The Ship of Fools, Volume 1
The Ship of Fools, by the Strasbourg humanist Sebastian Brant, appeared in German in 1494 and became one of the most widely read books of its age. This first volume of the 1874 edition prints Alexander Barclay's English verse adaptation of 1509, with an introduction by T. H. Jamieson on Barclay's life and works. Brant imagines a ship loaded with every kind of fool, and each short chapter takes one folly in turn: useless books, corrupt judges, greed, new fashions, gossips, gamblers, idle beggars and many more. Barclay keeps the original spelling and freely adds English examples to his satire of foolish behavior. 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 Ship of Fools, Volume 1
The Ship of Fools, Volume 1 by Sebastian Brant 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 Ship of Fools, Volume 1 online?
Yes. The Ship of Fools, Volume 1 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 Ship of Fools, Volume 1 free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Ship of Fools, Volume 1 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 Ship of Fools, Volume 1 in the public domain?
Yes. The Ship of Fools, Volume 1 by Sebastian Brant is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Alexander Barclay. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Ship of Fools, Volume 1?
About 5 h 48 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 Ship of Fools, Volume 1?
The Ship of Fools, Volume 1 by Sebastian Brant is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
