The Monastery
The Monastery, published in 1820, is a novel by Sir Walter Scott set in the Scottish Borders in the 1550s, as the Reformation begins to reach the abbey of Kennaquhair, modeled on Melrose. It follows the Glendinning brothers, the bold Halbert and the studious Edward, who grow up near the abbey with the orphaned heiress Mary Avenel, and the mysterious White Lady of Avenel, a supernatural guardian who intervenes in their lives. Into this world come a Protestant preacher, a worried subprior and the affected English courtier Sir Piercie Shafton, whose euphuistic speech provides comedy. The novel is introduced by Scott's playful exchange of letters with the fictitious Captain Clutterbuck and continues in The Abbot. 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 Monastery
The Monastery by Walter Scott 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 Monastery online?
Yes. The Monastery 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 Monastery free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Monastery 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 Monastery in the public domain?
Yes. The Monastery by Walter Scott 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 Monastery?
About 11 h 38 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 Monastery?
The Monastery by Walter Scott is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
