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

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Pierre Grassou is here in full — 217 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Pierre Grassou
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?
Since 1830, the true Salon no longer exists.
The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.
In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.
Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.
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.

Pierre Grassou

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Pierre Grassou is here in full — 217 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?
Line 2
Since 1830, the true Salon no longer exists.
Line 3
The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.
Line 4
In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.
/ɪn ˈʌðər deɪz wen ðə səˈlɑːn priˈzentɪd ˈoʊnli ðə ˈtʃɔɪsəst wɜːrks ʌv ɑːrt ɪt kənˈfɜːrd ðə ˈhaɪəst ˈɑːnər ɑːn ðə kriˈeɪʃənz ðer ɪɡˈzɪbətəd/
Line 5
Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.
/əˈmʌŋ ðə tuː ˈhʌndrəd səˈlektɪd ˈpeɪntɪŋz ðə ˈpʌblɪk kʊd stɪl tʃuːz ə kraʊn wɑːz əˈwɔːrdɪd tuː ðə ˈmæstərpiːs baɪ hændz ənˈsiːn/

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.

awarded verb US /əˈwɔːrdɪd/

past form of “award” — give, especially as an honor or reward

From this reading “Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.”

choicest adjective US /ˈtʃɔɪsəst/

superlative of “choice” — of superior grade

From this reading “In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.”

creations noun US /kriˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “creation” — the human act of creating

From this reading “In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.”

Louvre noun US /ˈluːvrə/

an art museum that is a famous tourist attraction in Paris

From this reading “The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.”

masterpiece noun US /ˈmæstərpiːs/

the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman

From this reading “Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.”

paintings noun US /ˈpeɪntɪŋz/

plural of “painting” — graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface

From this reading “Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.”

populace noun US /ˈpɑːpjələs/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading “The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.”

sculpture noun US /ˈskʌlptʃər/

a three-dimensional work of plastic art

From this reading “To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?”

All words in this reading · 90

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.

1830

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

AffectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

ArtillerynounUS /ɑːrˈtɪləri/

large but transportable armament

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

artistsnounUS /ˈɑːrtɪsts/

plural of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/

close fighting during the culmination of a military attack

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

AuthornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

awardedverbUS /əˈwɔːrdɪd/

past form of “award” — give, especially as an honor or reward

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

choicestadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɔɪsəst/

superlative of “choice” — of superior grade

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

chooseverbUS /tʃuːz/

pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

conferredverbUS /kənˈfɜːrd/

inflected form of “confer” — have a conference in order to talk something over

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

creationsnounUS /kriˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “creation” — the human act of creating

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

crownnounUS /kraʊn/

the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

EsteemnounUS /əˈstiːm/

the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

exhibitedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪbətəd/

past form of “exhibit” — show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

exhibitionnounUS /ˌeksəˈbɪʃən/

the act of exhibiting

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

existsverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪsts/

third-person singular of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

From this reading Since 1830, the true Salon no longer exists.

galleriesnounUS /ˈɡæləriz/

plural of “gallery” — spectators at a golf or tennis match

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

highestadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪəst/

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

honornounUS /ˈɑːnər/

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

Lieutenant-Colonel

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

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 To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading Since 1830, the true Salon no longer exists.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

LouvrenounUS /ˈluːvrə/

an art museum that is a famous tourist attraction in Paris

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/

kept in good condition

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

masterpiecenounUS /ˈmæstərpiːs/

the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Since 1830, the true Salon no longer exists.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

over-crowded

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/

graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

paintingsnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋz/

plural of “painting” — graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

Periollas

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

populacenounUS /ˈpɑːpjələs/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/

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

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

revolutionnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/

a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/

emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

SalonnounUS /səˈlɑːn/

gallery where works of art can be displayed

From this reading Since 1830, the true Salon no longer exists.

sculpturenounUS /ˈskʌlptʃər/

a three-dimensional work of plastic art

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

seizedverbUS /siːzd/

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/

chosen in preference to another

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

TestimonynounUS /ˈtestəmoʊni/

a solemn statement made under oath

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Since 1830, the true Salon no longer exists.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/

not seen or perceived

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Among the two hundred selected paintings, the public could still choose: a crown was awarded to the masterpiece by hands unseen.

wearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/

temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading In other days, when the Salon presented only the choicest works of art, it conferred the highest honor on the creations there exhibited.

WheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Louvre has again been taken by assault,--this time by a populace of artists who have maintained themselves in it.

worksnounUS /wɜːrks/

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To The Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, Periollas, As a Testimony of the Affectionate Esteem of the Author, Whenever you have gone to take a serious look at the exhibition of works of sculpture and painting, such as it has been since the revolution of 1830, have you not been seized by a sense of uneasiness, weariness, sadness, at the sight of those long and over-crowded galleries?

Chapter 1 of Pierre Grassou by Honoré de Balzac holds 217 sentences, grouped into 44 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 Pierre Grassou contain?

Chapter 1 holds 217 sentences of Pierre Grassou, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Pierre Grassou by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 217 sentences, grouped into 44 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 Pierre Grassou?

Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 44 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 Pierre Grassou

Common questions about reading Pierre Grassou by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Pierre Grassou?

Yes. All 417 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1230 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Pierre Grassou is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1230, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Pierre Grassou take to read?

About 34 minutes of reading across 84 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Pierre Grassou section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of Pierre Grassou 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 Pierre Grassou

Words and structures a reader meets early in Pierre Grassou, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lieutenant-colonel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre Grassou; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Artillery
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre Grassou; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Periollas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre Grassou; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Testimony
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre Grassou; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.