Carmen
Carmen is a short novel set in Andalusia. The narrator, a French scholar traveling in Spain, meets a bandit, Don José, and later the Gypsy woman Carmen; in prison awaiting execution, José tells how he fell from Basque soldier to smuggler and murderer for love of a woman who refused to belong to anyone. Mérimée writes with a cool, documentary detachment that makes the violence of the story all the more striking. First published in 1845, the novella is now better known through Bizet's 1875 opera, but the original is harder and less sentimental than its adaptation. This edition presents the text in Lady Mary Loyd's translation. 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 Carmen
Carmen by Prosper Mérimée 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 Carmen online?
Yes. Carmen 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 Carmen free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Carmen 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 Carmen in the public domain?
Yes. Carmen by Prosper Mérimée is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Lady Mary Loyd. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Carmen?
About 1 h 36 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 Carmen?
Carmen by Prosper Mérimée is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
