There are a number of books to be found in Daggerfall. Most are for reading, while a few others exist for different purposes.
This article covers books only. For readable letters, notes, and other documents seen during quests, see here.
Standard BooksEdit
There are 91 readable books in Daggerfall containing a wide variety of texts: non-fiction about the past and present with varying levels and angles of bias, dubious myths, and entertaining fictional tales, as well as songs and jokes. As in real life, reading is optional, but it can enrich your experience by expanding your understanding of the lore and culture of the peoples of the Iliac Bay and the wider Empire of Tamriel. You are not ever required to read books to progress — even in quests that involve one as a quest item — nor do any provide an explicit bonus like the skill books of later games, however a few books do reveal morsels of useful information relevant to gameplay.
Books may be found as dungeon loot or enemy drops, and can be bought and sold at book stores, general stores, and pawn shops. There are also libraries which allow books to be read for free: public libraries which are accessible to anyone, and private libraries found in Mages Guild halls and temples, which can only be used by members of those factions.
In the inventory a book can be read with the 'use' function. The book's author, as well as value and weight, can be seen with the 'info' function. In a library you are only presented with a list of titles to select from, with no way to see the author. All standard books use the same inventory icon and all have a weight of 2.00kg. At the beginning of the text of each book is a title in a large font. This internal title does not always match the title used as the item name; for clarity, only the item name is used in the table below.
A list of these books divided by subject can be found here.
| Title |  |
Author | Description | Gameplay Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Alik'r |
580 | Enric Milres | A description of time spent in the Alik'r Desert | |
| Ark'ay The God |
562 | Mymophonus the Scribe | How Ark'ay was transformed from a shopkeeper into the God of Birth and Death | |
| Ark`ay The God |
488 | Mymophonus the Scribe | How Ark'ay was transformed from a shopkeeper into the God of Birth and Death (German version) | Not present in the GOG version of Daggerfall. The game incorrectly displays the backtick (`) as an arrow. |
| The Arrowshot Woman |
580 | Anonymous | Urban legend of woman who thinks she's been shot | |
| The Asylum Ball |
580 | Waughin Jarth | Story of a ball held by the mad Emperor of Tamriel, Pelagius III, at an asylum | |
| Banker's Bet |
467 | Porbert Lyttumly | A humorous story of what people will do for money | |
| Biography of Queen Barenziah, Vol. I |
406 | Stem Gamboge, scribe | Volume One of the life history of Queen Barenziah | |
| Biography of Queen Barenziah, Vol. II |
406 | Stem Gamboge | Volume Two of the life history of Queen Barenziah | |
| Biography of Queen Barenziah, Vol. III |
406 | Stem Gamboge, scribe | Volume Three of the life history of Queen Barenziah | |
| Brief History of the Empire, Part I |
352 | Stronach | Part 1 of a description of events in the history of the Empire | |
| Brief History of the Empire, Part II |
352 | Stronach | Part 2 of a description of events in the history of the Empire | |
| Brief History of the Empire, Part III |
352 | Stronach | Part 3 of a description of events in the history of the Empire | |
| Brief History of the Empire, Part IV |
352 | Stronach | Part 4 of a description of events in the history of the Empire | |
| Broken Diamonds |
340 | Ryston Baylor | A tale of a sorrowful holiday | |
| The Brothers of Darkness |
580 | Pellarne Assi | A brief history of the Dark Brotherhood | Hints at the existence of the two hidden joinable guilds, the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild. |
| Confessions of a Thief |
695 | Anonymous | Some comments from a thief about the Thieves Guild | Hints at the existence of one of the two hidden joinable guilds, the Thieves Guild. |
| Divad the Singer † | 684 | Destri Melarg | The early years of Divad the Singer | |
| A Dubious Tale of the Crystal Tower |
770 | Bibenus Geon | An amusing tale of a masquerade | |
| The Ebon Arm |
580 | Witten Rol | Description of the appearance of Reymon Ebonarm, God of War, in a battle | |
| The Epic of the Grey Falcon |
