Read in English · with Spanish
Read Things near & far in English, with Spanish beside it
by Arthur Machen · 1863–1947
Things near & far by Arthur Machen is a memoir written in the early 20th century. It blends luminous recollections of his Welsh childhood and family with frank accounts of his literary apprenticeship in London, digressions on occult literature and aesthetics, and wry reflections on poverty, pleasure, and the making of art. Expect a meandering, eloquent life-portrait in which place, reading, and wonder matter as much as plot. The opening of the memoir sets a dream-bright vision of Caerleon-on-Usk, then imagines two aunts walking the white road to meet the young “John” returning from Oxford, only to pivot to the sober knowledge that all those figures are long dead. From there it moves to the mid-1880s: the narrator wanders the lanes of Gwent, then returns to London for hack work compiling a catalogue of occult books in a Strand garret, sifting alchemists, Kabbalists, and spiritualists while maintaining a skeptical but curious mind. He struggles to begin a “Great Romance,” writes playful dedications and an epilogue to an unwritten book, and is abruptly called home because his mother is dying. Subsequent chapters turn into a meditation on why one writes despite little money and much toil, recounting the painful composition of early tales and the eventual completion of The Chronicle of Clemendy. The scene then shifts to a lively circuit of London lodgings, a comic “war” on fleas ingeniously won with flypapers, and a rapturous trip to Touraine—disappointment at Doré’s imagined landscapes giving way to the real delights of inns, wine, and Chinon. He returns to practice the “great art” of getting lost in London’s unknown quarters, before noting a modest inheritance that lets him live simply, avoid luxury, and keep writing for the pleasure—and necessity—of wonder.
Summary generated automatically by Project Gutenberg.
- Read time
- 212 min
- Words
- 46,707
- Chapters
- 14
- Paragraphs
- 315
- Price
- Free
- Authors, English -- 20th century -- Biography
- Authors, Welsh -- 20th century -- Biography
- Autobiography
- Fantasy fiction -- Authorship
- Horror tales -- Authorship
- Machen, Arthur, 1863-1947
And indeed, as I was writing the last page of the Epilogue, a letter came for me.
Y de hecho, mientras escribía la última página del Epílogo, llegó una carta para mí.
I had written to Mr. Quaritch, stating my experience in cataloguing, and asking for employment.
Había escrito al señor Quaritch, exponiendo mi experiencia en catalogación, y pidiendo empleo.
Mr. Quaritch wrote very civilly stating that he did not want any cataloguers, but people who knew how to sell books.
El señor Quaritch me respondió muy cortésmente, indicando que no necesitaba ningún catalogador, sino gente que supiera vender libros.
And I wrote on to my final flourish, with all the more relish.
Y yo seguí escribiendo hasta mi final estruendoso, con aún más gusto.
“Ceremonies observed in the island at Christmastide,” indeed!
«Ceremonias observadas en la isla en Navidad», ¡de verdad!
Ceremonies observed at Reading Workhouse, more likely!
Ceremonias observadas en el Asilo de Reading, más bien.
But the next morning came a letter from Aunt Maria, that Maria who had walked with Anne to meet John on the white Caerleon road.
Pero a la mañana siguiente llegó una carta de la tía María, esa María que había caminado con Ana para encontrar a Juan en el blanco camino de Caerleon.
My mother was dying; and they sent me the money for the fare, that I might come home.
Mi madre estaba muriendo; y me enviaron el dinero para el billete, para que pudiera volver a casa.
Questions about Things near & far
Can I read Things near & far in English with Spanish side by side online?
Yes, free. Paralelo shows the English original with a Spanish 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 Things near & far here?
There is no set level. Things near & far runs to 46,707 words in 14 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.
Is Things near & far really free to read?
Yes. The text is in the public domain, and the translation and alignment are ours to give. A free account opens the whole book; the paid tier is for unlimited explanations.
Can I read Things near & far in another language?
Not yet. Each language is its own translation and alignment run, and titles are queued by demand: open the book in that language and press “Ask for priority” to move it up the queue.
How long does Things near & far take to read?
About 4 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
- Spanish, machine translation
- Source text
- Project Gutenberg #78106
- Licence
- Public domain worldwide
Start Things near & far today.
Free forever, no card. The whole library opens with an account.
Start reading, it's free