Nicholls, David *1966

The Understudy, 2005 - Language/Style

  • English Language Level: Moderate–Challenging
    • Vocabulary – Some words are advanced or specific to theater and British culture, so readers may need to think about their meaning.

      Sentence Structure – Some parts are long and detailed, others are quick back-and-forth speech, so the reader must adjust to different styles while reading.

      Dialogue – The characters often speak in subtle ways, with jokes or irony that aren’t obvious, so you need to pay attention to how things are said, not just what is said.

  • The novel combines complex sentences, advanced vocabulary, and cultural references that require upper-intermediate English comprehension.