William Cobbett published 20 non-fiction books and 15 other books, beginning with Observations on the Emigration of Dr. Joseph Priestley, and on the Several Addresses Delivered to Him, on His Arrival at New-York (1794). The best-known is The Woodlands (1825).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with William Cobbett
Start here
The Woodlands
William Cobbett's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Observations on the Emigration of Dr. Joseph Priestley, and on the Several Addresses Delivered to Him, on His Arrival at New-York (1794)
A Bone to Gnaw for the Democrats (1795)
A Little Plain English (1795)
Observations on the Emigration of Dr. Joseph Priestley (1795)
A New-Year's Gift to the Democrats (1796)
A Prospect from the Congress-gallery, During the Session Begun December 7, 1795 (1796)
Porcupine's Works (1796)
The Bloody Buoy (1796)
The Bloody Buoy, Thrown Out as a Warning to the Political Pilots of America (1796)
The Life and Adventures of Peter Porcupine (1796)
The Political Censor (1796)
The American Rush-light (1800)
Letters on the Late War Between the United States and Great Britain (1815)
A Year's Residence in the United States of America (1818)
Cottage Economy (1822)
A History of the Protestant Reformation in England and Ireland (1824)
A History of the Protestant Reformation (1827)
The Emigrant's Guide (1829)
Tour in Scotland (1833)
Rural Rides (1885)
Other books in order
The Democratic Judge (1798)
Parliamentary History of England (1806)
Paper Against Gold (1810)
A Grammar of the English Language (1818)
The American Gardener (1819)
The Woodlands (1825)
A Treatise on Cobbett's Corn (1828)
Advice to Young Men (1829)
Advice to Young Men, and (incidentally) to Young Women, in the Middle and Higher Ranks of Life (1829)
The English Gardener (1829)
Life of Andrew Jackson, President of the United States of America (1834)
Legacy to Parsons (1835)
A Grammar of the English Language, in a Series of Letters (1836)
A French Grammar (1840)
The English Grammar of William Cobbett (1884)
Free to read
All free classics
About William Cobbett
William Cobbett was an English pamphleteer, journalist, politician, and farmer born in Farnham, Surrey. He was one of an agrarian faction seeking to reform Parliament, abolish "rotten boroughs", restrain foreign activity, and raise wages, with the goal of easing poverty among farm labourers and small land holders. Cobbett backed lower taxes, saving, reversing commons enclosures and returning to the gold standard. He opposed borough-mongers, sinecurists, bureaucratic "tax-eaters" and stockbrokers. His radicalism furthered the Reform Act 1832 and gained him one of two newly created seats in Parliament for the borough of Oldham. His polemics range from political reform to religion, including Catholic emancipation. His best known book is Rural Rides. He argued against Malthusianism, saying economic betterment could support global population growth.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
William Cobbett FAQ
- How many books has William Cobbett written?
- William Cobbett published 20 non-fiction books and 15 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read William Cobbett's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Woodlands.
- What is William Cobbett's last book?
- Tour in Scotland (1833).
- What is William Cobbett's most famous book?
- The Woodlands (1825) is William Cobbett's most widely read book.
- Does William Cobbett write under a pen name?
- Yes: William Cobbett has also published as Dick Retort and Peter Porcupine.
- Can I read William Cobbett's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by William Cobbett are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like William Cobbett
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.