The Great Gatsby | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

The Great Gatsby | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

I
Inmyyoungerandmore
vulnerables
vulnerable
yearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.
“Wheneveryoufeellike
criticar
criticizing
anyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”
Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeen
inusualmente
unusually
communicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.
In
consecuencia
consequence
,I’minclinedtoreservealljudgements,a
hábito
habit
thathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafewveteranbores.
The
anormal
abnormal
mindisquickto
detectar
detect
andattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustly
acusado
accused
ofbeingapolitician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
hostil
hostile
levitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatanintimate
revelación
revelation
wasquiveringonthe
horizonte
horizon
;
fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Reservar
Reserving
judgementsisamatterofinfinitehope.
IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthefundamentaldecenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.
And,after
presumir
boasting
thiswayofmy
tolerancia
tolerance
,Icometothe
admisión
admission
thatithasa
límite
limit
.
Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlastautumnIfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortof
moral
moral
attentionforever;
Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivileged
vislumbres
glimpses
intothehumanheart.
OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,who
representaba
represented
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffected
desprecio
scorn
.
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightened
sensibilidad
sensitivity
tothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthat
registran
register
earthquakestenthousandmilesaway.
Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.
No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,what
sucio
foul
dustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthat
temporalmente
temporarily
closedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.
Myfamilyhavebeen
prominente
prominent
,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddle
Oeste
Western
cityforthreegenerations.
TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
clan
clan
,andwehavea
tradición
tradition
thatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,buttheactual
fundador
founder
ofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,senta
sustituto
substitute
totheCivilWar,andstartedthewholesale
hardware
hardware
businessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.
Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
referencia
reference
totheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.
I
gradué
graduated
fromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterI
participé
participated
inthatdelayedTeutonic
migración
migration
knownastheGreatWar.
Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
inquieto
restless
.
Insteadofbeingthewarm
centro
centre
oftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedliketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedtofinancemeforayear,andafter
varios
various
delaysIcameEast,
permanentemente
permanently
,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.
Thepracticalthingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.
Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
cartón
cardboard
bungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.
Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanold
Dodge
Dodge
andaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnish
sabiduría
wisdom
toherselfovertheelectric
estufa
stove
.
Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehad
casualmente
casually
conferredonmethefreedomoftheneighbourhood.
Andsowiththe
sol
sunshine
andthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliar
convicción
conviction
thatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.
Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
docena
dozen
volumesonbankingandcreditand
inversión
investment
securities,andtheystoodonmyshelfinredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.
AndIhadthehigh
intención
intention
ofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.
Iwasrather
literario
literary
incollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofverysolemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmost
limitado
limited
ofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmoresuccessfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.
ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
Itwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhich
extiende
extends
itselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.
Twentymilesfromthecityapairofenormouseggs,identicalincontourandseparatedonlybya
cortesía
courtesy
bay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterintheWestern
hemisferio
hemisphere
,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.
Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyarebothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysical
parecido
resemblance
mustbeasourceofperpetualwondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.
Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fenómeno
phenomenon
istheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.
IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,thelessfashionableofthetwo,thoughthisisamost
superficial
superficial
tagtoexpressthe
extraño
bizarre
andnotalittle
siniestro
sinister
contrastbetweenthem.
Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,and
apretado
squeezed
betweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasa
colosal
colossal
affairbyanystandard—itwasafactual
imitación
imitation
ofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathin
barba
beard
ofrawivy,anda
mármol
marble
swimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresoflawnandgarden.
ItwasGatsby’s
mansión
mansion
.
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasa
mansión
mansion
inhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.
Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadaviewofthewater,a
parcial
partial
viewofmyneighbour’slawn,andtheconsoling
proximidad
proximity
ofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.
Acrossthe
cortesía
courtesy
baythewhitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.
Daisy
Daisy
wasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.
AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,among
varios
various
physicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchan
aguda
acute
limitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.
Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
for
ejemplo
instance
,he’dbroughtdowna
cadena
string
ofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.
Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwas
rico
wealthy
enoughtodothat.
WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanente
permanent
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwould
deriva
drift
onforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthedramatic
turbulencia
turbulence
ofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.
Andsoithappenedthatonawarm
ventosa
windy
eveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomIscarcelyknewatall.
TheirhousewasevenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,acheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgian
Colonial
Colonial
mansion,overlookingthebay.
Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsand
ladrillo
brick
walksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthe
impulso
momentum
ofitsrun.
ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingnowwith
reflejado
reflected
goldandwideopentothewarm
ventosa
windy
afternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefront
porche
porch
.
HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasa
robusto
sturdy
straw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilious
manera
manner
.
Twoshiningarroganteyeshad
establecido
established
dominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimthe
apariencia
appearance
ofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.
Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidethe
enorme
enormous
powerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.
Itwasabodycapableof
enorme
enormous
leverage—acruelbody.
Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtothe
impresión
impression
offractiousnessheconveyed.
Therewasatouchofpaternal
desprecio
contempt
init,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.
“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewereneverintimateIalwayshadthe
impresión
impression
thatheapprovedofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsomeharsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.
