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World of Art Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of World of Art books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: April 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the World of Art series? Start with "The Cathedrals of England (By: Alec Clifton-Taylor)" (1967) and follow publication order through all 12 books.
The complete World of Art reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
The Cathedrals of England (By: Alec Clifton-Taylor)
1967
Costume and Fashion (By: James Laver)
1969
Modern Architecture (By: Kenneth Frampton)
1980
Bauhaus (By: Frank Whitford)
1984
Oceanic Art (By: Nicholas Thomas)
1995
The Chronicle of Jazz (By: Mervyn Cooke)
1997
20th Century Ceramics
2003
Body Art (By: Nicholas Thomas)
2014
Timeless Beauty: Traditional Japanese Folk Art
2003
Electra 6 Money
2019
Ben Nicholson: From the Studio
2021
Boom: Art and Design in the 1940s
2025
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