My father climbed the stairs one at a time, holding the rail. On the fifth floor, in an hour, the licensing committee would decide whether the market opened tomorrow, as it had every year since 1976, or never opened on the square again. He had had his only suit cleaned for the hearing. It was dark grey and slightly too big, and he wore it with a tie that my mother must have bought him, because he would never have chosen it himself.
How it begins
My father climbed the stairs one at a time, holding the rail. On the fifth floor, in an hour, the licensing committee would decide whether the market opened tomorrow, as it had every year since 1976, or never opened on the square again. He had had his only suit cleaned for the hearing. It was dark grey and slightly too big, and he wore it with a tie that my mother must have bought him, because he would never have chosen it himself.
Mein Vater stieg die Treppe Stufe für Stufe hinauf und hielt sich am Geländer fest. Im fünften Stock würde in einer Stunde der Genehmigungsausschuss entscheiden, ob der Markt morgen öffnete, wie jedes Jahr seit 1976, oder nie wieder auf dem Platz stattfand. Er hatte seinen einzigen Anzug für die Anhörung reinigen lassen. Er war dunkelgrau und ein bisschen zu groß, und dazu trug er eine Krawatte, die meine Mutter ihm gekauft haben musste, denn selbst hätte er sie nie ausgesucht.
"You look like a lawyer," I said.
„Du siehst aus wie ein Anwalt", sagte ich.
"You look like a carpenter," he said, and it was true. I had cut my hand again the night before and there was a plaster across two of my knuckles.
„Du siehst aus wie ein Zimmermann", sagte er, und das stimmte. Ich hatte mich am Abend davor wieder an der Hand geschnitten, und über zwei Fingerknöcheln klebte ein Pflaster.
Languages
- The Condition · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 2,367 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Die Bedingung · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,302 words · ~15 min · Audio
- La condición · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,305 words · ~15 min · Audio
- La condition · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,634 words · ~20 min · Audio
German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · English with German · English with Spanish · English with French · German with Spanish · German with French · Spanish with German · Spanish with French · French with German · French with Spanish
Questions
Which languages can I read The Condition in?
English, German, Spanish and French. 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, Spanish and French are B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 2,367 words: around 15–20 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.