The duel
Read this book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary
English books for B2 level (upper intermediate) · Novels in English for learners, with translation
In a small Russian town, a young officer becomes entangled in a quarrel with a woman he once wronged, and the affair drifts toward a duel. Kuprin follows the characters through drawing rooms, gossip, and private shame, letting the tension build from ordinary social moments rather than open conflict. The story is short, the dialogue is natural, and the emotional stakes are clear, which makes it well suited to an intermediate learner.
Learn English with The duel
- Suits learners around level B2: you read the original, not a simplified retelling.
- Who it suits: a long, demanding classic (B2), for confident readers, or for B1 to B2 readers with the translation on.
- 9,560 distinct words, each one a tap away from your personal vocabulary list.
- Translation into Russian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish or Arabic, aligned to every sentence, shown under the text or beside it.
- Read-aloud audio for every chapter, with the current sentence highlighted as it is read.
- Read in English, glance at the translation under any sentence you are unsure of, and listen to natural read-aloud voices to train your ear.
How it works
- Open the book: no installation, it reads in the browser on any device.
- Read a sentence in English. Its translation sits right under it, so you never lose the thread.
- Tap a word for its meaning and save it; listen to the chapter read aloud.
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Questions about this book
Can I read The duel in English for free?
Yes. The first chapters of The duel open without an account, with the translation, audio and dictionary included. A free account unlocks the rest of the book.
How much English do I need?
The text is estimated at level B2. Because every sentence has its translation underneath, lower levels can follow along too.
Is there audio?
Yes. Each chapter can be read aloud by a natural-sounding voice while the current sentence is highlighted.
Is The duel available in Russian?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The duel is shown with its Russian translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Russian whenever you need to.
Is The duel available in Spanish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The duel is shown with its Spanish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Spanish whenever you need to.
Is The duel available in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The duel is shown with its Brazilian Portuguese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Brazilian Portuguese whenever you need to.
Is The duel available in Japanese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The duel is shown with its Japanese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Japanese whenever you need to.
Is The duel available in Chinese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The duel is shown with its Chinese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Chinese whenever you need to.
Is The duel available in Turkish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The duel is shown with its Turkish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Turkish whenever you need to.
Is The duel available in Arabic?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The duel is shown with its Arabic translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Arabic whenever you need to.
Can I download The duel as a PDF or EPUB?
Not from Booklern: the book is read online, in the browser, with nothing to download or install. Your place in the book is saved to your account.
