Samuel Johnson published 3 novels, 7 non-fiction books, 5 poetry collections, 1 play and 4 other books, beginning with A Dictionary of the English Language (1755).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Samuel Johnson
Start here
A Dictionary of the English Language
Samuel Johnson's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Idler (1758)
The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia (1759)
The Plays of William Shakespeare (1765), with William Shakespeare
Non-fiction in order
Life of Mr Richard Savage (1744)
The Rambler (1750)
A Dictionary of the English Language (Apr 1755)
Thoughts on the Late Transactions Respecting Falkland's Islands (1771)
Taxation No Tyranny (1775)
The Letters of Samuel Johnson (1788)
Poetry in order
The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749)
Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1779)
The Works of the English Poets (1779)
The Seasons (1813)
Plays in order
Irene (1749)
Other books in order
London (1738)
The Adventurer (1754)
Prayers and Meditations (1785)
English Dictionary (1830)
Free to read
All free classicsRasselas, Prince of Abyssinia
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes, Volume 02
Preface to Shakespeare
Shorter novels, vol. 3
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes, Volume 04
Dr. Johnson's Works
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes, Volume 03
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes, Volume 08
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes, Volume 05
The Works of Samuel Johnson, in Sixteen Volumes. Volume 04
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Eleven Volumes, Volume 06
Johnson's Lives of the Poets — Volume 1
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 10
About Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson, often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer and polymath who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The work for which he is best known is his 42,733-entry Dictionary of the English Language (1755). For this and other contributions in and to the English language, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography has called him "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Samuel Johnson FAQ
- How many books has Samuel Johnson written?
- Samuel Johnson published 3 novels, 7 non-fiction books, 5 poetry collections, 1 play and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Samuel Johnson's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Dictionary of the English Language.
- What is Samuel Johnson's last book?
- Taxation No Tyranny (1775).
- What is Samuel Johnson's most famous book?
- A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) is Samuel Johnson's most widely read book.
- Can I read Samuel Johnson's books for free?
- Yes. 23 books by Samuel Johnson are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Samuel Johnson
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.