The Treasure of Pearls: A Romance of Adventures in California

Gustave Aimard and Wraxall, Lascelles, Sir (1818-1883)

Approximate level: B2
Length: 75,922 words
Reading time: 6 h 20 min
Chapters: 28
Language: English
On Project Gutenberg since: 2014

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This adventure novel is set in the wild landscapes of mid nineteenth century Mexico and California. The writing style is highly descriptive and uses a rich, flowery vocabulary that reflects the literary conventions of that era. You will encounter long, complex sentences filled with elaborate imagery and detailed accounts of the natural environment. This book is a demanding read because of its dense prose and archaic phrasing, but it offers a vivid look at the historical genre of Western adventure stories.

72,351 downloads on Project Gutenberg

Subjects

Western stories
California -- Fiction

Questions about this book

What level of English do I need for this book?

The estimate is B2, 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 6 h 20 min at a native pace, spread over 28 chapters. In a foreign language plan for more: half an hour a day finishes a book of this size in a few weeks.

Is there an easier version of this book?

Yes, in the Lingo7 app. Next to the original, you can add an adapted version that tells the same story of The Treasure of Pearls: A Romance of Adventures in California in simpler words and shorter sentences, at about A2 level. It is made with AI from the public domain text, page by page as you read, and the app marks it as an adaptation. You choose between the two on this page.