Mars and Its Canals
Mars and Its Canals, published in 1906, is the astronomer Percival Lowell's fullest case for life on Mars, based on years of observation at his observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell first describes the planet's natural features, its polar caps and their seasonal melting, the blue-green areas he took for vegetation and the ochre deserts. He then catalogs the network of fine lines he called canals, their doubling and the dark spots he named oases, and argues that their seasonal changes reveal an intelligent effort to husband scarce water. The canals proved an optical illusion, but the book shows a mind reasoning boldly from evidence. 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 Mars and Its Canals
Mars and Its Canals by Percival Lowell 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 Mars and Its Canals online?
Yes. Mars and Its Canals 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 Mars and Its Canals free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Mars and Its Canals 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 Mars and Its Canals in the public domain?
Yes. Mars and Its Canals by Percival Lowell 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 Mars and Its Canals?
About 5 h 44 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 Mars and Its Canals?
Mars and Its Canals by Percival Lowell is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
