Deux générations
- Approximate level
- B2
- Length
- 34,142 words
- Reading time
- 2 h 51 min
- Chapters
- 22
- Language
- French
- On Project Gutenberg since
- 2026
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This story follows a young officer arriving at a hotel in the city of K. during the nineteenth century. The narrative provides a window into Russian social life, featuring interactions between nobility, merchants, and service staff. For a learner of French, the vocabulary is descriptive and grounded in the period, though the dialogue can be challenging due to its colloquial tone and specific cultural references. The sentences are generally straightforward, making it a manageable yet engaging text for practicing your reading skills.
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Subjects
- Fathers and sons -- Fiction
- Country life -- Russia -- Fiction
- Russian fiction -- Translations into French
- Russia -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
- Hussars -- Fiction
Questions about this book
What level of French 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 49 languages.
How long does it take to read?
About 2 h 51 min at a native pace, spread over 22 chapters. In a foreign language plan for more: half an hour a day finishes a book of this size in a few weeks.
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Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain.