"Mr Lloyd signs releases once a fortnight, and his signing day remains Monday the fourteenth," I read aloud. "He thanks you for your letter."
How it begins
"Mr Lloyd signs releases once a fortnight, and his signing day remains Monday the fourteenth," I read aloud. "He thanks you for your letter."
„Mr Lloyd unterschreibt Freigaben alle zwei Wochen, und sein Unterschriftstag bleibt Montag, der vierzehnte", las ich vor. „Er dankt Ihnen für Ihren Brief."
I was standing in the shop between the rice and the newspapers, at four o'clock on Tuesday, and my father was serving a woman who wanted stamps. My letter had been a very good letter, two pages long, polite and slightly frightening. It had asked the head of licensing to make an emergency exception and release the huts early, so that thirty of them could be mended before a hearing in ten days. His assistant had needed six hours to say no.
Ich stand am Dienstag um vier Uhr im Laden zwischen dem Reis und den Zeitungen, und mein Vater bediente eine Frau, die Briefmarken wollte. Mein Brief war ein sehr guter Brief gewesen, zwei Seiten lang, höflich und ein bisschen beängstigend. Er hatte den Amtsleiter gebeten, eine Ausnahme zu machen und die Hütten früher freizugeben, damit dreißig von ihnen vor einer Anhörung in zehn Tagen repariert werden konnten. Seine Assistentin hatte sechs Stunden gebraucht, um Nein zu sagen.
"He thanks you," said my father. "That is nice of him."
„Er dankt Ihnen", sagte mein Vater. „Das ist nett von ihm."
Languages
- Work Lights · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 2,353 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Arbeitslampen · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,332 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Luces de trabajo · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,330 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Les lampes de chantier · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,684 words · ~20 min · Audio
German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · English with German · English with Spanish · English with French · German with Spanish · German with French · Spanish with German · Spanish with French · French with German · French with Spanish
Questions
Which languages can I read Work Lights in?
English, German, Spanish and French. 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 English is B2 Intermediate. In translation, German, Spanish and French are B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 2,353 words: around 15–20 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.