580 | Anido Jhone, editor | Tale of the sole survivor of a pirate attack | |
| Etiquette With Rulers |
738 | Erystera Ligen | The etiquette of speaking with nobles | Contains hints about the dialogue system. |
| The Faerie |
580 | Szun Triop | Discussion of the various types of Faeries and how they relate | |
| The Fall of the Usurper |
580 | Palaux Illthre | A speculative analysis as to the part played by Baron Othrok of Dwynnen in the downfall of the Camoran Usurper | |
| The First Scroll of Baan Dar † | 580 | Arkan | A book about the true Baan Dar, God and Man | |
| Fools' Ebony, Part the Oneth |
317 | Frincheps | Part 1 of a playful story of an adventurer and fool's ebony | |
| Fools' Ebony, Part the Twoth |
317 | Frincheps | Part 2 of a playful story of an adventurer and fool's ebony | |
| Fools' Ebony, Part the Threeth |
317 | Frincheps | Part 3 of a playful story of an adventurer and fool's ebony | |
| Fools' Ebony, Part the Fourth |
317 | Frincheps | Part 4 of a playful story of an adventurer and fool's ebony | |
| Fools' Ebony, Part the Fiveth |
317 | Frincheps | Part 5 of a playful story of an adventurer and fool's ebony | |
| Fools' Ebony, Part the Sixth |
317 | Frincheps | Part 6 of a playful story of an adventurer and fool's ebony | |
| Fragment: On Artaeum |
676 | Taurce Anselma | A work explaining some of the history of the Psijic island of Artaeum | |
| Galerion the Mystic |
638 | Asgrim Kolsgreg | A biography of Galerion, a Psijic who founded the Mages Guild | |
| Ghraewaj |
691 | Tidasus | An overview of the Ghraewaj play, which portrays the creation of harpies | |
| The Healer's Tale |
580 | Anonymous | An amusing anecdote from a healer of the Temple of Stendarr | |
| A History of Daggerfall |
358 | Odiva Gallwood | A relatively unbiased analysis of Daggerfall and the Iliac Bay | |
| Holidays of the Iliac Bay |
379 | Theth-i | An overview of Breton and Redguard holidays commonly celebrated in the Iliac Bay region | Gives the dates of many holidays. |
| Invocation of Azura |
452 | Sigillah Parate | A work written by a priestess of Azura arguing the superiority of Azura to other Daedra Princes | Gives the dates of the Daedra summoning days. |
| Ius, Animal God |
385 | Buljursoma | Two humorous legends concerning the God of Animals, Ius | |
| Jokes |
667 | Butha Sunhous | A ribald look at the many races of Tamriel | |
| King Edward, Part I |
300 | Anonymous | Part 1 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part 2 † | 300 | Anonymous | Part 2 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part III |
300 | Anonymous | Part 3 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part IV |
300 | Anonymous | Part 4 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part V |
300 | Anonymous | Part 5 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part VI |
300 | Anonymous | Part 6 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part VII |
300 | Anonymous | Part 7 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part VIII |
300 | Anonymous | Part 8 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part IX |
300 | Anonymous | Part 9 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part X |
300 | Anonymous | Part 10 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part XI |
300 | Anonymous | Part 11 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| King Edward, Part XII |
300 | Anonymous | Part 12 of the story of the life of a long ago king | |
| Legal Basics |
636 | Anchivius, M.Z.F. | A summary of common crimes and their punishments | Gives hints about crime. |
| The Legend of Lovers Lament |
580 | Croll Baumoval | A romantic story about a man and woman who keep loving each other until even after their death | |
| The Light and The Dark |
580 | Irek Unterge | A Breton man describes the Light and the Dark to his two grandchildren | |
| The Madness of Pelagius |
580 | Tsathenes | Profiling the renowned Mad Emperor | |
| Mara's Tear |
484 | Zhen | An origin myth for the two moons, Mara's Tear and Shandar's Sorrow | |
| The MemoryStone † | 580 | Makela Leki | Diary of Leki, a Redguard warrior and master of Ansei | |
| Mysticism |
661 | Tetronius Lor | A description of the school of Mysticism | |
| Notes For Redguard History † | 597 | Destri Melarg | An unmailed letter from an author to his publisher | |
| Oelander's Hammer |
424 | Krowle | The story of Oelander's magical hammer | |
| Of Jephre |
