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Bella Donna: A Novel
Bella Donna: A Novel

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Bella Donna: A Novel is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."
Published October, 1908.
Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.
He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.
He was not in the heart of success, and lo! he was in the heart of success.
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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.

Bella Donna: A Novel

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Bella Donna: A Novel is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."
/ˈɔːθər ʌv ðə kɔːl ʌv ðə blʌd ðə ˈfruːtfəl vaɪn ə ˈspɪrət ɪn ˈprɪzən/
Line 2
Published October, 1908.
Line 3
Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.
Line 4
He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.
/hiː siːmd tuː hæv ərˈaɪvd æz ə ˈbʊlət ərˈaɪvz ɪn ə ˈbɑːdi/
Line 5
He was not in the heart of success, and lo! he was in the heart of success.

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.

alarming adjective US /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/

frightening because of an awareness of danger

From this reading “Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.”

arrives verb US /ərˈaɪvz/

third-person singular of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading “He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.”

bullet noun US /ˈbʊlət/

a projectile that is fired from a gun

From this reading “He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.”

Fruitful adjective US /ˈfruːtfəl/

productive or conducive to producing in abundance

From this reading “Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."”

Jew noun US /dʒuː/

a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties

From this reading “Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.”

October noun US /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading “Published October, 1908.”

rapidity noun US /rəˈpɪdəti/

a rate that is rapid

From this reading “Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.”

Vine noun US /vaɪn/

a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading “Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."”

All words in this reading · 48

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.

1908

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

From this reading Published October, 1908.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/

frightening because of an awareness of danger

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was not in the heart of success, and lo! he was in the heart of success.

arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

arrivesverbUS /ərˈaɪvz/

third-person singular of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

AuthornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

BloodnounUS /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/

a projectile that is fired from a gun

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

CallverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

DoctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

FruitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfruːtfəl/

productive or conducive to producing in abundance

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading He was not in the heart of success, and lo! he was in the heart of success.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

Isaacson

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

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

JewnounUS /dʒuː/

a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

lo

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

From this reading He was not in the heart of success, and lo! he was in the heart of success.

LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

Meyer

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

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/

belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not in the heart of success, and lo! he was in the heart of success.

OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading Published October, 1908.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

PrisonnounUS /ˈprɪzən/

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

PublishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading Published October, 1908.

rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/

a rate that is rapid

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

SpiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

successnounUS /səkˈses/

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading He was not in the heart of success, and lo! he was in the heart of success.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He seemed to have arrived as a bullet arrives in a body.

VinenounUS /vaɪn/

a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading Author of "The Call of The Blood," "The Fruitful Vine," "A Spirit in Prison."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Doctor Meyer Isaacson had got on as only a modern Jew whose home is London can get on, with a rapidity that was alarming.

Chapter 1 of Bella Donna: A Novel by Robert Hichens holds 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 1 of Bella Donna: A Novel contain?

Chapter 1 holds 415 sentences of Bella Donna: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Bella Donna: A Novel by Robert Hichens exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 1 of Bella Donna: A Novel?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Bella Donna: A Novel

Common questions about reading Bella Donna: A Novel by Robert Hichens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Bella Donna: A Novel?

Yes. All 13461 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17698 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Bella Donna: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #17698, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Bella Donna: A Novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2693 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Bella Donna: A Novel section by section

How to work through Bella Donna: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of Bella Donna: A Novel 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 Bella Donna: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Bella Donna: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bella Donna: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Blood
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bella Donna: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fruitful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bella Donna: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spirit
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bella Donna: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.