Schweizer Abenteuer · Story 19
Zwei Jahre Ferien
Retold in easy German (B2) from the short story by Jules Verne
In each language: Zwei Jahre Ferien · Two Years’ Vacation
One night a ship slips its moorings in the harbour with fifteen boys on board and not a single adult. A storm drives them across the ocean to a strange shore. For two years they must survive on their own: against hunger, winter and wild animals, against their own quarrels and against a secret that one of them is keeping. Jules Verne's famous adventure novel, retold for young readers.
In German and English · 15 chapters · about 14,600 words · 1 h 45 min to read.
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How it begins
Die Leine ist los
Cast Adrift
Eine Welle, so hoch wie ein Haus, stürzte über das Deck und riss Briant beinahe vom Ruder. Er klammerte sich an das nasse Holz, bis ihm die Finger brannten und die Arme zitterten. Neben ihm stemmte sich Gordon gegen das Steuerrad, das sich wie ein wildes Tier gegen die beiden Jungen wehrte. Über ihnen heulte der Wind in den Masten, und die Nacht war so pechschwarz, dass sie den Bug des Schiffes nicht mehr sahen.
A wave as high as a house crashed over the deck, nearly tearing Briant from the helm. He clung to the wet timber until his fingers burned and his arms trembled. Beside him, Gordon braced himself against the wheel, which fought back against the two boys like a wild beast. Above them, the wind howled through the rigging, and the night was so pitch-black that they could no longer see the ship's bow.
«Mehr nach links!», brüllte Briant. «Sonst kippt sie uns um!»
"More to the left!" Briant roared. "Or she'll capsize us!"
Languages
- Zwei Jahre Ferien · German (original)B2 Intermediate · 14,622 words · ~1 h 30 min
- Two Years’ Vacation · EnglishB2 Intermediate · 15,447 words · ~1 h 45 min
Open in the reader: German with English · English with German
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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 Zwei Jahre Ferien 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 14,622 words in 15 chapters: around 1 h 45 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.