On the Stairs
On the Stairs, published in 1918 by the Chicago novelist Henry Blake Fuller, is a short novel that its author called the sketch of a novel. It follows two men from their school days at a private academy in 1873 into middle age: Raymond Prince, born to wealth and assurance, and Johnny McComas, younger, newer and content at first to stand aside. Over the decades, as Chicago grows and fortunes change, the two pass each other on the social staircase, one going up and the other going down. Fuller writes with dry irony and economy about ambition, class and the uses of leisure. 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 On the Stairs
On the Stairs by Henry Blake Fuller 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 the Stairs online?
Yes. On the Stairs 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 the Stairs free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of On the Stairs 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 the Stairs in the public domain?
Yes. On the Stairs by Henry Blake Fuller 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 the Stairs?
About 3 h 03 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 the Stairs?
On the Stairs by Henry Blake Fuller is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
