Tender Buttons
Objects—Food—Rooms
Tender Buttons, published by Gertrude Stein in 1914, is a short book of prose poems in three sections, Objects, Food and Rooms. Under headings such as A Carafe, That Is a Blind Glass, A Box, Roastbeef and Milk, Stein sets down sentences that keep the shape of description and definition while refusing to describe or define in any ordinary way, letting the sound and arrangement of common words do the work usually done by meaning. The book was written in Spain in 1912 and is often compared to the cubist painting Stein collected in Paris. It puzzled and provoked readers on publication and has remained one of the central experiments of modernist writing in English. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first poems are 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 Tender Buttons
Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein 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 Tender Buttons online?
Yes. Tender Buttons 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 Tender Buttons free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Tender Buttons 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 Tender Buttons in the public domain?
Yes. Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein 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 Tender Buttons?
About 1 h 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 Tender Buttons?
Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
