The Willows
The Willows, published in 1907, is a long story by Algernon Blackwood about two friends canoeing down the Danube who camp on a sandy island in the marshes below Pressburg, where the river spreads into channels among endless willow bushes. Through a day and two nights the island shrinks, the willows seem to move, a body passes in the water, and the men come to feel that they have strayed into a region where something indifferent to humanity is probing at them. Blackwood offers no monster and almost no event; the dread is built from wind, water and the narrator's attempts to stay rational. H. P. Lovecraft singled it out as the supernatural tale he admired above all others. 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 Willows
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood 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 Willows online?
Yes. The Willows 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 Willows free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Willows 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 Willows in the public domain?
Yes. The Willows by Algernon Blackwood 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 Willows?
About 1 h 19 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 Willows?
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
