- There is no single “correct” order for Shakespeare’s books because they are plays and poems, not a novel series. Their exact writing dates are debated by scholars.
- The most common way to order Shakespeare’s works is chronologically within their three main genres: Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies.
- His earliest works are believed to be history plays like Henry VI and comedies like The Two Gentlemen of Verona (around 1589-1592).
- His latest works include tragicomedies or “romances” like The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest (around 1610-1612).
Trying to figure out how to read William Shakespeare's books in order can feel like a puzzle. You're ready to explore the works of the Bard of Avon, but you quickly discover there's no simple "Book 1, Book 2" list. The truth is, there isn't one definitive chronological order.
That's because Shakespeare wrote plays for performance, not novels for a bookshelf. Many were published years after they first appeared on stage, making exact dates a scholarly debate. But don't worry. The best way to approach the complete works of Shakespeare is to group them by genre and then look at their approximate writing order. This guide provides a clear reading timeline, breaking down all his plays and poems so you can start your journey with confidence.
Why Finding a "Chronological Order" for Shakespeare is Tricky
Before we list the plays, it's important to understand why this isn't as simple as ordering a modern book series. Shakespeare's creative period spanned from roughly 1589 to 1613, but records from that time are sparse.
Scholars use a few clues to estimate the timeline:
- Performance Records: Mentions of a play being performed, like in a diary.
- Publication Dates: When a play first appeared in a small, cheap version called a "quarto."
- Stylistic Analysis: Experts analyze the language, verse, and themes to see how his style evolved over time. An author's journey often reflects in their work, not unlike how to write a book like Stephen King with his own distinct phases.
The most important publication in Shakespeare's legacy is the First Folio. Published in 1623, seven years after his death, this collection was compiled by his friends and fellow actors. It contained 36 plays, 18 of which had never been printed before. This single volume is the reason we have masterpieces like Macbeth and The Tempest today. According to detailed analyses of his known works, Shakespeare's vocabulary was immense, containing 28,829 unique word forms across all his plays and poems.
The Complete List of Shakespeare's Plays in Order
Here is a generally accepted chronological list of Shakespeare's plays, broken down by the genres used in the First Folio: Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies.
Shakespeare's Comedies in Order
Shakespearean comedies are not just about laughs. They typically involve mistaken identities, clever wordplay, and complex romantic plots that end in marriage and celebration. They often explore themes of love, loss, and social order.
1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona (c. 1587–1591)
One of his earliest plays, it follows two friends, Valentine and Proteus, whose bond is tested when they both fall for the same woman, Silvia. It features classic Shakespearean elements like a girl disguised as a boy and a comical servant, setting the stage for his later, more polished comedies.
2. The Taming of the Shrew (c. 1591–1594)
This is one of Shakespeare's most famous and controversial comedies. The main plot revolves around the clever Petruchio's "taming" of the headstrong and sharp-tongued Katherina so her younger, milder sister Bianca can be married. It's a battle of wits filled with slapstick and fiery dialogue.
3. The Comedy of Errors (c. 1589–1594)
The shortest of his plays, this is a fast-paced farce of mistaken identity. It involves two sets of identical twins separated at birth, who unknowingly end up in the same city. The resulting confusion leads to wrongful accusations, seductions, and hilarious chaos before a joyful family reunion.
4. Love's Labour's Lost (c. 1594–1597)
The King of Navarre and his three companions swear an oath to avoid women for three years to focus on their studies. Their resolve is immediately tested when the Princess of France and her ladies-in-waiting arrive. The play is known for its sophisticated wordplay and an unusually somber ending for a comedy.
5. A Midsummer Night's Dream (c. 1595–1596)
A magical and beloved comedy where four young Athenian lovers find their romantic lives tangled up by mischievous fairies in an enchanted forest. Featuring the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, and the impish Puck, it's a wonderfully whimsical story about the unpredictable nature of love.
6. The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596–1597)
Often called a "problem play" for its complex themes, this story centers on the merchant Antonio, who defaults on a large loan from the Jewish moneylender Shylock. The price is a "pound of flesh." The play features the brilliant heroine Portia, who disguises herself as a male lawyer to save Antonio in a dramatic courtroom scene.
7. The Merry Wives of Windsor (c. 1597–1601)
This play features the return of the popular character Sir John Falstaff from the Henry IV plays. The broke and buffoonish knight tries to woo two wealthy married women to get his hands on their husbands' money. The clever wives see through his scheme and subject him to a series of humiliating pranks.
