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Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 is here in full — 71 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Edward Bellamy • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

"Not yet," I replied.

"To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

"Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

I ought to have thought of that."

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 XX Reading 1/14

Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 is here in full — 71 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1

That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

Line 2

"Not yet," I replied.

Line 3

"To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

Line 4

"Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

Line 5

I ought to have thought of that."

All words in this reading · 57

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.

afternoon

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

Ah

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

associations

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

away

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

be

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

been

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

can

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

casually

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

chamber

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

doing

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

done

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

Edith

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

equilibrium

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

far

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

for

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

found

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

frank

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

from

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

garden

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

had

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

have

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

I

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

if

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

imagine

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

in

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

inquired

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

lest

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

mental

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

might

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

my

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

Not

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

From this reading "Not yet," I replied.

of

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

From this reading I ought to have thought of that."

old

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

ought

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

From this reading I ought to have thought of that."

rather

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

replied

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

From this reading "Not yet," I replied.

revisited

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

revive

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

said

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

she

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

shrunk

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

so

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

stay

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

strongly

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

That

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

the

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

thought

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

From this reading I ought to have thought of that."

thus

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

To

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

too

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

underground

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

visit

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

From this reading "To be frank, I have shrunk thus far from doing so, lest the visit might revive old associations rather too strongly for my mental equilibrium."

well

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

which

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

yes

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

yet

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

From this reading That afternoon Edith casually inquired if I had yet revisited the underground chamber in the garden in which I had been found.

you

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

From this reading "Ah, yes!" she said, "I can imagine that you have done well to stay away.

Chapter 20 of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 by Edward Bellamy holds 71 sentences, grouped into 15 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 20 of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 contain?

Chapter 20 holds 71 sentences of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 by Edward Bellamy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 71 sentences, grouped into 15 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 20 of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887

Common questions about reading Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 by Edward Bellamy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887?

Yes. All 3150 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #624 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #624, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 take to read?

About 262 minutes of reading across 630 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 section by section

How to work through Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 28 chapters of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887 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 Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887

Words and structures a reader meets early in Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

First: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Light: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Boston: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eighteen: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.