Classic
Nach zwanzig Jahren
O. Henry
In each language: After Twenty Years · Nach zwanzig Jahren · Después de veinte años · Vingt ans après · Dopo vent’anni
On a cold, windy night in New York, a policeman on his beat slows beside a darkened hardware-store doorway. A man waiting there says he is keeping an appointment made twenty years ago with his oldest friend, at the spot where a restaurant once stood.
In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 1,300 words · 5–10 min to read.
Read it
Tu lis en allemand, à gauche. À droite, tu as le texte en anglais pour t’aider ; pendant la lecture, le bouton en forme d’œil le floute ou le masque.
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Comment ça commence
Der Polizist auf seinem Streifengang bewegte sich eindrucksvoll die Avenue hinauf. Diese Eindrücklichkeit war gewohnheitsmäßig und nicht zur Schau gestellt, denn Zuschauer gab es kaum.
The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few.
Es war kaum zehn Uhr abends, aber kalte Windböen mit einem Hauch von Regen hatten die Straßen nahezu menschenleer gefegt.
The time was barely 10 o’clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well nigh de-peopled the streets.
Während er im Gehen Türen prüfte, seinen Schlagstock mit vielen komplizierten und geschickten Bewegungen wirbelte und sich hin und wieder umdrehte, um seinen wachsamen Blick die friedliche Straße hinunter schweifen zu lassen, bot der Beamte mit seiner stämmigen Gestalt und seinem leichten Stolzieren ein schönes Bild eines Friedenswächters.
Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.
Languages
- After Twenty Years · English (original)1,264 words · ~5 min
- Nach zwanzig Jahren · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,303 words · ~10 min
- Después de veinte años · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,251 words · ~10 min
- Vingt ans après · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,366 words · ~10 min
- Dopo vent’anni · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,200 words · ~10 min
Open in the reader: German with English · English with German · Spanish with German · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English
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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 After Twenty Years in?
- English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. 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?
- In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
- How long is it?
- About 1,264 words: around 5–10 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.