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The Shadow over Innsmouth
The Shadow over Innsmouth

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Shadow over Innsmouth — The Origin & The Dilemma

Chapter 1 of The Shadow over Innsmouth is here in full — 355 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Shadow over Innsmouth
Context Illustration Reading 5/71 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.
"You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.
It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.
Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.
Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.
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.

The Shadow over Innsmouth

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Shadow over Innsmouth — The Origin & The Dilemma

Chapter 1 of The Shadow over Innsmouth is here in full — 355 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 5/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 21–25

Line 1
The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.
Line 2
"You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.
Line 3
It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.
Line 4
Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.
Line 5
Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

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.

bus noun US /bʌs/

a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport

From this reading “"You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.”

Drug verb US /drʌɡ/

administer a drug to

From this reading “Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.”

economy noun US /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/

the system of production and distribution and consumption

From this reading “The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.”

hereabouts adverb US /ˈhɪrəbaʊts/

in this general vicinity

From this reading “"You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.”

informants noun US /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmənts/

plural of “informant” — a person who supplies information

From this reading “The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.”

local adjective US /ˈloʊkəl/

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading “The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.”

Sargent noun US /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/

United States painter (born in Italy) known for his society portraits (1856-1925)

From this reading “Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.”

sympathetic adjective US /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

From this reading “The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.”

All words in this reading · 90

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.

10

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

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

7

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

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

ain't

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

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

Arkham

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

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

busnounUS /bʌs/

a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

customnounUS /ˈkʌstəm/

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

don't

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

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

DrugverbUS /drʌɡ/

administer a drug to

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

economynounUS /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/

the system of production and distribution and consumption

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/

a boy or man

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

getsnounUS /ɡets/

plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

guessverbUS /ɡes/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

Hammond's

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

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

hereaboutsadverbUS /ˈhɪrəbaʊts/

in this general vicinity

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/

indecision in speech or action

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

informantsnounUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmənts/

plural of “informant” — a person who supplies information

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

Innsmouth

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

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

Joe

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

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

latelyadverbUS /ˈleɪtli/

in the recent past

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

LeavesnounUS /liːvz/

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

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

PnounUS /piː/

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

RunverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

SargentnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/

United States painter (born in Italy) known for his society portraits (1856-1925)

From this reading Run by an Innsmouth fellow--Joe Sargent--but never gets any custom from here, or Arkham either, I guess.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

shrewd-faced

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

speechnounUS /spiːtʃ/

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

SquareverbUS /skwer/

make square

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

StorenounUS /stɔːr/

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

stoutadjectiveUS /staʊt/

dependable

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

suggestionnounUS /səˈdʒestʃən/

an idea that is suggested

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/

express a supposition

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

they've

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

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It goes through Innsmouth--you may have heard about that--and so the people don't like it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading Leaves the Square--front of Hammond's Drug Store--at 10 A.M. and 7 P.M. unless they've changed lately.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading The stout, shrewd-faced agent, whose speech showed him to be no local man, seemed sympathetic toward my efforts at economy, and made a suggestion that none of my other informants had offered.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You _could_ take that old bus, I suppose," he said with a certain hesitation, "but it ain't thought much of hereabouts.

Chapter Quiz

Use these questions to verify literal comprehension before continuing to the next chapter.

What is the central philosophical inquiry and narrative progression in 'Act 01: The Discourse of The Shadow over Innsmouth — The Origin & The Dilemma'?

How does the prose style reflect classical academic excellence?

What primary language acquisition value does this text offer advanced English scholars?

Chapter 1 of The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft holds 355 sentences, grouped into 71 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 The Shadow over Innsmouth contain?

Chapter 1 holds 355 sentences of The Shadow over Innsmouth, unabridged, divided into 71 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 355 sentences, grouped into 71 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 The Shadow over Innsmouth?

Work through the 71 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 71 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 The Shadow over Innsmouth

Common questions about reading The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Shadow over Innsmouth?

Yes. All 729 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #73181 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Shadow over Innsmouth is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #73181, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Shadow over Innsmouth take to read?

About 60 minutes of reading across 146 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Shadow over Innsmouth section by section

How to work through The Shadow over Innsmouth section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of The Shadow over Innsmouth 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 The Shadow over Innsmouth

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Shadow over Innsmouth, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Unspeakable
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow over Innsmouth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Monstrousness
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow over Innsmouth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Over-hung
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow over Innsmouth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Crumbling
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow over Innsmouth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.