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James Pethel

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of James Pethel is here in full — 250 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Max, Sir Beerbohm • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for James Pethel

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter I Reading 1/50

James Pethel

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of James Pethel is here in full — 250 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

Line 2

I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

Line 3

One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

Line 4

Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

Line 5

If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

All words in this reading · 64

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.

a

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

all

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

and

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

announcing

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

are

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

at

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

belike

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

coincident

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

dead

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

death

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

disagreeable

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

distressed

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

do

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

existed

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

for

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

From this reading One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

friends

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

Had

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

have

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

he

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

heard

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

him

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

his

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

I

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

If

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

in

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

is

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

James

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

knowledge

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

learn

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

me

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

meant

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

met

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

morning

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

my

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

never

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

news

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

From this reading One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

newspaper

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

not

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

nothing

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

of

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

From this reading One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

One

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

From this reading One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

paragraph

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

Pethel

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

reads

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

From this reading One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

sake

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

From this reading One reads a newspaper for the sake of news.

saw

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

say

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

shock

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

shocked

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

should

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

sudden

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

suddenly

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

that

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

the

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

this

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

to

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

very

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

From this reading I do not say that the shock was very disagreeable.

was

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

when

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

From this reading I was shocked this morning when I saw in my newspaper a paragraph announcing his sudden death.

wholly

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

with

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

would

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

From this reading Had I never met James Pethel, belike I should never have heard of him: and my knowledge of his death, coincident with my knowledge that he had existed, would have meant nothing at all to me.

you

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

your

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

From this reading If you learn suddenly that one of your friends is dead, you are wholly distressed.

Chapter 1 of James Pethel by Max, Sir Beerbohm holds 250 sentences, grouped into 50 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 James Pethel contain?

Chapter 1 holds 250 sentences of James Pethel, unabridged, divided into 50 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of James Pethel by Max, Sir Beerbohm exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 250 sentences, grouped into 50 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 James Pethel?

Work through the 50 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 50 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 James Pethel

Common questions about reading James Pethel by Max, Sir Beerbohm on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of James Pethel?

Yes. All 497 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #759 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of James Pethel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #759, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does James Pethel take to read?

About 41 minutes of reading across 100 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read James Pethel section by section

How to work through James Pethel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 2 chapters of James Pethel to begin.
Read one section

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

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

Vocabulary met early in James Pethel

Words and structures a reader meets early in James Pethel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Shocked: A word that appears in the opening chapter of James Pethel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Morning: A word that appears in the opening chapter of James Pethel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Newspaper: A word that appears in the opening chapter of James Pethel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Paragraph: A word that appears in the opening chapter of James Pethel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.