Portrait of John Skelton

John Skelton books in order

English poet and tutor

Lived
1460–1529
Country
England
Books
1

John Skelton published 1 non-fiction book, beginning with Magnyfycence (1530).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with John Skelton

Non-fiction in order

  1. Magnyfycence (1530)

    100 pages

Free to read

All free classics

About John Skelton

John Skelton, also known as John Shelton was an English poet, playwright, priest, and tutor to King Henry VIII. Writing in a period of linguistic transition between Middle English and Early Modern English, Skelton is one of the most important poets of the early Tudor period. As a poet, Skelton is mostly remembered for his invectives and satires, often written in a highly irregular metre now called Skeltonics. However, Skelton's poetic oeuvre encompasses a wide range of genres, including dream vision, parody, ballad, panegyric, and Latin elegiac. He also wrote the first secular morality play in English, Magnyfycence, an important landmark in the development of English Renaissance theatre.

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

John Skelton FAQ

How many books has John Skelton written?
John Skelton published 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read John Skelton's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Magnyfycence.
What is John Skelton's last book?
Magnyfycence (1530).
What is John Skelton's most famous book?
Magnyfycence (1530) is John Skelton's most widely read book.
Can I read John Skelton's books for free?
Yes. 2 books by John Skelton are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.

Authors like John Skelton

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