How long does it take to read Carmilla?
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu is 27,849 words long. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, it takes about 1 hour 51 minutes to read: an evening or two.
Reading time at your speed
Reading speed varies more than most people expect: the gap between a slow and a fast reader is more than double. Find your row, or take the reading speed test to get your real number first.
| Reading speed | Words per minute | Time to finish |
|---|---|---|
| Slowcareful reading, or reading in a second language | 150 wpm | 3 hours 6 minutes |
| Below averageunhurried, easily distracted, or a dense text | 200 wpm | 2 hours 19 minutes |
| Averagewhat most adults read at | 250 wpm | 1 hour 51 minutes |
| Fasta confident, practised reader | 325 wpm | 1 hour 26 minutes |
| Very fastskimming, or very familiar material | 400 wpm | 1 hour 10 minutes |
If English is your second language, expect to read a little below your usual speed on a classic like this one.
How long if you read a bit each day?
Almost nobody reads a novel in one sitting. Here is how Carmilla breaks down at an average 250 wpm, depending on how much time you give it each day.
| Reading a day | Days to finish | That is |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 12 days | about a week |
| 15 minutes | 8 days | about a week |
| 30 minutes | 4 days | 4 days |
| 60 minutes | 2 days | 2 days |
How long is each chapter?
Carmilla has 16 chapters, averaging 1,741 words, about 7m each. The longest is Her Habits—A Saunter at 14m; the shortest is Bereaved at 4m. Useful if you read a chapter a night.
Chapter times at 250 wpm.
You could start Carmilla tonight
Read it free online, no account needed. 16 chapters, tap any word to look it up, and a short quiz at the end.
Common questions
How long does it take to read Carmilla?
Carmilla is 27,849 words long. At an average adult reading speed of 250 words per minute that is about 1 hour 51 minutes. A slower reader at 150 wpm needs around 3 hours 6 minutes; a fast reader at 400 wpm finishes in roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
How many words is Carmilla?
Carmilla is 27,849 words across 16 chapters, which is an evening or two. Of the 33 classics on ReadClassicly, 24 are longer and 8 are shorter.
Can I read Carmilla in a day?
Yes. At an average speed it takes about 1 hour 51 minutes, so Carmilla is comfortably a one-day read: an afternoon, or an evening if you don't stop.
Is Carmilla hard to read?
At CEFR level B2, Carmilla is a moderate read, comfortable at upper-intermediate English. You can read it free at ReadClassicly and tap any word you don't know to look it up, which keeps a harder classic from stalling you.
Reading a classic to learn English?
ReadClassicly has a free plan for English reading for beginners: graded classic stories with tap-to-define words, audio, and a short quiz after each one. Start at your level and build up to full books like this one. If you are just starting, begin with the short English stories for beginners.