The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia is Sir Philip Sidney's prose romance, written in the early 1580s for his sister Mary and published after his death. Two princes, Pyrocles and Musidorus, shipwrecked in the pastoral kingdom of Arcadia, fall in love with the daughters of King Basilius, who has withdrawn his family to the country to escape an oracle. Pyrocles disguises himself as an Amazon and Musidorus as a shepherd, and the complications include a king and queen both in love with the same disguised prince, a rebellion, a kidnapping and a trial for murder. Interspersed eclogues give the shepherds their songs. Written in Sidney's elaborate prose, it was the most read work of English fiction for a century. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia by Philip Sidney 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 Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia online?
Yes. The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia 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 Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia 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 Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia in the public domain?
Yes. The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia by Philip Sidney 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 Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia?
About 22 h 57 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 Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia?
The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia by Philip Sidney is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
