The house of the dead
Read this book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary
A nobleman sentenced for murder is sent to a Siberian prison, where he shares a barracks with thieves, soldiers and exiles. He observes their routines, quarrels, kindnesses and cruelties through the long winter. Dostoevsky draws on his own imprisonment, and the narrator's calm account makes the suffering immediate. The chapters are episodic and the prose is direct, so learners can read a serious Russian novel in English.
Learn English with The house of the dead
- 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.
- 8,686 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 house of the dead in English for free?
Yes. The first chapters of The house of the dead 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 house of the dead available in Russian?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The house of the dead is shown with its Russian translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Russian whenever you need to.
Is The house of the dead available in Spanish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The house of the dead is shown with its Spanish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Spanish whenever you need to.
Is The house of the dead available in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The house of the dead 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 house of the dead available in Japanese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The house of the dead is shown with its Japanese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Japanese whenever you need to.
Is The house of the dead available in Chinese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The house of the dead is shown with its Chinese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Chinese whenever you need to.
Is The house of the dead available in Turkish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The house of the dead is shown with its Turkish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Turkish whenever you need to.
Is The house of the dead available in Arabic?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The house of the dead 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 house of the dead 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.
