Matthew Arnold books in order
British poet and cultural critic
- Lived
- 1822–1888
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 38
Matthew Arnold published 1 novel, 19 non-fiction books, 8 poetry collections, 1 play and 9 other books, beginning with Poems (1853). The best-known is Culture and Anarchy (1882).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Matthew Arnold
Standalone novels in order
Culture and Anarchy (1882)
Non-fiction in order
On Translating Homer (1861)
The Popular Education of France (1861)
A French Eton (1864)
On the Study of Celtic Literature (1867)
Schools and Universities on the Continent (1868)
Friendship's Garland (1871)
Literature & Dogma (1873)
Higher Schools & Universities in Germany (1874)
Mixed Essays (1879)
Irish Essays (1882)
Discourses in America (1885)
General Grant (1887)
St. Paul and Protestantism (1887)
Civilization in the United States (1888)
Reports on Elementary Schools 1852-1882 (1889)
The Function Of Criticism At The Present Time (1895)
Selections from the Prose Writings of Matthew Arnold (1897)
Essays, English and American (1910)
Thoughts on Education Chosen from the Writings of Matthew Arnold (1912)
Poetry in order
Cromwell (1843)
Empedocles on Etna (1852)
Poems (1853)
Essays in Criticism (1865)
Sohrab and Rustum (1893)
Alaric at Rome, and Other Poems (1898)
The Works of Matthew Arnold (1903)
The Poems of Matthew Arnold (1926)
Plays in order
Merope (1858)
Other books in order
The Strayed Reveller (1849)
Isaiah Xl-lxvi: With the Shorter Prophecies Allied to It (1875)
Last Essays on Church and Religion (1877)
Mixed Essays, Irish Essays, and Others (1883)
Essays in Criticism: Second Series (1895)
Letters of Matthew Arnold, 1848-1888 (1895)
Sweetness and Light (1896)
Note-books (1902)
Essays by Matthew Arnold (1914)
Free to read
All free classics
About Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was an English poet and cultural critic. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School, and brother of both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator. He has been characterised as a sage writer, a type of writer who chastises and instructs the reader on contemporary social issues. He was also an inspector of schools for thirty-five years, and supported the concept of state-regulated secondary education.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Matthew Arnold FAQ
- How many books has Matthew Arnold written?
- Matthew Arnold published 1 novel, 19 non-fiction books, 8 poetry collections, 1 play and 9 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Matthew Arnold's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Culture and Anarchy.
- What is Matthew Arnold's last book?
- Reports on Elementary Schools 1852-1882 (1889).
- What is Matthew Arnold's most famous book?
- Culture and Anarchy (1882) is Matthew Arnold's most widely read book.
- Can I read Matthew Arnold's books for free?
- Yes. 10 books by Matthew Arnold are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Matthew Arnold
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.