Learn German with the Augsburg Saga - A1.1 Interlinear German-English Reader
When the Romans Left
Learn German through story, history, and calm, carefully graded A1-level language - with immediate English support when you need it.
When the Romans Left is the first book in the Augsburg Saga and an ideal starting point for adult beginners.
It is written in clear A1 German and presented in an interlinear German-English format, sentence by sentence.
Each German sentence is followed directly by its English translation.
The English is not word-for-word and not polished literary prose. It stays close to the German in meaning and structure and functions purely as a reading aid - allowing you to keep reading without constant dictionary use.
🏛️ A calm historical story for beginners
The story is set around AD 400, at the moment when Roman rule is disappearing from southern Germany.
In and around the ruins of Augusta Vindelicorum (modern Augsburg), one family begins a new life on the remains of the Roman world.
You follow everyday moments rather than dramatic events:
- abandoned Roman gates and empty streets
- a first house made of stone
- shared food by the fire
- quiet encounters between Roman survivors and new settlers
- children discovering paths, hills, and traces of the past
The tone is gentle, human, and atmospheric - written for adults, but fully accessible at A1 level.
📖 What this A1.1 reader includes
- One complete A1.1 story (self-contained)
- Interlinear German-English format (sentence by sentence)
- Short English foreword with historical context
- Clear chapter structure
- Chapter summaries
- Simple questions and answers for comprehension and repetition
- Carefully controlled A1 vocabulary with natural repetition
👥 Who this book is for
- Absolute beginners (A1.1)
- Adult learners returning to German
- Self-study readers who want real texts, not drills
- Teachers seeking calm, structured beginner material
- Readers interested in history-based language learning
📚 Part of a larger series
This book works perfectly on its own.
It is also part of the Augsburg Saga, a long narrative series that follows the same family from A1 through C1, across many centuries of German history.
If you prefer longer reading stretches and better value, A1 Omnibus editions are available:
- German-English interlinear A1 Omnibus
- German-only A1 Omnibus
These combine all A1 books in one volume and are more affordable than purchasing the single books individually.
Start here - and let your German grow naturally through reading.
