Tales of Love, Madness & Death Bilingual EPUB
Horacio Quiroga’s short stories are masterpieces of Latin American suspense, written in sharp, vivid Spanish suited to CEFR B1–B2 learners. Preview the openings of two famous stories below.
- Original language
- Spanish · Horacio Quiroga
- First published
- 1917
- CEFR Level
- B1
- Public Domain & Translation Note
- Full original EPUB on Project Gutenberg
Free Downloads & Online Reader
Download the two-chapter bilingual preview EPUB or the core vocabulary list for Anki right away, or open the LangBox EPUB reader to read and save words across the full book.
Chapter 1 & 2 Bilingual Preview
Double-click any word in the excerpt to hear its pronunciation and see its dictionary meaning.
I · El almohadón de plumasI · The Feather Pillow
Original · Spanish
Su luna de miel fue un largo escalofrío. Rubia, angelical y tímida, el carácter duro de su marido heló sus soñadas niñerías de novia. Ella lo quería mucho, sin embargo, a veces con un ligero estremecimiento cuando volviendo de noche juntos por la calle, echaba una furtiva mirada a la alta estatura de Jordán, mudo desde hacía una hora.
Parallel translation
Her honeymoon was one long shiver. Blonde, angelic, and shy, her husband’s stern nature froze her girlish bridal dreams. Yet she loved him deeply, sometimes with a faint shudder when, walking home together through the street at night, she cast a secret glance at the tall figure of Jordán, who had been silent for an hour.
Original · Spanish
Él, por su parte, la amaba profundamente, sin darlo a conocer. Durante tres meses —se habían casado en abril— vivieron una dicha especial.
Parallel translation
He, for his part, loved her profoundly without ever showing it. For three months—they had married in April—they lived in a special kind of happiness.
II · A la derivaII · Adrift
Original · Spanish
El hombre pisó algo blanduzco, y en seguida sintió la mordedura en el pie. Saltó adelante, y al volverse con un juramento vio una yararacusú que, arrollada sobre sí misma, esperaba otro ataque.
Parallel translation
The man stepped on something soft, and immediately felt the bite on his foot. He leaped forward, and turning around with a curse he saw a yararacusú viper coiled upon itself, waiting to strike again.
Original · Spanish
El hombre echó una veloz ojeada a su pie, donde dos gotitas de sangre engrosaban dificultosamente, y sacó el machete de la cintura. La víbora vio la amenaza, y hundió más la cabeza en el centro mismo de su espiral; pero el machete cayó de lomo, dislocándole las vértebras.
Parallel translation
The man cast a quick glance at his foot, where two tiny drops of blood were thickening with difficulty, and drew the machete from his belt. The viper saw the threat and sank its head deeper into the center of its coil; but the flat of the machete came down, dislocating its vertebrae.
Core Vocabulary from Chapters 1 & 2
Key words and phrases in context from the opening chapters, ready to review or import into Anki.
| Word & Pronunciation | Meaning in Context | Sentence in Book |
|---|---|---|
| escalofrío/eskaloˈfɾio/n. | a sudden shiver or chill running through the body | Su luna de miel fue un largo escalofrío. |
| estremecimiento/estɾemeθiˈmjento/n. | a slight trembling or shudder caused by fear or emotion | Ella lo quería mucho, sin embargo, a veces con un ligero estremecimiento. |
| furtivo/fuɾˈtiβo/adj. | secret, stealthy, or done so as not to be noticed | Echaba una furtiva mirada a la alta estatura de Jordán. |
| mordedura/moɾðeˈðuɾa/n. | a bite, especially from a snake or animal | El hombre pisó algo blanduzco, y en seguida sintió la mordedura en el pie. |
| ojeada/oxeˈaða/n. | a quick look or rapid glance | El hombre echó una veloz ojeada a su pie, donde dos gotitas de sangre engrosaban. |
| amenaza/ameˈnaθa/n. | a threat or sign of approaching danger | La víbora vio la amenaza, y hundió más la cabeza en el centro mismo de su espiral. |