Free History Books to Download in June 2025

Explore classic nonfiction reads at no cost.

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What's better than diving into a new ebook? Knowing that you got it for free. Check out these fascinating history accounts that are free to download for the whole month.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

By Vincent Starrett

FREE

An indispensable biography of the world’s most famous detective from Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Vincent Starrett

In a boarding house at 221B Baker Street, a genius is at work. With the help of his tireless companion, Dr. Watson, the peerless Sherlock Holmes solves one impossible mystery after the next. Many of his adventures, such as “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and “The Red-Headed League,” are world famous, while others, including “The Adventure of the Tired Captain” and “The Singular Affair of the Aluminum Crutch,” remain strictly private, simply because Watson cannot find the time to write them down.

This glimpse into the secret case files of England’s greatest detective is just one of the fascinating tidbits included in Vincent Starrett’s landmark book of Sherlockiana. A founding member of the Baker Street Irregulars, Starrett enriches his meticulous research with a true fan’s delight. Whether he is discussing Arthur Conan Doyle’s real-life criminal investigations or detailing the layout of 221B Baker Street and its surrounding neighborhood, Starrett’s deep appreciation for the stories and their inimitable hero is infectious. Countless companion volumes to the series have been published, but none offers as much insight and entertainment as The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes does.

The Frontier in American History

The Frontier in American History

By Frederick Jackson Turner

FREE

A fascinating exploration of American identity by one of the most influential historians and thinkers of the twentieth century

According to Frederick Jackson Turner, the distinct qualities of the American character are inseparable from the idea of the frontier. One of the nation’s most influential historians, Turner sets forth his “frontier thesis” in the eight brilliant, enlightening, and provocative essays that make up his seminal work, The Frontier in American History—a book which profoundly altered the way Americans viewed themselves.

Disputing the traditionally held emphasis on European cultural influences, Turner argues that the American frontier fostered self-reliance, optimism, ingenuity, individualism, restlessness, materialism, and democratic ideals—traits that collectively shaped the national character. His groundbreaking work continues to influence American culture, politics, and history more than eighty years after it was first published.

In Praise of Folly

In Praise of Folly

By Desiderius Erasmus

FREE

This sixteenth-century religious satire by a Renaissance critic and theologian is “a masterpiece of humor and wise irony” (Johan Huizinga, Dutch historian).

At the onset of his hugely successful satire of medieval European society, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus invokes the goddess Folly, daughter of Youth and Wealth, who was raised by Drunkenness and Ignorance. She’s followed by idolatrous companions, including Self-love, Flattery, Pleasure, and Laziness.

Through Folly’s wry and humorous speech, Erasmus denounces the superstitions and nonsensical eccentricities of his contemporary theologians and churchmen, monastic life, and the condition of the Catholic Church. An immensely influential humanist text, In Praise of Folly helped lay the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation and marked a transitional time between medieval beliefs and modern ideals.

History of the Peloponnesian War

History of the Peloponnesian War

By Thucydides

FREE

A thorough account of the war between Athens and Sparta by the historian who witnessed it.

The Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the Delian League, led by Athens, went to war in 431 BC. The conflict lasted more than two decades, and Thucydides, who served as an Athenian general, wrote its definitive history: an account remarkable for both its objectivity and its focus on the humanity of the war rather than any intervention by the gods.

Though primarily a military history, this book also shines a great light on the political and social aspects of the ancient conflict, including its effect on civilians. Thucydides’s work is a landmark of historical scholarship that makes the events of the fifth century BC come vividly to life.

Featured image: Maarten van den Heuvel / Unsplash