Skip to content
Menu
Illustration for The Nightingale

English · Intermediate

The Nightingale

By Hans Christian Andersen

An emperor discovers the song of a living nightingale, then learns its value after replacing it with a machine.

Read and listen in English.

Try the Intermediate sample Read this edition

Sample free · Full edition included in a 3-day trial or membership. No card required for the trial.

Intermediate sample in English

Scene 1

Try the first scene with audio. No account needed.

Illustration for the scene “The porcelain palace”

Scene 1 · Intermediate

The porcelain palace

English

Long ago in China, the emperor and everyone at his court were Chinese. This story happened so many years ago that we should tell it now, before it is forgotten.

English

The emperor's palace was the most beautiful in the world. Built entirely of porcelain, it was enormously expensive, but so delicate that anyone who touched it had to be careful. In the garden grew unusual flowers with little silver bells tied to them. Whenever someone passed, the bells rang, drawing attention to the flowers.

English

Everything in the garden was remarkable, and it stretched so far that even the gardener didn't know where it ended.

Continue with The Nightingale

A 3-day trial or membership unlocks the full story and its available reading levels. No card required for the trial.

Continue reading

Create an account · Log in

Other editions in English

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a level for this story?

Open the reader, then choose a level in Reading options. Find a version you can follow comfortably, and return to the same story at a higher level when you are ready.

Can I hide the English translation?

Yes. In Reading options, you can show the English translation beside or below the story, or hide it.

Will it remember where I stopped?

Your account saves your reading and audio position. You need to be signed in with a working connection to save your progress.

Is this story free?

Read this story during your three-day full library trial or with membership. No card is required to start the trial, and there are no automatic charges.