W. S. Gilbert published 1 novel, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book, 2 poetry collections, 1 play and 10 other books, beginning with The "Bab" Ballads, Much Sound and Little Sense (1868). The best-known is The Bab Ballads (1869).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with W. S. Gilbert
Standalone novels in order
Fifty "Bab" Ballads (1878)
Novellas in order
The Mikado (1885)
Short story collections in order
Romance (1920)
Non-fiction in order
Patience (1881)
Children's books in order
H.M.S. Pinafore (1914)
Poetry in order
The "Bab" Ballads, Much Sound and Little Sense (1868)
The Bab Ballads (1869)
Plays in order
Creatures of Impulse (1870)
Other books in order
Pygmalion and Galatea (1870)
"Ye Pyrates of Penzance" (1879)
Iolanthe, Or, the Prince and the Peri (1882)
Gondoliers (1889)
Foggerty's Fairy (1890)
Songs of a Savoyard (1890)
Bab Ballads and Savoy Songs (1894)
Original Plays (1894)
Trial by Jury (1900)
The Sorcerer (1911)
Free to read
All free classics
About W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with the composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado. The popularity of these works was supported for over a century by year-round performances of them, in Britain and abroad, by the repertory company that Gilbert, Sullivan and their producer Richard D'Oyly Carte founded, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. These Savoy operas are still frequently performed in the English-speaking world and beyond.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
W. S. Gilbert FAQ
- How many books has W. S. Gilbert written?
- W. S. Gilbert published 1 novel, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book, 2 poetry collections, 1 play and 10 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read W. S. Gilbert's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Bab Ballads.
- What is W. S. Gilbert's last book?
- The Mikado (1885).
- What is W. S. Gilbert's most famous book?
- The Bab Ballads (1869) is W. S. Gilbert's most widely read book.
- Can I read W. S. Gilbert's books for free?
- Yes. 10 books by W. S. Gilbert are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like W. S. Gilbert
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.