Kate Chopin

The Story of an Hour

Die Geschichte einer Stunde

Told as gently as possible that her husband has died in a railroad disaster, a woman with a weak heart weeps wildly, then withdraws alone to her room, to an armchair by the open window. As she sits there, something strange begins creeping toward her, too subtle and elusive to name.

B25 minAudio

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death.

Da man wusste, dass Mrs. Mallard an einem Herzleiden litt, wurde mit größter Vorsicht vorgegangen, um ihr die Nachricht vom Tod ihres Mannes so schonend wie möglich beizubringen.

It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her.

Es war ihre Schwester Josephine, die es ihr in abgebrochenen Sätzen mitteilte; mit verschleierten Andeutungen, die im Halbverhüllen enthüllten. Auch Richards, der Freund ihres Mannes, war bei ihr.

It was he who had been in the newspaper office when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallard's name leading the list of "killed."

Er war es gewesen, der sich im Zeitungsbüro aufgehalten hatte, als die Nachricht von dem Eisenbahnunglück einging, bei dem Brently Mallards Name die Liste der „Getöteten“ anführte.

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

Languages

The Story of an Hour · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 1,022 words · ~5 min · Audio
Die Geschichte einer Stunde · GermanB2 Intermediate · 974 words · ~5 min · Audio
Η ιστορία μιας ώρας · GreekB2 Intermediate · 1,022 words · ~5 min
La historia de una hora · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 1,015 words · ~5 min · Audio
L’Histoire d’une heure · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 1,044 words · ~5 min · Audio
एक घंटे की कहानी · HindiB2 Intermediate · 1,129 words · ~10 min
Kisah Satu Jam · IndonesianB2 Intermediate · 882 words · ~5 min
La storia di un’ora · ItalianB2 Intermediate · 975 words · ~5 min
ある一時間の物語 · JapaneseB2 Intermediate
한 시간 동안 일어난 일 · KoreanB2 Intermediate · 758 words · ~5 min
Het verhaal van een uur · DutchB2 Intermediate · 1,066 words · ~5 min
Historia pewnej godziny · PolishB2 Intermediate · 813 words · ~5 min
A história de uma hora · PortugueseB2 Intermediate · 1,002 words · ~5 min
Povestea unei ore · RomanianB2 Intermediate · 1,010 words · ~5 min
Bir Saatin Hikâyesi · TurkishB2 Intermediate · 746 words · ~5 min
Chuyện một giờ · VietnameseB2 Intermediate · 1,329 words · ~10 min
一小时的故事 · ChineseB2 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read The Story of an Hour 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 1,022 words: around 5–10 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.

The Story of an Hour

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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