Verstand und Gefühl
Read Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen in German and English, a parallel text graded reader with audio. Available in CEFR levels A2, B1, B2, and C2.
About this book
A father dies barely a year after coming into his fortune, and a single clause in an old man's will settles the family estate on an infant great-nephew instead of the widow and daughters left behind. What follows is one of Jane Austen's quietest cruelties: a deathbed promise to provide for them, and a son who talks himself out of it by degrees. Three thousand pounds shrinks to five hundred, then to an annuity, then to a few kind favors, all while he believes himself generous. The narration lets him unravel in his own reasonable-sounding words, and the effect is comedy with a cold edge.
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Die Familie Dashwood lebte schon lange in Sussex.
The Dashwood family had lived in Sussex for a long time.
Sie besaßen viel Land, und ihr Haus stand bei Norland Park, mitten in ihrem Land.
They owned a lot of land, and their home was at Norland Park, in the middle of their land.
Seit vielen, vielen Jahren hatte ihre Familie dort gelebt. Ihre Nachbarn mochten sie sehr.
For many, many years, their family had lived there. Their neighbors liked them very much.
Der letzte Besitzer dieses Anwesens war ein unverheirateter Mann, der sehr alt wurde.
The last owner of this estate was a single man who lived to be very old.
Viele Jahre lang lebte seine Schwester bei ihm und kümmerte sich um sein Haus.
For many years, his sister lived with him and took care of his house.
Aber sie starb zehn Jahre vor ihm. Danach fühlte er sich sehr traurig und einsam.
But she died ten years before he did. After this, he felt very sad and lonely.
Sie hinterließ eine Leere. Deshalb lud er seinen Neffen, Mr. Henry Dashwood, und dessen Familie ein, bei ihm zu leben.
She left an empty space. So he invited his nephew, Mr. Henry Dashwood, and his family to live with him.