John Smith published 5 non-fiction books, beginning with A Description of New England (1617). The best-known is The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America from Anno Domini 1593 to 1629 (1630).
Updated September 2026
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The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America from Anno Domini 1593 to 1629
John Smith's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
A Description of New England (1617)
New England's Trials (1620)
The General Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles (1624)
An Accidence, Or, the Path-way to Experience (1626)
The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America from Anno Domini 1593 to 1629 (1630)
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About John Smith
John Smith was an English soldier, explorer, admiral of New England, and author. He was knighted for his services to Sigismund Báthory, Prince of Transylvania, and his friend Mózes Székely. Following his return to England from a life as a soldier of fortune and as a slave, he played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America, in the early 17th century. He was a leader of the Virginia Colony between September 1608 and August 1609, and he led an exploration along the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay, during which he became the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. Later, he explored and mapped the coast of New England.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Smith FAQ
- How many books has John Smith written?
- John Smith published 5 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Smith's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America from Anno Domini 1593 to 1629.
- What is John Smith's last book?
- The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America from Anno Domini 1593 to 1629 (1630).
- What is John Smith's most famous book?
- The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America from Anno Domini 1593 to 1629 (1630) is John Smith's most widely read book.
- Can I read John Smith's books for free?
- Yes. 2 books by John Smith are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Smith
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.