Die Brücke der Verzasca
The Bridge over the Verzasca
Twelve-year-old Chiara is tired of her little brother Dario getting all the praise, even from their stonemason grandfather in the Verzasca valley. Then a storm cuts the village off, the Nonno lies injured in the old quarry, and the two of them must climb an ancient mule track through thick fog to fetch help, with Dario building stone men at every bend.
B21 hAudio
How it begins
Das beste Zimmer
The Best Room
Das Postauto hielt mit einem Seufzer der Bremsen, und Chiara Pedrazzini sah als Erste die Brücke. Zwei steinerne Bögen spannten sich über das grüne Wasser der Verzasca, so klar, dass man jeden Kiesel auf dem Grund zählen konnte. Unter der Brücke glitten Schatten von Forellen hin und her. Chiara presste die Stirn an die Scheibe und vergass für einen Augenblick ihren Missmut.
The post bus stopped with a sigh of its brakes, and Chiara Pedrazzini was the first to see the bridge. Two stone arches spanned the green water of the Verzasca, so clear that you could count every pebble on the bottom. Beneath the bridge the shadows of trout glided back and forth. Chiara pressed her forehead against the window and for a moment forgot her ill humour.
«Die Brücke!», rief Dario neben ihr und sprang auf. «Chiara, schau, die Brücke!»
"The bridge!" cried Dario beside her, jumping up. "Chiara, look, the bridge!"
Languages
- Die Brücke der Verzasca · German (original)B2 Intermediate · 9,844 words · ~1 h · Audio
- The Bridge over the Verzasca · EnglishB2 Intermediate · 10,520 words · ~1 h 15 min · Audio
Questions
Which languages can I read Die Brücke der Verzasca 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 Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 9,844 words in 11 chapters: around 1 h – 1 h 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.