738 | Anonymous | Musings on the nature of the god, Jephre | |
| The Old Ways |
580 | Celarus | A guide to the Psijic Order and their beliefs | |
| On Lycanthropy |
419 | Varnard Karessen | Studies of the nature and habits of Lycanthropes | Contains hints on the two kinds of lycanthropy and how they might be cured. |
| On Oblivion |
559 | Morian Zenas | A guide to Oblivion and the Daedra | Contains useful hints regarding Daedra summoning. Hints at the existence of the hidden Dark Brotherhood and witch covens. |
| Origin of the Mages Guild |
687 | Salarth | Where and how the Mages Guild started | |
| An Overview of Gods and Worship |
711 | Brother Hetchfeld | Speculation concerning the worship of gods and their benefit from such | |
| The Pig Children |
580 | Tyston Bane | Discusses the history of the Orcish threat in the Iliac Bay | |
| The Real Barenziah |
580 | Anonymous | Part 1 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part II |
580 | Anonymous | Part 2 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part III |
580 | Anonymous | Part 3 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part IV |
580 | Anonymous | Part 4 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part V |
580 | Anonymous | Part 5 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part VI |
580 | Anonymous | Part 6 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part VII |
580 | Anonymous | Part 7 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The True Barenziah, Part VIII |
580 | Anonymous | Part 8 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part IX |
580 | Anonymous | Part 9 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| The Real Barenziah, Part X |
580 | Anonymous | Part 10 of an unauthorized biography of the famous Dark Elf Queen of Wayrest | |
| Redguards, History and Heroes † | 728 | Destri Melarg | A summary of Redguard history, focusing on Frandar Hunding | |
| Rude Song |
513 | Anonymous | A ribald and irreverent song about spring in the Iliac Bay | |
| The Sage |
580 | Aegrothius Goth | A Breton's journey to become the Sage | |
| A Scholar's Guide to Nymphs |
770 | Vondham Barres | One man's experience with Nymphs | |
| Special Flora of Tamriel |
453 | Hardin | A list of the rare plants of Tamriel | |
| The Story of Lyrisius |
580 | Bresne Smythe | Epic tale of Lyrisius and the wyrm of Akavir | |
| A Tale of Kieran |
312 | Vegepythicus, editor | Several tales of Kieran the Bard | |
| Vampires of the Iliac Bay, Part I |
429 | Anonymous | Part 1 of a story of a man's journey into vampirism | Explains how vampirism is caught and the early symptoms. |
| Vampires of the Iliac Bay, Part II |
429 | Anonymous | Part 2 of a story of a man's journey into vampirism | Explains how unlife goes as a vampire, and hints at the cure. |
| Wabbajack |
599 | Anonymous | Story of one man's summoning of Sheogorath and descent into madness | Contains hints about Daedra summoning, specifically regarding Hermaeus Mora, Sheogorath, and their artifacts. |
| The War of Betony |
580 | Fav'te | A Sentinel citizen's take on the events and outcome of the war betwixt Sentinel and Daggerfall | |
| The War of Betony |
580 | Vulper Newgate | A description of the events of the War of Betony from the Daggerfall perspective | |
| Wayrest, Jewel of the Bay |
348 | Sathyr Longleat | A history of the city Wayrest, circa 3E 405 | |
| The Wild Elves |
580 | Kiergo Chorvak | Brief description of the Ayleids, or Wild Elves |
QuestsEdit
Books are key items in the following quests:
Note that in the quest Barenziah's Book, the eponymous "book" is in fact a parchment manuscript.
Other BooksEdit
There are three other book items which do not fit into the same category as the above readable books. They vary in use.
SpellbookEdit
| Value: | 50 |
| Weight: | 0.75 kg |
Your spellbook lists all of the spells you know and must be in your inventory to cast them. Every player character, regardless of spellcasting ability, begins the game with one. If lost, replacements can be purchased by members of the Mages Guild and School of Julianos. For more information on spellcasting, see here.
Oghma InfiniumEdit
| Value: | 50,000 |
| Weight: | 2.00 kg |
The Oghma Infinium is a powerful single-use artifact. For more information on its effect, acquisition, and background, see here.
Holy tomeEdit
| Value: | 2,500 |
| Weight: | 2.00 kg |
Holy tomes have no function and exist primarily to be sold. For more information, see here.