Daisy Goodwin Books in Order

How to Start Reading Daisy Goodwin

For readers stepping into Daisy Goodwin's worlds of high society, royal courts, and intense romantic drama, there are two ideal starting points depending on your preferred flavor of historical fiction.

If you love Gilded Age drama, complex marriages, and stories of American wealth colliding with British aristocracy, start with her debut novel, The American Heiress (published in the UK as My Last Duchess). It establishes her signature style: meticulous historical detail, sharp wit, and a deep look at the constraints placed on women of the era.

If you prefer royal history, start with her bestselling novel Victoria, which she wrote alongside creating and writing the hit ITV/PBS television series. This novel offers a highly personal, diary-inspired look at the early life and reign of Queen Victoria, making it a perfect companion for fans of historical biography and prestige drama.

The Standalone Historical Novels and Companion Novellas

While Goodwin is famous for her television writing, her primary literary footprint consists of rich, standalone historical novels focusing on iconic women. However, some of these books feature companion materials and distinct regional titles that readers should keep in mind.

My Last Duchess / The American Heiress (2010)

This debut novel follows Cora Cash, the richest heiress in 1890s America, as she travels to England and marries a duke. The book explores the reality behind the glittering facade of transatlantic marriages. Note that British editions carry the title My Last Duchess, while North American editions are titled The American Heiress.

The Duchess's Tattoo (2011)

This short novella is a direct companion piece to My Last Duchess / The American Heiress. Set shortly after the events of the main novel, the story follows Cora Cash as she navigates her new life as an English Duchess and decides to get a tattoo, inspired by the real-life historical trend among aristocratic women (including Prince Albert's mother and Winston Churchill's mother). It is highly recommended to read this immediately after finishing the debut novel.

The Fortune Hunter (2013)

Set in the late 19th century, this novel centers on a dramatic love triangle involving Empress Elisabeth of Austria (famously known as Sisi), the dashing cavalry pilot Bay Middleton, and Charlotte Baird, a wealthy heiress with a passion for the new art of photography. It presents a vivid portrait of hunting culture, royal escape, and the restricted choices available to women, even those of supreme rank.

Diva (2024)

Goodwin's latest novel shifts focus to the 20th century, detailing the glamorous and tragic life of opera singer Maria Callas. The book centers on Callas's public triumphs and her private heartbreak during her long, tumultuous affair with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. It offers a visceral, emotional look at ambition, artistic dedication, and emotional vulnerability.

The Victoria Universe: Novel vs. Television Series

Goodwin's work on Queen Victoria spans multiple mediums, creating a unique reading experience. Because she created the television series and wrote the novels simultaneously, they enrich one another.

Victoria: A Novel of a Young Queen (2016)

This novel focuses on the very beginning of Victoria's reign, starting from the moment the 18-year-old girl is woken up to be told she is Queen, through her early struggles with her mother and advisors, to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. It draws heavily on Victoria's real-life diaries, which Goodwin studied during her university years at Cambridge.

Victoria and Albert: A Royal Love Affair (2017)

Co-authored with Sara Sheridan, this book serves as the official companion to the television series, focusing particularly on the events of the second season. Rather than a novel, it is a hybrid work that provides historical background on the royal couple's marriage using their actual letters and diaries, alongside behind-the-scenes insights, photographs, costume details, and actor interviews from the TV set.

Poetry Collections and Curation

Before launching her career as a novelist, Goodwin was a prominent curator of poetry. She edited numerous thematic anthologies designed to make poetry accessible, comforting, and practical for everyday life. These do not have a narrative sequence and can be read in any order.

The 101 Poems Series

• 101 Poems That Could Save Your Life (1999)
• 101 Poems to Keep You Sane (2001)
• 101 Poems to Help You Understand Men (2002)
• 101 Poems to Get You Through the Day (2003)

The Nation's Favourite Anthologies

• The Nation's Favourite Poems: Book 1 (1996)
• The Nation's Favourite Love Poems (1997)
• The Nation's Favourite: Comic Poems (1998)
• The Nation's Favourite Animal Poems (2001)
• The Nation's Favourite Children's Poems (2001)
• The Nation's Favourite Poems of Remembrance (2003)
• More Nation's Favourite Poems (2004)

Other Poetry Anthologies

• Essential Poems (To Fall in Love With) (2003)
• Poems To Last A Lifetime (2004)
• Essential Poems For The Way We Live Now (2005)
• Essential Poems For Children (2005)
• Off By Heart (2009)
• 100 Poems To See You Through (2014)

Non-Fiction and Memoirs

For readers interested in Goodwin's personal life and cultural commentary, she has published two non-fiction works:

• Silver River (2007): A family memoir exploring her ancestry, her upbringing in London, and her relationships with her parents, film producer Richard B. Goodwin and writer Jocasta Innes.
• Bringing Up Baby (2007): A lighthearted companion book looking at the history of parenting advice and mid-20th-century child-rearing practices.

Complete Chronological Reading Order of the Novels

While the novels are standalones, readers who enjoy experiencing historical eras in order can read them chronologically by the periods in which they are set:

1. Victoria (Set starting in 1837, covering the early Victorian era)
2. The Fortune Hunter (Set in the 1870s, during Sisi's visits to England)
3. My Last Duchess / The American Heiress (Set in the 1890s, during the Gilded Age)
4. The Duchess's Tattoo (Set immediately after the events of The American Heiress)
5. Diva (Set in the mid-20th century, covering the 1950s to late 1960s)