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Prester John
Prester John

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Prester John is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Prester John
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.
Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.
I would have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation of responsibility.
But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.
Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Prester John

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Prester John is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.
Line 2
Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.
Line 3
I would have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation of responsibility.
Line 4
But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.
Line 5
Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it wasup to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

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.

Alone adjective US /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading “Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.”

All words in this reading · 79

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.

a

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

act

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

AGAIN

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

Americans

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

and

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

army

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

as

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

at

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

be

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

because

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

been

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

before

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

better

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

boy

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

But

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

carrying

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

certain

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

command

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

days

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

decide

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

desired

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

do

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

done

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

earnestly

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

FALL

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

for

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

general

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

general's

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

go

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

good

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

great

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

had

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

have

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

hopes

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

I

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

IN

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

into

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

isolation

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

From this reading I would have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation of responsibility.

it

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

From this reading I would have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation of responsibility.

JOHN

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

kitten

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

know

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

LAPUTA

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

loneliness

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

From this reading I would have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation of responsibility.

me

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

mere

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

much

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

myself

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

nervous

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

next

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

not

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

notion

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

Now

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

obedience

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

of

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

on

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

Once

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

orders

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

out

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

responsibility

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

From this reading I would have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation of responsibility.

REVEREND

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

rising

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

say

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

shirked

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

From this reading I would have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation of responsibility.

step

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

subaltern

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

that

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

THE

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

think

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

Three

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

to

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

up

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

was

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

From this reading Three days before I had been as nervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was “up to me,” as Americans say, to decide on the next step.

well

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

WITH

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

From this reading I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and had hopes of rising to be a great general.

work

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

would

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

From this reading Now that I know myself better, I do not think I would have been much good at a general’s work.

zest

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

From this reading But I think I would have done well in a subaltern command, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certain zest in the mere act of obedience.

Chapter 8 of Prester John by John Buchan holds 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 8 of Prester John contain?

Chapter 8 holds 138 sentences of Prester John, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Prester John by John Buchan exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 8 of Prester John?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Prester John

Common questions about reading Prester John by John Buchan on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Prester John?

Yes. All 4582 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #611 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Prester John is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #611, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Prester John take to read?

About 381 minutes of reading across 917 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Prester John section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of Prester John 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 Prester John

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

Yesterday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prester John; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prester John; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prester John; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prester John; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.