novel, 5 non-fiction books, 2 poetry collections and 7 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Hay's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with William McKinley.
- What is John Hay's last book?
- Addresses of John Hay (1906).
- What is John Hay's most famous book?
- William McKinley (1902) is John Hay's most widely read book.
- Can I read John Hay's books for free?
- Yes. 6 books by John Hay are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Hay
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.