All Sorts and Conditions of Men

Chapter XXXVI

Chapter 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men is here in full — 129 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Walter Besant • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for All Sorts and Conditions of Men

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

Mr. Pike, the solicitor of the Mile End Road, does not belong to the story--which is a pity, because he has many enviable qualities--further than is connected with Harry's interview with him.

He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.

When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XXXVI Reading 1/25

All Sorts and Conditions of Men

Chapter XXXVI

Chapter 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men is here in full — 129 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

/ə fuːl ənd hɪz ˈmʌni/

Line 2

Mr. Pike, the solicitor of the Mile End Road, does not belong to the story--which is a pity, because he has many enviable qualities--further than is connected with Harry's interview with him.

Line 3

He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.

/hiː red ðə ˈdɑːkjəmənts ənd hɜːrd ðə ˈstɔːri frʌm bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ tuː end/

Line 4

When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

/wen hiː hæd kwaɪt ˈmæstərd ɔːl ðə dɪˈteɪlz hiː bɪˈɡæn ˈmaɪldli tuː ɪkˈspres əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt ənd ˈpɪti ðæt ˈeni jʌŋ mæn kʊd biː sʌtʃ ə fuːl/

Line 5

This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

/ðɪs wɑːz hɑːrd bɪˈkɔːz ˈheri ˈrɪli θɔːt hiː hæd dʌn ə ˈmaɪti ˈklevər θɪŋ/

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.

belong verb US /bɪˈlɔːŋ/

be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading “Mr. Pike, the solicitor of the Mile End Road, does not belong to the story--which is a pity, because he has many enviable qualities--further than is connected with Harry's interview with him.”

documents noun US /ˈdɑːkjəmənts/

plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading “He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.”

enviable adjective US /ˈenviəbəl/

causing envy

mastered adjective US /ˈmæstərd/

understood perfectly

From this reading “When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.”

mildly adverb US /ˈmaɪldli/

to a moderate degree

From this reading “When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.”

Pike noun US /paɪk/

a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic

qualities noun US /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

solicitor noun US /səˈlɪsətər/

a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes

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.

young man adjective + noun

a teenager or a young adult male

In this reading “When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.”

interview with verb + particle

In this reading “Mr. Pike, the solicitor of the Mile End Road, does not belong to the story--which is a pity, because he has many enviable qualities--further than is connected with Harry's interview with him.”

from beginning preposition + noun

In this reading “He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

astonishmentnounUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt/

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Mr. Pike, the solicitor of the Mile End Road, does not belong to the story--which is a pity, because he has many enviable qualities--further than is connected with Harry's interview with him.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.

belongverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋ/

be owned by; be in the possession of

cleveradjectiveUS /ˈklevər/

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

connectedadjectiveUS /kəˈnektɪd/

being joined in close association

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

detailsnounUS /dɪˈteɪlz/

true confidential information

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

documentsnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəmənts/

plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

EndnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

enviableadjectiveUS /ˈenviəbəl/

causing envy

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

give expression to

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

FOOLnounUS /fuːl/

a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.

furtheradverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

HarryverbUS /ˈheri/

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

Harry's

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

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

interviewverbUS /ˈɪntərvjuː/

conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

masteredadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərd/

understood perfectly

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

mightyadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪti/

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

mildlyadverbUS /ˈmaɪldli/

to a moderate degree

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

MilenounUS /maɪl/

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

MONEYnounUS /ˈmʌni/

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

PikenounUS /paɪk/

a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic

pitynounUS /ˈpɪti/

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

qualitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading He read the documents and heard the story from beginning to end.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

RoadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

solicitornounUS /səˈlɪsətər/

a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading This was hard, because Harry really thought he had done a mighty clever thing.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading When he had quite mastered all the details he began mildly to express astonishment and pity that any young man could be such a fool.

Chapter 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men by Walter Besant holds 129 sentences, grouped into 26 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 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men contain?

Chapter 36 holds 129 sentences of All Sorts and Conditions of Men, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men by Walter Besant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 129 sentences, grouped into 26 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 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 36 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 36 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 All Sorts and Conditions of Men

Common questions about reading All Sorts and Conditions of Men by Walter Besant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of All Sorts and Conditions of Men?

Yes. All 9372 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #47098 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of All Sorts and Conditions of Men is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #47098, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does All Sorts and Conditions of Men take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1875 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read All Sorts and Conditions of Men section by section

How to work through All Sorts and Conditions of Men section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 40 chapters of All Sorts and Conditions of Men to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in All Sorts and Conditions of Men

Words and structures a reader meets early in All Sorts and Conditions of Men, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preface: A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Sorts and Conditions of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years': A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Sorts and Conditions of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Partnership: A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Sorts and Conditions of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Myself: A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Sorts and Conditions of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XXXVI

What does chapter 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men contain?

How do I study chapter 36 of All Sorts and Conditions of Men?

Can chapter 36 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading All Sorts and Conditions of Men

How to read All Sorts and Conditions of Men section by section

Open a chapter

Read one section

Listen and tap

Vocabulary met early in All Sorts and Conditions of Men