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Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy
Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy is here in full — 201 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By David Dwight Wells • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy
Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.
Stanley was nervous and showed it.
Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.
"Not feeling fit?" he queried.
"Suffering from political ennui?"
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.

Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy is here in full — 201 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.
Line 2
Stanley was nervous and showed it.
/ˈstænli wɑːz ˈnɜːrvəs ənd ʃoʊd ɪt/
Line 3
Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.
Line 4
"Not feeling fit?" he queried.
/nɑːt ˈfiːlɪŋ fɪt hiː ˈkwɪrid/
Line 5
"Suffering from political ennui?"
/ˈsʌfərɪŋ frʌm pəˈlɪtəkəl eˈnuːi/

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.

adjusted adjective US /əˈdʒʌstɪd/

altered to accommodate to certain requirements or bring into a proper relation

From this reading “Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cigarettes noun US /ˌsɪɡərˈets/

plural of “cigarette” — finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ennui noun US /eˈnuːi/

the feeling of being bored by something tedious

From this reading “"Suffering from political ennui?"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
monocle noun US /ˈmɑː.nə.kəl/

A single round eyeglass kept in position by the muscles around the eye, worn by gentleman aristocrats.

From this reading “Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.”

Velmora curated lexicon
plentiful adjective US /ˈplentəfəl/

existing in great number or quantity

From this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sodas noun US /ˈsoʊdəz/

plural of “soda” — a sodium salt of carbonic acid; used in making soap powders and glass and paper

From this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tugged verb US /tʌɡd/

inflected form of “tug” — pull hard

From this reading “Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whiskeys noun US /ˈwɪskiz/

plural of “whiskey” — a liquor made from fermented mash of grain

From this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

few moments adjective + noun counted as “few moment”

In this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

31,830 times in 426,212 chapters
private room adjective + noun

In this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

2,467 times in 426,212 chapters
tugged at verb + particle counted as “tug at”

In this reading “Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.”

4,387 times in 426,212 chapters
IN DISTRESS preposition + noun

In this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

3,871 times in 426,212 chapters
supply of verb + particle

In this reading “A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.”

12,648 times in 426,212 chapters

All words in this reading · 53

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.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
adjustedadjectiveUS /əˈdʒʌstɪd/

altered to accommodate to certain requirements or bring into a proper relation

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/

the act of putting a person into a non-elective position

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cigarettesnounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈets/

plural of “cigarette” — finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
companionnounUS /kəmˈpænjən/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DISTRESSnounUS /dɪˈstres/

psychological suffering

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ennuinounUS /eˈnuːi/

the feeling of being bored by something tedious

From this reading "Suffering from political ennui?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
establishverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

set up or found

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading "Not feeling fit?" he queried.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fitverbUS /fɪt/

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading "Not feeling fit?" he queried.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
footnounUS /fʊt/

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GENTLEMANnounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Not feeling fit?" he queried.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Kent-Lauriston

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

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Pending verification
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
monoclenounUS /ˈmɑː.nə.kəl/

A single round eyeglass kept in position by the muscles around the eye, worn by gentleman aristocrats.

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

Velmora curated lexicon
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/

an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/

easily agitated

From this reading Stanley was nervous and showed it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Not feeling fit?" he queried.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
plentifuladjectiveUS /ˈplentəfəl/

existing in great number or quantity

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
politicaladjectiveUS /pəˈlɪtəkəl/

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading "Suffering from political ennui?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/

give an incentive for action

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/

inflected form of “query” — pose a question

From this reading "Not feeling fit?" he queried.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SecretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

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

From this reading Stanley was nervous and showed it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sodasnounUS /ˈsoʊdəz/

plural of “soda” — a sodium salt of carbonic acid; used in making soap powders and glass and paper

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StanleynounUS /ˈstænli/

United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)

From this reading Stanley was nervous and showed it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SufferingnounUS /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/

a state of acute pain

From this reading "Suffering from political ennui?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
supplyverbUS /səˈplaɪ/

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/

past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/

inflected form of “tug” — pull hard

From this reading Kent-Lauriston adjusted his monocle, tugged at his long sandy moustache, and surveyed his companion from head to foot.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whiskeysnounUS /ˈwɪskiz/

plural of “whiskey” — a liquor made from fermented mash of grain

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A GENTLEMAN IN DISTRESS Kent-Lauriston was prompt to his appointment, and it took but a few moments to establish the Secretary and himself in a private room with a plentiful supply of cigarettes, and two whiskeys and sodas.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 5 of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy by David Dwight Wells holds 201 sentences, grouped into 41 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 5 of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy contain?

Chapter 5 holds 201 sentences of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy, unabridged, divided into 41 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy by David Dwight Wells exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 201 sentences, grouped into 41 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 5 of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy?

Work through the 41 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 41 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy

Common questions about reading Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy by David Dwight Wells on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Yes. All 6078 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34925 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #34925, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 506 minutes of reading across 1216 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy

Words and structures a reader meets early in Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Halfway
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hough
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Parlous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.