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Schweizer Abenteuer · Story 18

Die Jungen der Paulstrasse

Retold in easy German (B2) from the short story by Ferenc Molnár

In each language: Die Jungen der Paulstrasse · The Paul Street Boys

For the Paul Street boys, the Grund, an empty building lot in the middle of Budapest, is a whole kingdom. But the Redshirts from the Botanical Garden want to conquer it, and someone in their own ranks is playing false. Of all people it is Nemecsek, the smallest boy and the only private, who sneaks into the enemy camp at night. Ferenc Molnár's famous novel, retold for young readers.

In German and English · 13 chapters · about 13,500 words · 1 h 30 min to read.

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You read German on the left. English is on the right to help you, and while reading, the eye button blurs or hides it.

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How it begins

GermanEnglish

Fünfzig Murmeln und ein Gemeiner

Fifty Marbles and a Private

Der Zettel wanderte unter den Bänken hindurch, von Hand zu Hand, während Herr Rácz an der Tafel lateinische Verben anschrieb. Jeder, der ihn las, wurde ein wenig blasser. «Heute um drei. Kriegsrat. Die Pásztors haben Nemecsek im Museumsgarten die Murmeln abgenommen.» Ernő Nemecsek, der kleinste Junge der ganzen Klasse, bekam den Zettel als Letzter, und er hielt ihn noch in der Hand, als die Kreide plötzlich verstummte.

The note passed under the desks, from hand to hand, while Mr. Rácz wrote Latin verbs on the blackboard. Everyone who read it grew a little paler. "Today at three. Council of war. The Pásztors took Nemecsek’s marbles in the Museum Gardens." Ernő Nemecsek, the smallest boy in the entire class, was the last to receive the note, and he was still holding it in his hand when the chalk suddenly fell silent.

«Nemecsek!», donnerte Herr Rácz. «Bringen Sie mir, was Sie da verstecken.»

"Nemecsek!" thundered Mr. Rácz. "Bring me whatever you are hiding there."

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

  • Die Jungen der Paulstrasse · German (original)B2 Intermediate · 13,459 words · ~1 h 30 min
  • The Paul Street Boys · EnglishB2 Intermediate · 14,277 words · ~1 h 30 min

Open in the reader: German with English · English with German

More stories at this level

Intermediate stories in German with English beside it (all of them: Intermediate German stories).

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 Die Jungen der Paulstrasse 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 13,459 words in 13 chapters: around 1 h 30 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 e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.
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.