Hamlet
Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play and his most quoted. The prince of Denmark comes home to find his father dead, his uncle Claudius on the throne and his mother already remarried to him; then his father's ghost appears and demands revenge. Hamlet delays, feigns madness, stages a play to test the king's conscience and destroys Ophelia and her family on the way to a final scene that empties the court. Written around 1600, the play has been read as a study of grief, of indecision, of political rot and of the mind watching itself think. Its soliloquies remain the most famous passages in English drama. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first act 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 Hamlet
Hamlet by William Shakespeare 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 Hamlet online?
Yes. Hamlet 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 Hamlet free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Hamlet 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 Hamlet in the public domain?
Yes. Hamlet by William Shakespeare 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 Hamlet?
About 2 h 09 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 Hamlet?
Hamlet by William Shakespeare is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
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