Fiction · Audiobook read-along
The Metamorphosis
A travelling salesman wakes one morning transformed into a monstrous insect — and his family must cope.
Reading The Metamorphosis in English
Best for: B1–B2 (Intermediate–Upper intermediate), with read-along support
Reading it at your level: B1B2
Gregor Samsa wakes one morning to find he has turned into a large insect, and the rest of the novella follows his family's slow, painful adjustment to this fact. Kafka's prose in translation is unusually clear and domestic — much of the language describes ordinary household objects, family meals, and everyday routines, which makes the growing horror feel all the more real. The short length means you can read it in a single sitting.
What you'll practise
- Household and domestic vocabulary (furniture, doors, windows, meals)
- Gradual tense shifts as the family's attitude changes over weeks
- Indirect thought and free indirect style to show characters' inner feelings
- Tap any term you are unsure of to see a plain-English definition
How to read it here: press play and follow the highlighted text as it's read aloud, and tap any word you don't know for a definition graded to your level. Start reading free →
Prefer a printout? Download the free companion PDF — the cover, your best-for level, what you'll practise, and the link back to read it along with audio. There's also a free key vocabulary PDF — the words from this book grouped by CEFR level, with definitions and examples.
New to reading along? How reading while listening works →
Common questions about reading The Metamorphosis
What level of English is The Metamorphosis best for?
The Metamorphosis suits B1–B2 (Intermediate–Upper intermediate) learners. With read-along audio and tap-to-define vocabulary, you can read it a little above your comfort level without getting stuck.
Is The Metamorphosis free to read in English?
Yes. The Metamorphosis is free to read here with synced read-along narration — no signup and no payment.
Does The Metamorphosis come with audio?
Yes. Every book on The Reading Corner is narrated, with the words highlighting in time as you listen and every difficult word explained on tap — so you read and hear English together.
