The Turn of the Screw
A young governess takes a post at Bly, a country house in Essex, in charge of two orphaned children, Miles and Flora, whose uncle wants to hear nothing about them. Soon she begins to see figures on the grounds: a man on the tower, a woman by the lake. The housekeeper identifies them as Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, both dead, and the governess becomes convinced that the children are in communication with them. Henry James published the story in 1898, and it has divided readers ever since: either the ghosts are real, or the governess is unreliable and the horror lies in what she does to protect the children. James leaves both readings open. The prose is dense, the narrative short and the ending abrupt. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; 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 Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James 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 Turn of the Screw online?
Yes. The Turn of the Screw 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 Turn of the Screw free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Turn of the Screw 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 Turn of the Screw in the public domain?
Yes. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James 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 Turn of the Screw?
About 2 h 52 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 Turn of the Screw?
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