8. Much Ado About Nothing (c. 1598–1599)
A masterful comedy that blends hilarious banter with serious drama. It follows two love stories: the young and naive Claudio and Hero, whose wedding is ruined by a villain's lie, and the sharp-witted Beatrice and Benedick, who are tricked into admitting their love for each other. Its influence is still seen today, with the 2023 film Anyone But You becoming the most financially successful Shakespeare adaptation ever made.
9. As You Like It (c. 1598–1600)
When Rosalind is banished from court, she flees to the Forest of Arden, disguising herself as a young man named Ganymede. There, she encounters a colorful cast of characters, including her love interest Orlando. It's a charming play that contains the famous speech, "All the world's a stage."
10. Twelfth Night (c. 1599–1601)
After a shipwreck, Viola washes ashore in Illyria and disguises herself as a man, Cesario, to work for Duke Orsino. This creates a tangled love triangle where Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario (Viola). It’s a beautifully written play about love, grief, and identity.
11. All's Well That Ends Well (c. 1601–1605)
Another "problem play," this one follows Helena, a physician's daughter, who is in love with the arrogant nobleman Bertram. After she cures the King of France, he grants her Bertram's hand in marriage, but Bertram flees, setting impossible conditions for their union which Helena cleverly fulfills.
12. Measure for Measure (c. 1604–1605)
This dark comedy explores morality, justice, and hypocrisy. The Duke of Vienna pretends to leave the city, putting the strict and puritanical Angelo in charge. Angelo sentences a young man, Claudio, to death for fornication, then offers to spare him if his sister Isabella, a novice nun, will sleep with him.
13. Pericles, Prince of Tyre (c. 1608–1609)
Marking a shift to his late "romance" plays, Pericles is an epic adventure story. The hero, Pericles, flees a tyrannical king and endures shipwrecks, pirates, and the loss of his family over many years before a miraculous reunion.
14. Cymbeline (c. 1609–1610)
This play blends elements of comedy, tragedy, and romance. Imogen, the daughter of King Cymbeline, marries the commoner Posthumus in secret. He is banished and makes a foolish bet on her chastity, leading to a complex plot involving poison, mistaken identity, and a Roman invasion.
15. The Winter's Tale (c. 1610–1611)
A play famously split in two. The first half is a dark tragedy where King Leontes of Sicilia is consumed by a baseless jealousy, leading to the death of his wife and the abandonment of his baby daughter. The second half, set 16 years later, is a lighthearted pastoral comedy that ends with forgiveness and a magical statue coming to life.
16. The Tempest (c. 1611–1612)
Believed to be the last play Shakespeare wrote alone, The Tempest is a story of magic, betrayal, and reconciliation. Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan and a powerful sorcerer, is stranded on an island with his daughter Miranda. He conjures a storm to shipwreck his usurping brother and the King of Naples on his shores to exact his revenge.
17. The Two Noble Kinsmen (c. 1612–1613)
A collaboration with John Fletcher, this play is based on Chaucer's The Knight's Tale. Two cousins and best friends, Palamon and Arcite, are captured in battle and imprisoned. From their cell window, they both see and fall in love with Princess Emilia, turning from dear friends into bitter rivals.
Shakespeare's Histories in Order
The history plays are dramatic retellings of English history, focusing on the lives of kings and the struggles for power. While based on real figures, Shakespeare took creative liberties for dramatic effect. He often wrote them in connected series, or "tetralogies."
1. Henry VI, Part 1 (c. 1589–1592)
This play covers the early reign of King Henry VI, focusing on the loss of English territories in France during the Hundred Years' War. It introduces key figures like the brave Lord Talbot and the formidable French warrior Joan of Arc.
2. Henry VI, Part 2 (c. 1590–1592)
Here, the conflict shifts from France to England. The play details the growing political instability and courtly infighting that will erupt into the Wars of the Roses. It features the downfall of the noble Duke of Gloucester and the rise of the ambitious Richard, Duke of York.
3. Henry VI, Part 3 (c. 1590–1593)
The Wars of the Roses are in full swing in this action-packed play. The weak King Henry is deposed, restored, and ultimately murdered as the houses of Lancaster and York clash violently for the crown. It also showcases the chilling development of Richard, the future King Richard III.
4. Richard III (c. 1592–1593)
The story of one of Shakespeare's most iconic villains. The brilliant but deformed and ruthless Richard, Duke of Gloucester, charms, manipulates, and murders his way to the throne. His tyrannical reign is short-lived, ending at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
5. King John (c. 1596)
A standalone history play about the troubled reign of King John of England. He struggles with a weak claim to the throne, conflict with France, and a major dispute with the Catholic Church, all while facing rebellion from his own nobles.
