Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Back to Life
Back to Life

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Back to Life
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
We did not know this new England.
We did not understand its spirit or its people.
Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

Back to Life

Chapter X

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
Line 2
We did not know this new England.
Line 3
We did not understand its spirit or its people.
Line 4
Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
Line 5
These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We did not know this new England.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We did not understand its spirit or its people.”

All words in this reading · 86

Every word is available to listen to. 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 Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

absence

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

back

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

become

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

boyhood

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

came

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

changed

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

companions

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

demobilisation

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading We did not know this new England.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

England

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

exile

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

fireside

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

fronts

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

ghostliness

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

going

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

hundreds

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.

kind

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We did not know this new England.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

looking

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

loud

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

many

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

men

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

menace

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

murmurings

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

new

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

From this reading We did not know this new England.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading We did not know this new England.

now

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

old

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

out

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

patient

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

peace

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

people

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

From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.

places

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

revenants

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

revolt

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

Rip

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

round

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

sense

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

sitting

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

spate

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

spirit

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

From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.

stones

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

terror

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading We did not know this new England.

ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

thousands

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

touching

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

van

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

war

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We did not know this new England.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

Winkles

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.

years

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

From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.

youthful

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

From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.