Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
John Barleycorn
John Barleycorn

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of John Barleycorn is here in full — 69 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jack London • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 23 of John Barleycorn by Jack London holds 69 sentences, grouped into 14 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 23 of John Barleycorn contain?

Chapter 23 holds 69 sentences of John Barleycorn, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of John Barleycorn by Jack London exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 69 sentences, grouped into 14 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 23 of John Barleycorn?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.
During the week's cruise I did not drink again.
To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.
I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.
My tired brain had recuperated.
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.

John Barleycorn

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of John Barleycorn is here in full — 69 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.
Line 2
During the week's cruise I did not drink again.
Line 3
To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.
Line 4
I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.
Line 5
My tired brain had recuperated.
All words in this reading · 51

Every word is available to listen to. 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 My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
accomplish

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
adventure-path

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
again

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

From this reading During the week's cruise I did not drink again.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
as

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
avoid

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
Barleycorn

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
beset

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
boat

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
brain

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

From this reading My tired brain had recuperated.

Pending verification
compelled

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
cruise

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
day

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
days

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
did

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

From this reading During the week's cruise I did not drink again.

Pending verification
drink

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

From this reading During the week's cruise I did not drink again.

Pending verification
During

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

From this reading During the week's cruise I did not drink again.

Pending verification
enter

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
ever

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
first

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
followed

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
for

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
friends

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
it

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
John

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
lasted

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
looking

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
My

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
not

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

From this reading During the week's cruise I did not drink again.

Pending verification
old

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
ready

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
recuperated

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

From this reading My tired brain had recuperated.

Pending verification
returned

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
salmon

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
this

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
tired

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

From this reading My tired brain had recuperated.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
university

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
up

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
want

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
wanted

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

From this reading I had wanted the drink that first day, and in the days that followed I did not want it.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification
week

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

From this reading My cruise in the salmon boat lasted a week, and I returned ready to enter the university.

Pending verification
week's

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

From this reading During the week's cruise I did not drink again.

Pending verification
with

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

From this reading To accomplish this I was compelled to avoid looking up old friends, for as ever the adventure-path was beset with John Barleycorn.

Pending verification