The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy, first published in 1621 and enlarged by Robert Burton through five further editions, pretends to be a medical treatise on a single disease and becomes a survey of everything. Writing as Democritus Junior, Burton divides melancholy into its kinds, causes, symptoms and cures across three partitions, the third devoted to love melancholy and religious melancholy. Along the way he quotes or paraphrases more than a thousand authors on diet, air, exercise, the passions, witches, the position of the earth, jealousy, and despair, with digressions on the anatomy of the body and the miseries of scholars. The prose is dense, humorous, and strangely consoling; Samuel Johnson said it alone got him out of bed early. 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 The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton 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 The Anatomy of Melancholy online?
Yes. The Anatomy of Melancholy 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 The Anatomy of Melancholy free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Anatomy of Melancholy 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 The Anatomy of Melancholy in the public domain?
Yes. The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton 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 The Anatomy of Melancholy?
About 36 h 42 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 The Anatomy of Melancholy?
The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
