Kate Chopin

Désirée’s Baby

Désirées Kind

Found as a toddler asleep at the gateway of the Valmondé plantation in Louisiana, Désirée grows up cherished and marries the proud Armand Aubigny. At L’Abri, his gloomy estate, their baby is born. But as the child grows, small changes spark doubts that threaten her happiness.

B215 minAudio

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

As the day was pleasant, Madame Valmondé drove over to L’Abri to see Désirée and the baby.

Da der Tag angenehm war, fuhr Madame Valmondé nach L’Abri, um Désirée und das Baby zu sehen.

It made her laugh to think of Désirée with a baby.

Es brachte sie zum Lachen, an Désirée mit einem Baby zu denken.

Why, it seemed but yesterday that Désirée was little more than a baby herself; when Monsieur in riding through the gateway of Valmondé had found her lying asleep in the shadow of the big stone pillar.

Nun, es schien erst gestern gewesen zu sein, dass Désirée selbst kaum mehr als ein Baby war; als Monsieur beim Reiten durch das Tor von Valmondé sie schlafend im Schatten des großen Steinpfeilers gefunden hatte.

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

Languages

Désirée’s Baby · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 2,145 words · ~15 min · Audio
Désirées Kind · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,201 words · ~15 min · Audio
Το Μωρό της Ντεζιρέ · GreekB2 Intermediate · 2,172 words · ~15 min
El bebé de Désirée · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,200 words · ~15 min · Audio
Le Bébé de Désirée · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,289 words · ~15 min · Audio
डेज़ीरे का बच्चा · HindiB2 Intermediate · 2,642 words · ~20 min
Bayi Désirée · IndonesianB2 Intermediate · 1,996 words · ~15 min
Il bambino di Désirée · ItalianB2 Intermediate · 2,084 words · ~15 min
デジレの赤ん坊 · JapaneseB2 Intermediate
데지레의 아기 · KoreanB2 Intermediate · 1,606 words · ~10 min
Désirée’s baby · DutchB2 Intermediate · 2,302 words · ~15 min
Dziecko Désirée · PolishB2 Intermediate · 1,864 words · ~10 min
O bebê de Désirée · PortugueseB2 Intermediate · 2,235 words · ~15 min
Copilul lui Désirée · RomanianB2 Intermediate · 2,155 words · ~15 min
Désirée’nin Bebeği · TurkishB2 Intermediate · 1,588 words · ~10 min
Đứa con của Désirée · VietnameseB2 Intermediate · 2,809 words · ~20 min
德西芮的孩子 · ChineseB2 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read Désirée’s Baby 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 2,145 words: around 5–20 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.

Désirée’s Baby

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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