The Praise of Folly
Read this book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary
English books for C1 level (advanced) · Satire in English for learners, with translation
This satirical work, written as a speech by the personification of Folly herself, offers a witty critique of the customs and institutions of early 16th-century Europe. Folly praises her own influence, arguing that she is essential to human happiness and societal functioning. She humorously dissects the practices of various professions, including theologians, scholars, and clergy, exposing their vanities, absurdities, and hypocrisies with sharp, often ironic, observations. The text's playful tone and use of rhetorical devices make it an engaging read for intermediate learners looking to understand satire and classical argumentation.
Learn English with The Praise of Folly
- Suits learners around level C1: you read the original, not a simplified retelling.
- Who it suits: a long, demanding classic (C1), for confident readers, or for B1 to B2 readers with the translation on.
- 4,844 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 Praise of Folly in English for free?
Yes. The first chapters of The Praise of Folly 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 C1. 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 Praise of Folly available in Russian?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Praise of Folly is shown with its Russian translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Russian whenever you need to.
Is The Praise of Folly available in Spanish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Praise of Folly is shown with its Spanish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Spanish whenever you need to.
Is The Praise of Folly available in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Praise of Folly 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 Praise of Folly available in Japanese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Praise of Folly is shown with its Japanese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Japanese whenever you need to.
Is The Praise of Folly available in Chinese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Praise of Folly is shown with its Chinese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Chinese whenever you need to.
Is The Praise of Folly available in Turkish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Praise of Folly is shown with its Turkish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Turkish whenever you need to.
Is The Praise of Folly available in Arabic?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Praise of Folly 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 Praise of Folly 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.
