
Read in English · with German
Read Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy in English, with German beside it
by Louisa May Alcott · 1832–1888
"Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy" by Louisa May Alcott is a coming-of-age novel published in 1868-1869. The story follows four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—as they navigate the passage from childhood to womanhood in Civil War-era Massachusetts. Loosely based on Alcott's own family, the novel explores themes of domesticity, work, and love while depicting the joys and struggles of nineteenth-century women's lives. Through their adventures and challenges, the March sisters embody different aspects of young American womanhood.
Summary generated automatically by Project Gutenberg.
- Read time
- 874 min
- Words
- 192,313
- Chapters
- 22
- Paragraphs
- 4,674
- Price
- Free
- Autobiographical fiction
- Bildungsromans
- Domestic fiction
- Family life -- New England -- Fiction
- March family (Fictitious characters) -- Fiction
- Mothers and daughters -- Fiction
- New England -- Fiction
- Sisters -- Fiction
"There, Beth, that's an honor to be proud of, I'm sure!
„Nun, Beth, das ist eine Ehre, auf die du stolz sein kannst, bin ich sicher!
Laurie told me how fond Mr. Laurence used to be of the child who died, and how he kept all her little things carefully.
Laurie hat mir erzählt, wie sehr Mr. Laurence früher das Kind, das starb, geliebt hatte und wie er all ihre kleinen Dinge sorgfältig aufbewahrte.
Just think, he's given you her piano.
Stell dir nur vor, er hat dir ihr Klavier gegeben.
That comes of having big blue eyes and loving music," said Jo, trying to soothe Beth, who trembled, and looked more excited than she had ever been before.
Das kommt davon, große blaue Augen zu haben und Musik zu lieben“, sagte Jo, versuchend, Beth zu beruhigen, die bebte und aufregter aussah, als sie je zuvor gewesen war.
"See the cunning brackets to hold candles, and the nice green silk, puckered up, with a gold rose in the middle, and the pretty rack and stool, all complete," added Meg,
„Sieh die kunstvollen Halterungen für Kerzen und die schöne grüne Seide, die gerafft ist, mit einer goldenen Rose in der Mitte, und das hübsche Gestell und Hocker, alles komplett“, fügte Meg hinzu,
opening the instrument and displaying its beauties.
indem sie das Instrument öffnete und seine Schönheiten zur Schau stellte.
"'Your humble servant, James Laurence'; only think of his writing that to you.
„‚Ihr demütiger Diener, James Laurence‘; stell dir nur vor, dass er das dir schreibt.
I'll tell the girls.
Ich werde es den Mädchen erzählen.
They'll think it's splendid," said Amy, much impressed by the note.
Sie werden es herrlich finden“, sagte Amy, die von der Notiz sehr beeindruckt war.
"Try it, honey.
„Probier es, Schatz.
Let's hear the sound of the baby-pianny," said Hannah, who always took a share in the family joys and sorrows.
Lass uns den Klang des Baby-Klaviers hören“, sagte Hannah, die immer Anteil an den Freuden und Sorgen der Familie nahm.
So Beth tried it; and every one pronounced it the most remarkable piano ever heard.
Also probierte Beth es; und jeder nannte es das bemerkenswerteste Klavier, das je gehört worden war.
It had evidently been newly tuned and put in apple-pie order;
Es war offensichtlich neu gestimmt und in bestem Zustand gebracht worden; aber
but, perfect as it was, I think the real charm of it lay in the happiest of all happy faces which leaned over it, as Beth lovingly touched the beautiful black and white keys and pressed the bright pedals.
, so perfekt es auch war, ich denke, der wahre Charme lag in dem glücklichsten aller glücklichen Gesichter, das darüber gebeugt war, als Beth liebevoll die schönen schwarzen und weißen Tasten berührte und die glänzenden Pedale trat.
"You'll have to go and thank him," said Jo, by way of a joke; for the idea of the child's really going never entered her head.
„Du musst hingehen und ihm danken“, sagte Jo, derart als Scherz; denn die Idee, dass das Kind wirklich hingehen würde, kam ihr nie in den Sinn.
About the author

Louisa May Alcott1832–1888
Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) was an American novelist and poet, best known for her novel Little Women.
All 2 Louisa May Alcott books, easiest first →Read it in another language
Questions about Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy
Can I read Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy in English with German side by side online?
Yes, free. Paralelo shows the English original with a German machine translation beside it, aligned phrase by phrase: hover or tap a phrase and its counterpart lights up in the other column. Anyone can read a passage; a free account opens the whole book.
What level do I need to read Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy here?
There is no set level. Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy runs to 192,313 words in 22 chapters, and the translation sits beside it, aligned phrase by phrase, so you can start below the level the original would need on its own and lean on the translation only where you stumble.
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Can I read Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy in another language?
Yes. It is also published in Spanish, French, and switching keeps your place, because both columns share one paragraph numbering.
How long does Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy take to read?
About 15 hours at a normal pace, longer if you stop to look at the alignment, which is rather the point.
Book details
- Original language
- English
- Translation
- German, machine translation
- Source text
- Project Gutenberg #37106
- Licence
- Public domain worldwide
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