The Good Soldier
The Good Soldier, published in 1915, is Ford Madox Ford's novel of two couples who meet every year at the German spa town of Nauheim. John Dowell, a wealthy American, tells the story of his marriage to Florence and their long friendship with the English officer Edward Ashburnham and his wife Leonora, people he believed he knew perfectly. "This is the saddest story I have ever heard," he begins, and as he circles back and forth through nine years of memories, the polished surface of their lives gives way to deceptions, passion and cruelty that he failed to see. Its unreliable narrator and shifting chronology make it a landmark of modernist fiction. 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 Good Soldier
The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford 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 Good Soldier online?
Yes. The Good Soldier 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 Good Soldier free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Good Soldier 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 Good Soldier in the public domain?
Yes. The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford 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 Good Soldier?
About 5 h 01 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 Good Soldier?
The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
