The Birds
The Birds, first staged at Athens in 414 BC, is the longest and most fantastical of Aristophanes' surviving comedies. Two Athenians tired of lawsuits and taxes, Peisthetaerus and Euelpides, leave the city in search of a quieter life and persuade the birds to build a city in the air between heaven and earth. Cloudcuckooland, as it is named, soon starves the gods into terms by cutting off the smoke of sacrifices, while a procession of poets, prophets, surveyors and informers arrives from Athens hoping to profit from the new state. The play mixes political satire with choral songs of real lyric beauty, and its comic utopia has lost none of its edge. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the opening pages 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 Birds
The Birds by Aristophanes 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 Birds online?
Yes. The Birds 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 Birds free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Birds 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 Birds in the public domain?
Yes. The Birds by Aristophanes 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 Birds?
About 1 h 26 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 Birds?
The Birds by Aristophanes is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
