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series Reading Order

American Century Books in Order

7 Books
1995 – 2008 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the American Century Series

Because the American Century series follows the generations of the Stuart family in chronological order, the best way to read these books is in order of their publication. Starting at the dawn of the 20th century, each novel covers a successive decade or major historical era, ending in the late 1960s.

The Two Titles: American Odyssey vs. American Century

If you are looking for these books in libraries or secondhand bookstores, you might run into some confusion. Gilbert Morris originally published the first six books between 1994 and 1998 under the series name American Odyssey, with titles inspired by Ecclesiastes (such as A Time to Be Born). In 2005, the publisher Revell reissued the books under the series name American Century, assigning new, more modern titles to all six original novels. In 2008, a seventh and final book, Dawn of a New Day, was added to complete the series. Both versions share the exact same text, so you only need to read one version of each installment.

American Century Books in Chronological and Publication Order

Here is the complete chronological sequence of the Stuart family saga, listing both their republished (American Century) and original (American Odyssey) titles:

  1. Book 1: A Bright Tomorrow (Original Title: A Time to Be Born) – Set at the dawn of the 20th century, covering the Spanish-American War and the turn-of-the-century Arkansas Hills. (Originally published in 1994/1995)
  2. Book 2: Hope Takes Flight (Original Title: A Time to Die) – Follows the family into the skies and trenches of World War I. (Originally published in 1995)
  3. Book 3: One Shining Moment (Original Title: A Time to Laugh) – Explores the glamour of 1920s Hollywood and the Roaring Twenties. (Originally published in 1995)
  4. Book 4: A Season of Dreams (Original Title: A Time to Weep) – Focuses on the Stuart family's struggles through the Great Depression of the 1930s. (Originally published in 1996)
  5. Book 5: Winds of Change (Original Title: A Time for War) – Follows the family during the battlefield and home-front struggles of World War II in the 1940s. (Originally published in 1997)
  6. Book 6: Pages of Promise (Original Title: A Time to Build) – Captures the post-war recovery, family adjustments, and early Civil Rights era of the 1950s. (Originally published in 1998)
  7. Book 7: Dawn of a New Day – The series finale, following the family through the cultural shifts, the Vietnam War, and the counterculture of the 1960s. (Published in 2008)

Connections and Spin-Offs

While Gilbert Morris is highly famous for his 40-volume House of Winslow series, there is no narrative crossover or spin-off connection between the two sagas. The Stuart family's journey in the American Century series stands completely on its own as a self-contained story of historical Christian fiction.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the American Century series?

You should start with the first book, A Bright Tomorrow (originally published as A Time to Be Born), to follow the Stuart family from the beginning of their journey.

QWhat is the difference between American Odyssey and American Century?

They are the exact same series. The books were originally published in the 1990s as the American Odyssey series. In 2005, they were republished with brand-new titles under the American Century name.

QIs there a seventh book in the original American Odyssey series?

No. The seventh book, Dawn of a New Day, was published in 2008 as a new addition specifically for the rebranded American Century series to conclude the saga in the 1960s.

QDo I need to read the House of Winslow series before American Century?

No. Although both are written by Gilbert Morris and share historical themes, they follow completely different families and do not cross over.

QWhat time period does the American Century series cover?

The series covers the entire span of the 20th century, beginning in the late 1890s and ending in the late 1960s.

QWho wrote the American Century series?

The series was written by the prolific Christian historical fiction author, pastor, and English professor Gilbert Morris.