Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street
Bartleby, the Scrivener, first published in 1853, is Herman Melville's story of a Wall Street lawyer who hires a pale, quiet copyist and finds that his new clerk, asked to do anything beyond copying, replies only that he would prefer not to. Bartleby then stops copying as well, declines to leave the office, and is discovered to be living there. The lawyer, a comfortable man who prides himself on his prudence, is driven through irritation and pity to flight and finally to the Tombs prison. The story has been read as a parable of passive resistance, of depression, of capitalism and of charity's limits, and its final words, about the Dead Letter Office, are among the saddest in American fiction. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter 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 Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street
Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street by Herman Melville 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 Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street online?
Yes. Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street 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 Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street 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 Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street in the public domain?
Yes. Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street by Herman Melville 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 Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street?
About 58 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 Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street?
Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street by Herman Melville is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
