Philip Henry Gosse published 7 non-fiction books and 9 other books, beginning with The Canadian Naturalist (1840). The best-known is The Ocean (1845).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Philip Henry Gosse
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The Ocean
Philip Henry Gosse's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The Canadian Naturalist (1840)
The History of the Jews (1851)
A Naturalist's Rambles on the Devonshire Coast (1853)
Letters from Alabama (u.s.) Chiefly Relating to Natural History (1855)
Tenby: A Seaside Holiday (1856)
Omphalos (1857)
The Romance of Natural History (1861)
Other books in order
An Introduction to Zoology (1844)
The Ocean (1845)
The Monuments of Ancient Egypt (1847)
Natural History (1848)
A Handbook to the Marine Aquarium (1855)
A Manual of Marine Zoology for the British Isles (1855)
A Memorial of the Last Days on Earth of Emily Gosse (1857)
Evenings at the Microscope: Or, Researches Among the Minuter Organs and Forms of Animal Life (1859)
A Year at the Shore (1870)
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About Philip Henry Gosse
Philip Henry Gosse, known to his friends as Henry, was an English naturalist, populariser of natural science, prolific author, "Father of the Aquarium", scientific illustrator, lecturer, entrepreneur and pioneer in the study of marine biology and ornithology. Gosse created and stocked the world's first public marine aquarium at London Zoo in 1853, and coined the term "aquarium". His 1854 work The Aquarium: An Unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Sea was the catalyst for the aquarium craze in mid-Victorian England. Over thirty years later, Gosse co-authored a three-volume work on Rotifera, considered at the time "the most complete and exhaustive history of the Rotifera in any language", with drawings of "extreme minuteness, accuracy, and beauty".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Philip Henry Gosse FAQ
- How many books has Philip Henry Gosse written?
- Philip Henry Gosse published 7 non-fiction books and 9 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Philip Henry Gosse's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Ocean.
- What is Philip Henry Gosse's last book?
- The Romance of Natural History (1861).
- What is Philip Henry Gosse's most famous book?
- The Ocean (1845) is Philip Henry Gosse's most widely read book.
- Can I read Philip Henry Gosse's books for free?
- Yes. 5 books by Philip Henry Gosse are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Philip Henry Gosse
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.