Summer
Edith Wharton's Summer, published in 1917, is set in the poor hill village of North Dormer in the Berkshires. Charity Royall, brought down as a child from a lawless settlement on the Mountain, has grown up in the house of the lawyer who took her in, and she spends her days in the little village library, restless and resentful. When Lucius Harney, a young architect from the city, arrives to sketch old houses, the two fall into a summer romance that will force Charity to face where she came from and what choices are open to her. Wharton herself called it the Hot Ethan, a companion to Ethan Frome, and its frankness about desire startled early readers. It 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 Summer
Summer by Edith Wharton 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 Summer online?
Yes. Summer 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 Summer free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Summer 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 Summer in the public domain?
Yes. Summer by Edith Wharton 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 Summer?
About 3 h 50 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 Summer?
Summer by Edith Wharton is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
