Shirley
Shirley, published in 1849, is the novel Charlotte Brontë wrote after Jane Eyre, and it opens by warning the reader to expect something as unromantic as Monday morning. Set in the Yorkshire of 1811 and 1812, when war with France had closed the markets and new machinery was putting cloth workers out of work, it follows the mill owner Robert Moore, whose frames are smashed by Luddites, his quiet cousin Caroline Helstone, who loves him without hope, and Shirley Keeldar, the independent heiress who owns his mill who bears the name her parents had chosen for a son. Curates, old maids and a night attack on the mill fill out the picture; three of Brontë's siblings died while she wrote it. 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 Shirley
Shirley by Charlotte Brontë 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 Shirley online?
Yes. Shirley 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 Shirley free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Shirley 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 Shirley in the public domain?
Yes. Shirley by Charlotte Brontë 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 Shirley?
About 14 h 24 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 Shirley?
Shirley by Charlotte Brontë is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