6. Richard II (c. 1595–1596)
This play begins Shakespeare's second, more mature tetralogy. It tells the story of the vain and ineffective King Richard II, whose poor decisions and lavish spending lead his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, to usurp the throne and become King Henry IV. The play is written entirely in verse.
7. Henry IV, Part 1 (c. 1596–1597)
King Henry IV's reign is plagued by guilt over how he took the throne and rebellion from the same nobles who helped him. The play contrasts the serious political world with the rowdy tavern life of Henry's son, Prince Hal, and his charismatic, drunken companion, Sir John Falstaff.
8. Henry IV, Part 2 (c. 1597–1598)
This play continues the story, showing the aging and weary King Henry still dealing with rebellion. Prince Hal begins to distance himself from his tavern friends, preparing for the responsibilities of kingship that he knows will soon be his.
9. Henry V (c. 1598–1599)
Now King Henry V, the former wild prince has become a heroic and inspiring leader. He leads his outnumbered English army into France, culminating in the legendary victory at the Battle of Agincourt. The play contains some of Shakespeare's most famous speeches.
10. Henry VIII (c. 1612–1613)
A late play, likely co-written with John Fletcher, that focuses on the major events of King Henry VIII's reign. It depicts his break from his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, his marriage to Anne Boleyn, and the birth of their daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth I.
Shakespeare's Tragedies in Order
The tragedies are arguably Shakespeare's most powerful works. They feature a noble protagonist with a fatal flaw (hamartia) who experiences a dramatic downfall, often leading to their death and widespread suffering. They explore the deepest aspects of human nature, such as ambition, jealousy, revenge, and madness. Distinguishing between these and other types of fiction, like what is contemporary fiction, helps highlight the timeless structure of his tragic plots.
1. Titus Andronicus (c. 1591–1592)
Shakespeare's first and most brutally violent tragedy. The Roman general Titus Andronicus becomes entangled in a horrifying cycle of revenge with Tamora, Queen of the Goths. The play is filled with shocking acts and is not for the faint of heart.
2. Romeo and Juliet (c. 1594–1595)
The world's most famous love story is also a profound tragedy. The young children of two warring families, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, fall deeply in love but are doomed by the hatred surrounding them. Their story of passion and fate ends in heartbreaking death.
3. Julius Caesar (c. 1599–1600)
A political thriller set in ancient Rome. Fearing that Julius Caesar's ambition will lead him to become a dictator, a group of senators led by the noble Brutus conspire to assassinate him. The act plunges Rome into a bloody civil war.
4. Hamlet (c. 1599–1601)
Often considered the greatest play ever written in English, Hamlet tells the story of the Prince of Denmark. After his father's ghost reveals he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius (who has now married Hamlet's mother), Hamlet feigns madness to plot his revenge. It's a deep exploration of grief, madness, and moral uncertainty.
5. Othello (c. 1604–1605)
A powerful tragedy of jealousy and deceit. Othello, a respected Moorish general, is tricked by his treacherous ensign, Iago, into believing his beautiful and faithful wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful. Iago's masterful manipulation drives Othello into a murderous rage.
6. King Lear (c. 1605–1606)
An aging king decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on how much they profess to love him. He foolishly banishes his one truly devoted daughter and gives his power to the two who are treacherous. This leads to his descent into madness and the destruction of his family and kingdom.
7. Macbeth (c. 1605–1606)
A dark and thrilling tale of ambition and guilt. After three witches prophesy that he will be king, the Scottish general Macbeth, spurred on by his wife, murders King Duncan to seize the throne. He is then haunted by paranoia and commits more and more violent acts to secure his power.
8. Antony and Cleopatra (c. 1606–1607)
This tragedy follows the famous love affair between the Roman general Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Antony's obsession with Cleopatra leads him to neglect his duties to Rome, sparking a war that will lead to their mutual downfall.
9. Coriolanus (c. 1607–1608)
A tragedy about the great Roman warrior Caius Martius Coriolanus. He is a brilliant general but is full of contempt for the common people. His arrogance leads to his banishment from Rome, and in his anger, he joins forces with his former enemies to attack his own city.
10. Timon of Athens (c. 1607–1608)
A wealthy and generous Athenian, Timon, gives away his fortune to his flattering friends. When he runs out of money and asks for help, they all abandon him. This betrayal transforms him into a bitter misanthrope who retreats to a cave to rage against mankind.
