Mother's Nursery Tales

Katharine Pyle (1863-1938)

Approximate level: B1
Length: 66,809 words
Reading time: 5 h 34 min
Chapters: 35
Language: English
On Project Gutenberg since: 2015

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This collection retells traditional fairy tales, with kings, queens, fairies, and enchanted events at the center. Its style reflects the late nineteenth-century children’s literature in which Katharine Pyle wrote. The vocabulary includes familiar story words alongside older terms for ceremonies, clothing, food, and objects. Sentences are mostly clear, though some are long and detailed, with several clauses. The tales often turn on kindness, danger, family, and the consequences of choices, making the book approachable but occasionally demanding in its older phrasing.

892 downloads on Project Gutenberg

Subjects

Fairy tales

Questions about this book

What level of English do I need for this book?

The estimate is B1, based on how common the words are and how long the sentences run. It is an approximation, not a test result. With a translation under every sentence you can start one level earlier than you would with a paper copy.

Is this book really free?

Yes. The text is in the public domain and comes from Project Gutenberg, so it costs nothing. In Lingo7 you open the book and read the first page for free; a subscription unlocks the whole library, the audio and the word practice.

How does reading with a translation work?

Lingo7 shows the original sentence and, right under it, the same sentence in your language. Tap a word to see what it means, hear it, and save it for practice. The translation is made while you read, so it works for any book and for 50 languages.

How long does it take to read?

About 5 h 34 min at a native pace, spread over 35 chapters. In a foreign language plan for more: half an hour a day finishes a book of this size in a few weeks.