On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History
On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History, published in 1841, prints the six lectures Thomas Carlyle delivered in London the year before. His thesis is that history is the biography of great men, and he illustrates it with six types of hero: the hero as divinity in the Norse god Odin, as prophet in Mahomet, as poet in Dante and Shakespeare, as priest in Luther and Knox, as man of letters in Johnson, Rousseau and Burns, and as king in Cromwell and Napoleon. Carlyle's prose is urgent and idiosyncratic, full of exclamations and coined words, and his admiration for strong leaders has drawn sharp criticism since. But his portraits, especially of Mahomet and Cromwell, were daring for their day and remain vivid. 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 On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History
On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History by Thomas Carlyle 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 On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History online?
Yes. On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History 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 On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History 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 On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History in the public domain?
Yes. On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History by Thomas Carlyle 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 On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History?
About 5 h 55 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 On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History?
On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History by Thomas Carlyle is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