11. Troilus and Cressida (c. 1601–1602)
Set during the Trojan War, this is another of Shakespeare's "problem plays," as it defies easy categorization. It follows the love story of the Trojan prince Troilus and Cressida, set against a backdrop of disillusioned and petty heroes like Achilles and Hector. It's a cynical and darkly comic take on love and war.
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Shakespeare's Poems and Sonnets in Order
Beyond the stage, Shakespeare was also a gifted poet. His non-dramatic works are essential for understanding his complete literary genius.
| Work Title | Year Published | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Venus and Adonis | 1593 | Narrative Poem |
| The Rape of Lucrece | 1594 | Narrative Poem |
| The Phoenix and the Turtle | 1601 | Allegorical Poem |
| The Sonnets | 1609 | Sonnet Sequence |
| A Lover's Complaint | 1609 | Narrative Poem |
- Venus and Adonis (1593): His first published work, this long narrative poem tells the mythological story of the goddess Venus's unrequited love for the handsome young mortal Adonis.
- The Rape of Lucrece (1594): A darker and more serious narrative poem based on a Roman legend. It details the tragic story of the virtuous noblewoman Lucrece after she is assaulted by the king's son.
- The Sonnets (1609): A collection of 154 poems that explore themes of love, beauty, time, and mortality. They are addressed to a "Fair Youth" and a "Dark Lady," and their autobiographical nature has been debated for centuries.
- A Lover's Complaint (1609): Published with the sonnets, this poem features a young woman lamenting her betrayal by a seductive lover.
- The Phoenix and the Turtle (1601): A short, abstract allegorical poem about the death of love and truth, represented by two mythical birds.
A Suggested Reading Order for Beginners
Jumping into the complete Bard of Avon bibliography can be intimidating. Here is a suggested reading timeline to ease you in.
- Start with a famous comedy: A Midsummer Night's Dream. Its magical plot and clear character motivations make it one of his most accessible and enjoyable plays.
- Move to a famous tragedy: Romeo and Juliet. You likely know the story, which makes following the language easier. It showcases his poetic power in a gripping narrative.
- Try a major history: Richard III or Henry V. Richard III gives you one of literature's greatest villains, while Henry V offers heroic speeches and epic battles.
- Read a masterpiece: Hamlet or Macbeth. By now, you'll be more comfortable with the language. Macbeth is shorter and more action-packed, while Hamlet is a deeper psychological study.
- Explore a "problem play" or romance: The Merchant of Venice or The Tempest. These later works show Shakespeare bending genres and exploring more complex moral questions.
As you read, remember that how to improve your writing skills vocabulary is less about memorizing every "thee" and "thou" and more about absorbing the rhythm and flow of the language. Don't be afraid to use a modern translation or an annotated version side-by-side.
The process of bringing a work from idea to reader has changed dramatically since Shakespeare's time, as a look at the complete self-publishing timeline from idea to launch can attest, but the core of powerful storytelling remains the same.
The Self-Publishing Launch Checklist (2026)
A week-by-week spreadsheet that walks you through every step of launching your book. Available as an Excel file and Google Sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many plays did Shakespeare write?
Shakespeare wrote approximately 39 plays that we know of today, including several that are believed to be collaborations. This includes his comedies, histories, tragedies, and the later "romances" or tragicomedies. His complete works also include 154 sonnets and several long poems.
What was Shakespeare's first play?
There is no definitive record of Shakespeare's first play, but scholars generally believe it was one of the Henry VI parts, Titus Andronicus, or The Two Gentlemen of Verona. These are all dated to the period between 1589 and 1592.
What was Shakespeare's last play?
The Tempest (c. 1611) is widely considered to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote by himself. He collaborated with John Fletcher on a few other plays after this, such as Henry VIII and The Two Noble Kinsmen (c. 1613).
What is the difference between a Shakespearean comedy and tragedy?
The simplest difference is the ending. A comedy ends with a marriage (or multiple marriages) and a restoration of social order. A tragedy ends with the death of the protagonist and often many other characters. Comedies focus on themes of love and social confusion, while tragedies explore fatal flaws, fate, and human suffering.
Is there one book that has all of Shakespeare's works?
Yes, you can buy "The Complete Works of Shakespeare" in a single volume. These collections, sometimes called anthologies or folios, gather all of his plays, sonnets, and poems into one book. The Riverside Shakespeare and The Norton Shakespeare are two of the most respected editions.
Where is the best place to start reading Shakespeare?
A great starting point is one of his most famous and accessible plays. Romeo and Juliet is an excellent choice because the story is well-known. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a fun, magical comedy, and Macbeth is a short, thrilling tragedy that moves very quickly.