Adam Bede
Adam Bede, George Eliot's first full-length novel, was published in 1859 and is set in the Midland village of Hayslope in 1799. Adam, a carpenter of fierce integrity, loves the dairymaid Hetty Sorrel, who has eyes for the young squire Arthur Donnithorne. Watching them is Dinah Morris, a Methodist preacher whose plain goodness stands against the vanity and self-deception around her. Eliot's attention to farm kitchens, workshop, church and harvest supper gives the book its texture, while Mrs. Poyser's tongue supplies much of its comedy. The famous seventeenth chapter pauses the story to defend the novelist's duty to ordinary, unidealized life. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Adam Bede
Adam Bede by George Eliot can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Adam Bede online?
Yes. Adam Bede opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Adam Bede free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Adam Bede is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Adam Bede in the public domain?
Yes. Adam Bede by George Eliot is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Adam Bede?
About 14 h 15 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Adam Bede?
Adam Bede by George Eliot is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
