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John Barleycorn
John Barleycorn

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of John Barleycorn is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 14 of John Barleycorn by Jack London holds 156 sentences, grouped into 32 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 14 of John Barleycorn contain?

Chapter 14 holds 156 sentences of John Barleycorn, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of John Barleycorn by Jack London exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 156 sentences, grouped into 32 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 14 of John Barleycorn?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 John Barleycorn

Common questions about reading John Barleycorn by Jack London on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of John Barleycorn?

Yes. All 3987 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #318 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of John Barleycorn is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #318, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does John Barleycorn take to read?

About 332 minutes of reading across 798 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read John Barleycorn section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of John Barleycorn 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 John Barleycorn

Words and structures a reader meets early in John Barleycorn, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Election
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Barleycorn; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
California
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Barleycorn; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Afternoon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Barleycorn; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ridden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Barleycorn; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for John Barleycorn
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.
I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.
The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.
I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.
I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.
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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.

John Barleycorn

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of John Barleycorn is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.
Line 2
I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.
Line 3
The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.
Line 4
I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.
Line 5
I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

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.

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

abstinence

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

alcohol-soaked

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

From this reading I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

all

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

and

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

Back

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

Barleycorn

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

bay

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

became

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

From this reading I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

before

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

bestiality

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

by

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

comradeship

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

cruises

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

day

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

days

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

drank

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

drinking

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

during

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

From this reading I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

every

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

excess

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

for

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

from

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

going

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

healthy

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

help

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

him

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

I

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

in

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

John

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

laboured

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

lay

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

living

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

longer

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

madly

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

misconception

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

more

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

my

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

Nelson

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

no

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

now

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

Oakland

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

occasionally

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

of

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

offered

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

on

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

only

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

open-air

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

opportunity

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

out

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

period

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

From this reading I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

periods

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

pretty

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

From this reading I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

reinvigorated

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

renewed

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

result

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

returned

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

scow-schooners

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

several

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

shore

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

short-handed

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

spent

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

still

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

than

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

that

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

the

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

this

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

From this reading I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

thoroughly

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

From this reading I became pretty thoroughly alcohol-soaked during this period.

time

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

to

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

toil

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

From this reading The result was that I was no longer reinvigorated by periods of open-air abstinence and healthy toil.

too

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

From this reading I, too, spent my time on shore with him, only occasionally going for cruises of several days on the bay to help out on short-handed scow-schooners.

unconsciousness

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

under

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

wanderings

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

was

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

water-front

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

whenever

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

From this reading I drank every day, and whenever opportunity offered I drank to excess; for I still laboured under the misconception that the secret of John Barleycorn lay in drinking to bestiality and unconsciousness.

who

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.

with

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

From this reading Back in Oakland from my wanderings, I returned to the water-front and renewed my comradeship with Nelson, who was now on shore all the time and living more madly than before.