Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story
God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.
It was May-time in England.
The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.
It had been a hard, inclement season.
Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.
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.

God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.
Line 2
It was May-time in England.
Line 3
The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.
Line 4
It had been a hard, inclement season.
/ɪt hæd bɪn ə hɑːrd ˌɪnˈklemənt ˈsiːzən/
Line 5
Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

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.

buds noun US /bʌdz/

plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower

From this reading “Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.”

caprices noun US /kəˈpriːsəz/

plural of “caprice” — a sudden desire

From this reading “Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.”

hawthorn noun US /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus

From this reading “Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.”

inclement adjective US /ˌɪnˈklemənt/

(of weather or climate) severe

From this reading “It had been a hard, inclement season.”

lilac noun US /ˈlaɪlæk/

any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers

From this reading “Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.”

nipped verb US /nɪpt/

inflected form of “nip” — squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading “Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.”

relaxing adjective US /rɪˈlæksɪŋ/

affording physical or mental rest

From this reading “The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.”

sprouting noun US /ˈspraʊtɪŋ/

the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow

From this reading “The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.”

All words in this reading · 86

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 AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been a hard, inclement season.

bitingadjectiveUS /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

capable of wounding

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

breathnounUS /breθ/

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

budsnounUS /bʌdz/

plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

capricesnounUS /kəˈpriːsəz/

plural of “caprice” — a sudden desire

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

chillnounUS /tʃɪl/

coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

CHRISTIANadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪstʃən/

relating to or characteristic of Christianity

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

clods

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

corn's

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

eastnounUS /iːst/

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading It was May-time in England.

ETC

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

farewellnounUS /ˌferˈwel/

an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

frostnounUS /frɔːst/

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/

the act of grasping

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

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

From this reading It had been a hard, inclement season.

hawthornnounUS /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

HEAVENnounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was May-time in England.

inclementadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈklemənt/

(of weather or climate) severe

From this reading It had been a hard, inclement season.

ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was May-time in England.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

lilacnounUS /ˈlaɪlæk/

any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

low-lyingadjective

having a small elevation above the ground or horizon or sea level

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

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

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

MASTERnounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

May-time

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

From this reading It was May-time in England.

meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/

changed from a solid to a liquid state

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

nippedverbUS /nɪpt/

inflected form of “nip” — squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/

the act of applying force in order to move something away

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

red-brownadjective

of brown tinged with red

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

relaxingadjectiveUS /rɪˈlæksɪŋ/

affording physical or mental rest

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/

possessing material wealth

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

ROMANCEnounUS /roʊˈmæns/

a relationship between two lovers

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading It had been a hard, inclement season.

shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/

plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

sproutingnounUS /ˈspraʊtɪŋ/

the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/

(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

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 TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

THELMA

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

thickadjectiveUS /θɪk/

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

too-eagerly

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

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

TREASUREnounUS /ˈtreʒər/

accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

TWOnounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was May-time in England.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading Many a time, since February onward, had the too-eagerly pushing buds of trees and shrubs been nipped by cruel cold,--many a biting east wind had withered the first pale green leaves of the lilac and the hawthorn,--and the stormy caprices of a chill northern.

WORLDSnounUS /wɜːrldz/

plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading AUTHOR OF "THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN," "THELMA," "A ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS," "THE MASTER CHRISTIAN," ETC.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

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

From this reading The last breath of a long winter had blown its final farewell across the hills,--the last frost had melted from the broad, low-lying fields, relaxing its iron grip from the clods of rich, red-brown earth which, now, soft and broken, were sprouting thick with the young corn's tender green.

Chapter 1 of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story by Marie Corelli holds 413 sentences, grouped into 83 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story contain?

Chapter 1 holds 413 sentences of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story by Marie Corelli exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 413 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 God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story?

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 God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story

Common questions about reading God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story by Marie Corelli on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story?

Yes. All 9669 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4653 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4653, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1934 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story section by section

How to work through God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story 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 God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story

Words and structures a reader meets early in God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Treasure
A word that appears in the opening chapter of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Heaven
A word that appears in the opening chapter of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thelma
A word that appears in the opening chapter of God's Good Man: A Simple Love Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.