Red Nails
Red Nails was the last Conan story Robert E. Howard wrote, and it appeared in Weird Tales in the summer of 1936, weeks after his death. Conan and the pirate Valeria of the Red Brotherhood, fleeing through the southern jungle, come upon Xuchotl, a city entirely enclosed under one roof, where two factions have fought each other for fifty years in the lightless corridors and record their kills with red nails driven into a pillar. The strangers are drawn into the feud and into the schemes of the sorcerer Tolkemec. Howard's prose is at its fastest and most lurid here, and the story's picture of a civilization consuming itself is as grim as anything in the Conan cycle. 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 Red Nails
Red Nails by Robert E. Howard 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 Red Nails online?
Yes. Red Nails 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 Red Nails free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Red Nails 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 Red Nails in the public domain?
Yes. Red Nails by Robert E. Howard 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 Red Nails?
About 2 h 05 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 Red Nails?
Red Nails by Robert E. Howard is filed under "Science Fiction & Fantasy" in the Vinteuil library.
