Classic
Die Affenpfote
W.W. Jacobs
In each language: The Monkey’s Paw · Die Affenpfote · La pata de mono · La Patte de singe · La zampa di scimmia
An old soldier shows a family a shriveled monkey's paw, a charm said to grant three wishes, and warns that those who meddle with fate do so to their sorrow. The father keeps it anyway and makes a modest wish, half in jest, just to see if the magic is real.
In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 3,900 words · 20–30 min to read.
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I.
I.
Draußen war die Nacht kalt und nass, doch im kleinen Wohnzimmer der Laburnam Villa waren die Jalousien heruntergelassen und das Feuer brannte hell.
Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly.
Vater und Sohn spielten Schach; Ersterer, der eigene Vorstellungen von radikalen Veränderungen des Spiels hatte, brachte seinen König in solch scharfe und unnötige Gefahr, dass es sogar die weißhaarige alte Dame, die friedlich am Feuer strickte, zu einem Kommentar veranlasste.
Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.
Languages
- The Monkey’s Paw · English (original)3,948 words · ~20 min
- Die Affenpfote · GermanB2 Intermediate · 3,994 words · ~25 min
- La pata de mono · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 3,917 words · ~25 min
- La Patte de singe · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 4,481 words · ~30 min
- La zampa di scimmia · ItalianB2 Intermediate · 3,791 words · ~25 min
Open in the reader: German with English · English with Spanish · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English
More stories at this level
Intermediate stories in German with English beside it (all of them: Intermediate German stories).
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- Der SturmCharles and Mary Lamb · B2 · 4,040 words
- DäumelinchenHans Christian Andersen · B1 · 4,143 words
- Der ergebene FreundOscar Wilde · B1 · 4,168 words
- Die bemerkenswerte RaketeOscar Wilde · B2 · 4,172 words
Reading it as a parallel text
A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.
Questions
- Which languages can I read The Monkey’s Paw in?
- English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. 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?
- In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
- How long is it?
- About 3,948 words: around 20–30 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 e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.
- 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.