Achill und Hektor
Retold in easy German (B2) from the novel by Gustav Schwab
A golden apple, a judgement on Mount Ida and a stolen queen: that is how the war for Troy begins. Nine years later the Greeks still lie before the walls of the city. Then King Agamemnon takes away the prize of honour of their greatest hero, Achilles. Achilles withdraws in anger to his tent, and without him the Greeks begin to lose. Hector, the best of the Trojans, drives them back to their ships. Only when Achilles' dearest friend Patroclus falls does Achilles return to the fight, and before the Scaean Gate the two heroes face each other. The whole Iliad, freely retold after Gustav Schwab, with the words and phrases of the Gymi entrance exam.
In German and English · 35 chapters · about 58,300 words · 7 h 15 min to read.
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How it begins
Der Apfel der Zwietracht
The Apple of Discord
In der Nacht, bevor ihr zweiter Sohn zur Welt kam, träumte Hekabe, die Königin von Troja, sie halte statt eines Kindes eine brennende Fackel im Arm. Die Flammen sprangen auf die Dächer über, dann auf die Tempel, bis die ganze Stadt aschgrau in sich zusammensank. Mit einem Schrei fuhr Hekabe hoch. Der Grusel sass ihr noch in allen Gliedern, obwohl das Zimmer dunkel und still war.
In the night before her second son was born, Hecuba, the queen of Troy, dreamed that instead of a child she was holding a burning torch in her arms. The flames leapt onto the roofs, then onto the temples, until the whole city collapsed in ash-grey ruins. With a scream Hecuba started up. The horror still lay in every limb, although the room was dark and quiet.
«Was hast du?», fragte König Priamos und griff nach ihrer Hand.
“What is the matter?” asked King Priam, reaching for her hand.
Languages
All 2 editions: titles, levels and lengths
- Achill und Hektor · German (original)B2 Intermediate · 58,270 words · ~6 h 30 min
- Achilles and Hector · EnglishB2 Intermediate · 64,136 words · ~7 h 15 min
Open it in the reader: all 2 language pairs
More stories at this level
Intermediate stories in German with English beside it (all of them: Intermediate German stories).
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- Die schwarze SpinneJeremias Gotthelf · retold · B2 · 34,143 words
- Die Kinder des Kapitän GrantJules Verne · retold · B2 · 16,716 words
- Zwei Jahre FerienJules Verne · retold · B2 · 14,622 words
Reading it as a parallel text
A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.
Questions
Which languages can I read Achill und Hektor in?
German and English. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?
The original German is B2 Intermediate. In translation, English is B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?
About 58,270 words in 35 chapters: around 7 h 15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?
Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?
Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.