The Turn of the Screw
- Approximate level
- B1
- Length
- 43,381 words
- Reading time
- 3 h 37 min
- Chapters
- 25
- Language
- English
- On Project Gutenberg since
- 1995
Scan to get the app
This novella follows a governess who begins to suspect that the children in her care are being haunted by malevolent spirits. Written in the late nineteenth century, the prose is formal and complex. Henry James uses long, intricate sentences that require careful attention to follow the shifting perspectives and psychological tension. The vocabulary is sophisticated, reflecting the social manners and gothic atmosphere of the era. It is a demanding read that focuses on ambiguity and the internal experience of the narrator.
68,373 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
- England -- Fiction
- Psychological fiction
- Governesses -- Fiction
- Ghost stories
- Children -- Fiction
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 49 languages.
How long does it take to read?
About 3 h 37 min at a native pace, spread over 25 chapters. In a foreign language plan for more: half an hour a day finishes a book of this size in a few weeks.
Similar books
Same language, close to the same level.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain.