Boswell's Life of Johnson
Read this book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary
English books for B2 level (upper intermediate) · Historical novels in English for learners, with translation
James Boswell's biography of Samuel Johnson is a detailed account of the life and conversations of the great English writer and lexicographer. Boswell records Johnson's opinions, wit, and eccentricities, providing a vivid portrait of eighteenth-century London literary society. The book is a landmark of biographical writing. The rich dialogue and anecdotes help English learners.
Learn English with Boswell's Life of Johnson
- 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.
- 12,260 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 Boswell's Life of Johnson in English for free?
Yes. The first chapters of Boswell's Life of Johnson 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 Boswell's Life of Johnson available in Russian?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Boswell's Life of Johnson is shown with its Russian translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Russian whenever you need to.
Is Boswell's Life of Johnson available in Spanish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Boswell's Life of Johnson is shown with its Spanish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Spanish whenever you need to.
Is Boswell's Life of Johnson available in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Boswell's Life of Johnson 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 Boswell's Life of Johnson available in Japanese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Boswell's Life of Johnson is shown with its Japanese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Japanese whenever you need to.
Is Boswell's Life of Johnson available in Chinese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Boswell's Life of Johnson is shown with its Chinese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Chinese whenever you need to.
Is Boswell's Life of Johnson available in Turkish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Boswell's Life of Johnson is shown with its Turkish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Turkish whenever you need to.
Is Boswell's Life of Johnson available in Arabic?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Boswell's Life of Johnson 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 Boswell's Life of Johnson 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.
