Die Maske von Basel
The Mask of Basel
Twelve-year-old Aurelio has just been admitted to a Basel carnival Clique, and to belong he agrees to a secret dare: on the night before the Morgestraich, he is to deface a rival Clique's lantern. But on the Rhine ferry, spray can in hand, he must decide what courage really means, and whose face is painted under the tarpaulin.
B21 h
How it begins
Die Aufnahme
The Initiation
Das Klopfen an der Kellertür kam dreimal, dann zweimal, dann noch einmal, und Aurelio Stöcklin wusste, dass er jetzt nicht mehr zurückkonnte. Er stand auf der untersten Stufe einer steilen Treppe in der Rheingasse, das Piccolo in der Jackentasche, und seine Finger waren so kalt, als hätte er sie in den Rhein gehalten. Hinter der Tür wurde es plötzlich still, dann knarrte der Riegel.
The knock on the cellar door came three times, then twice, then once more, and Aurelio Stöcklin knew that there was no going back now. He was standing on the bottom step of a steep staircase in the Rheingasse, his piccolo in his jacket pocket, and his fingers were as cold as if he had held them in the Rhine. Behind the door it suddenly went quiet, then the bolt creaked.
«Name?», fragte eine tiefe Stimme aus dem Dunkeln.
"Name?" asked a deep voice out of the darkness.
Languages
- Die Maske von Basel · German (original)B2 Intermediate · 9,330 words · ~1 h
- The Mask of Basel · EnglishB2 Intermediate · 10,065 words · ~1 h · Audio
Questions
Which languages can I read Die Maske von Basel 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 9,330 words in 11 chapters: around 1 h 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.