Lamia
Lamia is the narrative poem John Keats wrote in the summer of 1819 and published the following year in the volume that also contained Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes and the great odes. In two parts it tells how Hermes, searching Crete for a nymph, frees a serpent who begs to be made a woman; how, as Lamia, she meets and enchants the young Corinthian Lycius; how they live hidden in a palace of her making until he insists on a public wedding feast; and how his old tutor, the philosopher Apollonius, fixes his eye on the bride. Keats took the story from Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy and made of it a fable about love, illusion and cold philosophy. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the opening pages 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 Lamia
Lamia by John Keats 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 Lamia online?
Yes. Lamia 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 Lamia free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Lamia 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 Lamia in the public domain?
Yes. Lamia by John Keats 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 Lamia?
About 22 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 Lamia?
Lamia by John Keats is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