Wetalkedforafewminutesonthe
soleado
sunny
porch.
“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoveda
ancha
broad
flathandalongthefrontvista,includinginits
barrido
sweep
asunkenItaliangarden,ahalf
acre
acre
ofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthe
marea
tide
offshore.
“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
educadamente
politely
andabruptly.
“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahigh
pasillo
hallway
intoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.
Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
A
brisa
breeze
blewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemup
hacia
toward
thefrostedwedding-cakeofthe
techo
ceiling
,andthenrippledoverthewine-coloured
alfombra
rug
,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.
Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
enorme
enormous
couchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponan
anclado
anchored
balloon.
Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothe
azote
whip
andsnapofthecurtainsandthe
gemido
groan
ofapictureonthewall.
ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.
Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewasextendedfull
longitud
length
atherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithher
mentón
chin
raisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.
Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegavenohintofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringanapologyforhaving
molestado
disturbed
herbycomingin.
Theothergirl,
Daisy
Daisy
,madeanattempttorise—sheleaned
ligeramente
slightly
forwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.
“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
She
insinuó
hinted
inamurmurthatthe
apellido
surname
ofthebalancinggirlwas
Baker
Baker
.
(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeoplelean
hacia
toward
her;
anirrelevantcriticismthatmadeitnolesscharming.)
Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,shenoddedatmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofa
susto
fright
.
Againasortofapology
surgió
arose
tomylips.
Almostany
exhibición
exhibition
ofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsa
aturdido
stunned
tributefromme.
Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisan
arreglo
arrangement
ofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.
Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabrightpassionatemouth,buttherewasan
emoción
excitement
inhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:
asingingcompulsion,a
susurro
whispered
“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthings
flotando
hovering
inthenexthour.
ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
docena
dozen
peoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.
“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownisdesolate.
Allthecarshavetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasa
lamento
mourning
wreath,andthere’sa
persistente
persistent
wailallnightalongthenorthshore.”
“Howgorgeous!
Let’sgoback,Tom.
Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghttoseethebaby.”
“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’sthreeyearsold.
Haven’tyoueverseenher?”
“Never.”
“Well,yououghttoseeher.
She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,whohadbeen
flotando
hovering
restlesslyabouttheroom,stoppedandrestedhishandonmyshoulder.
“Whatyoudoing,Nick?”
“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
Itoldhim.
“Neverheardofthem,”he
comentó
remarked
decisively.
Thisannoyedme.
“Youwill,”Ianswered
breve
shortly
.
“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingat
Daisy
Daisy
andthenbackatme,asifhewere
alerta
alert
forsomethingmore.
“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMiss
Baker
Baker
said:
“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Evidentemente
Evidently
itsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesof
rápidos
rapid
,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.
“I’mstiff,”she
quejó
complained
,“I’vebeenlyingonthat
sofá
sofa
foraslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’tlookatme,”
Daisy
Daisy
retorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”
“No,thanks,”saidMiss
Baker
Baker
tothefourcocktailsjustinfromthe
despensa
pantry
.
“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Her
anfitrión
host
lookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMiss
Baker
Baker
,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasaslender,small-breastedgirl,withan
erguido
erect
carriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoung
cadete
cadet
.
Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewithpolitereciprocal
curiosidad
curiosity
outofawan,charming,discontentedface.
It
ocurrió
occurred
tomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.
“YouliveinWestEgg,”she
comentó
remarked
contemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
exigió
demanded
Daisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcould
responder
reply
thathewasmy
vecino
neighbour
dinnerwasannounced;
wedginghis
tenso
tense
armimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.
Slenderly,languidly,theirhandsset
ligeramente
lightly
ontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-coloured
porche
porch
,opentowardthesunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.
“Whycandles?”
objected
Daisy
Daisy
,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethelongestdayintheyear.”
Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthelongestdayoftheyearandthenmissit?
Ialwayswatchforthelongestdayintheyearandthenmissit.”
“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMiss
Baker
Baker
,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.
“Allright,”said
Daisy
Daisy
.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwithanawed
expresión
expression
onherlittlefinger.
“Look!”
she
quejó
complained
;
“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—the
nudillo
knuckle
wasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryinga
bruto
brute
ofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
espécimen
specimen
ofa—”.
“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”
insistió
insisted
Daisy.
SometimessheandMiss
Baker
Baker
talkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesinthe
ausencia
absence
ofalldesire.
Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlya
educado
polite
pleasantefforttoentertainortobe
entretener
entertained
.
Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverand
casualmente
casually
putaway.
ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fase
phase
tophasetowardsitsclose,ina
continuamente
continually
disappointedanticipationorelsein
puro
sheer
nervousdreadofthemomentitself.
“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”I
confesé
confessed
onmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.
“Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?”
Imeantnothinginparticularbythis
comentario
remark
,butitwastakenupinanunexpectedway.
“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTom
violentamente
violently
.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.
Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.
It’sall
científico
scientific
stuff;
it’sbeenproved.”