O. Henry

After Twenty Years

Nach zwanzig Jahren

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.

B110 minAudio

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few.

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 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.

Es war kaum zehn Uhr abends, aber kalte Windböen mit einem Hauch von Regen hatten die Straßen nahezu menschenleer gefegt.

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.

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.

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

Languages

After Twenty Years · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,264 words · ~10 min · Audio
Nach zwanzig Jahren · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,303 words · ~10 min · Audio
Μετά από είκοσι χρόνια · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,255 words · ~10 min
Después de veinte años · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,251 words · ~10 min · Audio
Vingt ans après · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,366 words · ~10 min · Audio
बीस साल बाद · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,498 words · ~10 min
Setelah Dua Puluh Tahun · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 1,237 words · ~10 min
Dopo vent’anni · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,200 words · ~10 min
『二十年後』 · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
20년 후 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 848 words · ~5 min
Na twintig jaar · DutchB1 Intermediate · 1,347 words · ~10 min
Po dwudziestu latach · PolishB1 Intermediate · 1,080 words · ~10 min
Depois de vinte anos · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,281 words · ~10 min
După douăzeci de ani · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,271 words · ~10 min
Yirmi Yıl Sonra · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 920 words · ~10 min
Sau hai mươi năm · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 1,631 words · ~15 min
二十年后 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read After Twenty Years 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 B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 1,264 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.

After Twenty Years

How it begins

Languages

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