A escrava Isaura

Bernardo Guimarães (1825-1884)

Approximate level: B2
Length: 53,548 words
Reading time: 4 h 28 min
Chapters: 22
Language: Portuguese
On Project Gutenberg since: 2024

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This nineteenth century Brazilian novel depicts the life of a slave on a wealthy plantation. The language reflects the formal and descriptive style of the era, featuring sophisticated vocabulary and long, elaborate sentences that focus on the natural landscape and rural architecture. For a learner, this text is demanding due to its archaic spelling and complex syntax. It provides a detailed look into the social structures and environmental settings of the period, requiring patience to navigate its dense, descriptive prose.

442 downloads on Project Gutenberg

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Subjects

Brazilian fiction -- 19th century
Slavery -- Brazil -- 19th century -- Fiction

Questions about this book

What level of Portuguese 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 4 h 28 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.

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 A escrava Isaura 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.