The Grand Inquisitor
The Grand Inquisitor is the chapter of The Brothers Karamazov in which Ivan Karamazov tells his brother Alyosha a prose poem he has composed. Christ returns to Seville at the height of the Inquisition, is recognized by the people, and is arrested by the cardinal, who visits him in his cell at night and explains why the Church has corrected his work: men cannot bear the freedom he offered them, and want bread, miracle, mystery and authority instead. Christ answers only with a kiss. The parable has been read as the deepest attack on religious and political tyranny in literature. This early translation was made by H. P. Blavatsky, who published it in her journal The Theosophist in 1881, with her own framing note. 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 Grand Inquisitor
The Grand Inquisitor by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 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 Grand Inquisitor online?
Yes. The Grand Inquisitor 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 Grand Inquisitor free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Grand Inquisitor 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 Grand Inquisitor in the public domain?
Yes. The Grand Inquisitor by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a public-domain work, here in the translation by H. P. Blavatsky. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Grand Inquisitor?
About 39 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 Grand Inquisitor?
The Grand Inquisitor by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
