The Man by the Fire

Der Mann am Feuer

B215 minAudio

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"On what grounds?" I said.

How it begins

EnglishGerman

"On what grounds?" I said.

„Mit welcher Begründung?", sagte ich.

He turned to me as if he had only just noticed I was there. "I wasn't talking to you, young man."

Er wandte sich mir zu, als hätte er erst jetzt bemerkt, dass ich da war. „Ich habe nicht mit Ihnen gesprochen, junger Mann."

"You're talking about my father. That makes it my business." Behind me twelve stall-holders had stopped working to listen. Twelve names, out of the twenty the council wanted by the eleventh, and Mr Pike had just brought five more across the square only to take them away.

„Sie sprechen über meinen Vater. Das geht mich etwas an." Hinter mir hatten zwölf Standbetreiber die Arbeit unterbrochen, um zuzuhören. Zwölf Namen von den zwanzig, die die Stadt bis zum Elften haben wollte, und Mr Pike hatte gerade fünf weitere über den Platz gebracht, nur um sie wieder wegzunehmen.

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

Languages

The Man by the Fire · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 2,251 words · ~15 min · Audio
Der Mann am Feuer · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,201 words · ~15 min · Audio
Ο άντρας δίπλα στη φωτιά · GreekB2 Intermediate · 2,096 words · ~15 min
El hombre junto al fuego · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,151 words · ~15 min · Audio
L’homme près du feu · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,559 words · ~15 min · Audio
आग के पास का आदमी · HindiB2 Intermediate · 2,449 words · ~15 min
Lelaki di Dekat Api · IndonesianB2 Intermediate · 2,040 words · ~15 min
L’uomo accanto al fuoco · ItalianB2 Intermediate · 2,201 words · ~15 min
火のそばの男 · JapaneseB2 Intermediate
불가의 남자 · KoreanB2 Intermediate · 1,536 words · ~10 min
De man bij het vuur · DutchB2 Intermediate · 2,277 words · ~15 min
Mężczyzna przy ogniu · PolishB2 Intermediate · 1,871 words · ~10 min
O homem junto ao fogo · PortugueseB2 Intermediate · 2,255 words · ~15 min
Omul de lângă foc · RomanianB2 Intermediate · 2,180 words · ~15 min
Ateşin Yanındaki Adam · TurkishB2 Intermediate · 1,534 words · ~10 min
Người đàn ông bên đống lửa · VietnameseB2 Intermediate · 2,536 words · ~15 min
火边的人 · ChineseB2 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read The Man by the Fire in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese. 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, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 2,251 words: around 5–15 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.

The Man by the Fire

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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