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A Man in the Open
A Man in the Open

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of A Man in the Open is here in full — 83 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Man in the Open
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:
Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.
Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.
Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.
I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Man in the Open

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of A Man in the Open is here in full — 83 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:
Line 2
Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.
Line 3
Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.
Line 4
Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.
/prerz sent tuː ˈhevən ɑːr ˈænsərd bʌt nɑːt ˈletərz/
Line 5
I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.
/aɪ ˈrekən noʊ wʌn hiːr kʊd ˈevər raɪt ə ˈletər ˈhæpi ɪˈnʌf soʊ laɪt wɪð dʒɔɪ ðæt ɪt kʊd flaɪ ʌp ðer/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

angels noun US /ˈeɪndʒəlz/

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading “Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.”

hungering verb US /ˈhʌŋɡərɪŋ/

-ing form of “hunger” — feel the need to eat

From this reading “Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.”

missed adjective US /mɪst/

not caught with the senses or the mind

From this reading “Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.”

mortals noun US /ˈmɔːrtəlz/

plural of “mortal” — a human being

From this reading “Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.”

mothers noun US /ˈmʌðərz/

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading “Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.”

neighbor noun US /ˈneɪbər/

a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading “Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.”

Prayers noun US /prerz/

plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading “Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.”

rescue verb US /ˈreskjuː/

free from harm or evil

From this reading “RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

write a letter verb + article + noun counted as “write … letter”

In this reading “I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.”

on earth preposition + noun

used with question words to convey surprise

In this reading “Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.”

fly up verb + adjective

In this reading “I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.”

with joy preposition + noun

In this reading “I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.”

in Heaven preposition + noun

In this reading “RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:”

All words in this reading · 60

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

badlyadverbUS /ˈbædli/

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

flyverbUS /flaɪ/

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

gratefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtfəl/

feeling or showing gratitude

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

grudged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

HeavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

how

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

hungeringverbUS /ˈhʌŋɡərɪŋ/

-ing form of “hunger” — feel the need to eat

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

I'm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

Jesse's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

LetternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:

lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/

the literary culture

From this reading Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

missedadjectiveUS /mɪst/

not caught with the senses or the mind

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

mortalsnounUS /ˈmɔːrtəlz/

plural of “mortal” — a human being

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

MothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:

mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

neighbornounUS /ˈneɪbər/

a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

PleaseverbUS /pliːz/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

PrayersnounUS /prerz/

plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.

reckonverbUS /ˈrekən/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

RESCUEverbUS /ˈreskjuː/

free from harm or evil

From this reading RESCUE _Jesse's Letter_ Mother in Heaven:

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

sonsnounUS /sʌnz/

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

TellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

thankverbUS /θæŋk/

express gratitude or show appreciation to

From this reading Please thank God for me and say I'm grateful.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Tell the neighbor angels how little mothers having sons on earth are badly missed and grudged by hungering mortals.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Prayers sent to Heaven are answered, but not letters.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading I reckon no one here could ever write a letter happy enough, so light with joy that it could fly up there.

Chapter 23 of A Man in the Open by Roger Pocock holds 83 sentences, grouped into 17 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 23 of A Man in the Open contain?

Chapter 23 holds 83 sentences of A Man in the Open, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of A Man in the Open by Roger Pocock exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 83 sentences, grouped into 17 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 23 of A Man in the Open?

Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 17 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Man in the Open

Common questions about reading A Man in the Open by Roger Pocock on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Man in the Open?

Yes. All 4400 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33423 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Man in the Open is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33423, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Man in the Open take to read?

About 366 minutes of reading across 880 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Man in the Open section by section

How to work through A Man in the Open section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of A Man in the Open to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Man in the Open

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Man in the Open, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Except
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Man in the Open; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Characters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Man in the Open; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Appearing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Man in the Open; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Man in the Open; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.