How long does it take to read The Battle of Life?
The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens is 29,684 words long. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, it takes about 1 hour 59 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 18 minutes |
| Below averageunhurried, easily distracted, or a dense text | 200 wpm | 2 hours 28 minutes |
| Averagewhat most adults read at | 250 wpm | 1 hour 59 minutes |
| Fasta confident, practised reader | 325 wpm | 1 hour 31 minutes |
| Very fastskimming, or very familiar material | 400 wpm | 1 hour 14 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 The Battle of Life 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?
The Battle of Life has 3 chapters, averaging 9,895 words, about 40m each. The longest is Part the Second at 46m; the shortest is Part the First at 34m. Useful if you read a chapter a night.
Chapter times at 250 wpm.
You could start The Battle of Life tonight
Read it free online, no account needed. 3 chapters, tap any word to look it up, and a short quiz at the end.
Common questions
How long does it take to read The Battle of Life?
The Battle of Life is 29,684 words long. At an average adult reading speed of 250 words per minute that is about 1 hour 59 minutes. A slower reader at 150 wpm needs around 3 hours 18 minutes; a fast reader at 400 wpm finishes in roughly 1 hour 14 minutes.
How many words is The Battle of Life?
The Battle of Life is 29,684 words across 3 chapters, which is an evening or two. Of the 39 classics on ReadClassicly, 27 are longer and 11 are shorter.
Can I read The Battle of Life in a day?
Yes. At an average speed it takes about 1 hour 59 minutes, so The Battle of Life is comfortably a one-day read: an afternoon, or an evening if you don't stop.
Is The Battle of Life hard to read?
At CEFR level B1-B2, The Battle of Life is approachable, and a confident intermediate reader can handle it. 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.