How long does it take to read The Canterville Ghost?
The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde is 11,291 words long. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, it takes about 45 minutes to read: a single-sitting read.
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 | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Below averageunhurried, easily distracted, or a dense text | 200 wpm | 56 minutes |
| Averagewhat most adults read at | 250 wpm | 45 minutes |
| Fasta confident, practised reader | 325 wpm | 35 minutes |
| Very fastskimming, or very familiar material | 400 wpm | 28 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 Canterville Ghost 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 | 5 days | 5 days |
| 15 minutes | 4 days | 4 days |
| 30 minutes | 2 days | 2 days |
| 60 minutes | 1 day | a single sitting |
How long is each chapter?
The Canterville Ghost has 7 chapters, averaging 1,613 words, about 6m each. The longest is Chapter 3 at 9m; the shortest is Chapter 2 at 5m. Useful if you read a chapter a night.
Chapter times at 250 wpm.
You could start The Canterville Ghost tonight
Read it free online, no account needed. 7 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 Canterville Ghost?
The Canterville Ghost is 11,291 words long. At an average adult reading speed of 250 words per minute that is about 45 minutes. A slower reader at 150 wpm needs around 1 hour 15 minutes; a fast reader at 400 wpm finishes in roughly 28 minutes.
How many words is The Canterville Ghost?
The Canterville Ghost is 11,291 words across 7 chapters, which is a single-sitting read. Of the 33 classics on ReadClassicly, 30 are longer and 2 are shorter.
Can I read The Canterville Ghost in a day?
Yes. At an average speed it takes about 45 minutes, so The Canterville Ghost is comfortably a one-day read: an afternoon, or an evening if you don't stop.
Is The Canterville Ghost hard to read?
At CEFR level B1-B2, The Canterville Ghost 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.