The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote in 1797 and 1798 and published in Lyrical Ballads, is the story a weather-beaten old sailor forces on a wedding guest: how his ship was driven to the south polar ice, how he shot the albatross that had followed it, how the crew died of thirst under a copper sky while he alone was condemned to live, and how, blessing the water snakes unawares, he began a penance that has never ended. Written in the ballad stanza and later furnished with a marginal gloss, the poem is in seven parts. Its images, the painted ship upon a painted ocean, water everywhere and not a drop to drink, have passed into the language. 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 Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 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 Rime of the Ancient Mariner online?
Yes. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 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 Rime of the Ancient Mariner free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 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 Rime of the Ancient Mariner in the public domain?
Yes. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 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 Rime of the Ancient Mariner?
About 16 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 Rime of the Ancient Mariner?
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
