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The Ambassadors
The Ambassadors

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Ambassadors is here in full — 221 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Ambassadors
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.
The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possibleplanted or sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.
Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.
The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.
The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Ambassadors

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Ambassadors is here in full — 221 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject ofThe Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.
Line 2
The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possibleplanted orsunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.
Line 3
Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.
Line 4
The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.
Line 5
The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

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.

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.”

All words in this reading · 136

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.

1903

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

a

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

admonition

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

afternoon

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

almost

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Ambassadors

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

American

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

an

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

and

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

appeared

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

as

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

at

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

been

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

benefit

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

betimes

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Bilham

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

Book

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

by

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

can

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

candour

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

case

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

centre

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

chapter

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

charming

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

composition

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

could

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

crisis

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

current

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

desire

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

developed

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

dropped

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

ease

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

easy

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

Eighth

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

Eleventh

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

enlightenment

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

express

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

fact

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

felt

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

few

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Fifth

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

fine

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

First

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

for

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Fourth

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

friend's

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

from

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

garden

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

gathered

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Gloriani's

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

grain

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

have

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

he

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

him

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

his

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

hour

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

idea

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

in

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

indeed

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

independent

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

into

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

involved

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

irrepressible

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

is

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

it

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

Lambert

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

little

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

lurked

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

mass

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

more

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

neatly

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

Never

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

Ninth

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

North

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

Nothing

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

numbers

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

obstruction

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

of

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

on

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

or

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

outbreak

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

overgrown

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

pains

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

particle

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

perhaps

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

planted

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

possible

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Preface

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

published

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

reader's

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

resides

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

Review

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

saliently

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

Second

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

Seventh

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

should

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

situation

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Sixth

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

smothered

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

sort

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

sprung

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

state

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

stiffly

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

straighter

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

Strether's

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

subject

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

such

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

suggestion

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

Sunday

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

sunk

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

tale

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

Tenth

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

than

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

that

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

the

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

Third

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

this

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

to

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

traffic

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

Twelfth

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

twelve

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

unprecedented

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

up

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

us

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

very

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

was

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

we

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

From this reading The idea of the tale resides indeed in the very fact that an hour of such unprecedented ease should have been felt by him _as_ a crisis, and he is at pains to express it for us as neatly as we could desire.

which

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

whole

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

with

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

words

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

From this reading The situation involved is gathered up betimes, that is in the second chapter of Book Fifth, for the reader’s benefit, into as few words as possible—planted or “sunk,” stiffly and saliently, in the centre of the current, almost perhaps to the obstruction of traffic.

year

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

From this reading Preface Book First Book Second Book Third Book Fourth Book Fifth Book Sixth Book Seventh Book Eighth Book Ninth Book Tenth Book Book Eleventh Book Twelfth Preface Nothing is more easy than to state the subject of “The Ambassadors,” which first appeared in twelve numbers of _The North American Review_ (1903) and was published as a whole the same year.

yet

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

From this reading Never can a composition of this sort have sprung straighter from a dropped grain of suggestion, and never can that grain, developed, overgrown and smothered, have yet lurked more in the mass as an independent particle.

yields

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

young

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

From this reading The whole case, in fine, is in Lambert Strether’s irrepressible outbreak to little Bilham on the Sunday afternoon in Gloriani’s garden, the candour with which he yields, for his young friend’s enlightenment, to the charming admonition of that crisis.

Chapter 1 of The Ambassadors by Henry James holds 221 sentences, grouped into 45 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 The Ambassadors contain?

Chapter 1 holds 221 sentences of The Ambassadors, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Ambassadors by Henry James exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 221 sentences, grouped into 45 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 The Ambassadors?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 The Ambassadors

Common questions about reading The Ambassadors by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Ambassadors?

Yes. All 9031 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #432 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Ambassadors is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #432, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Ambassadors take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1807 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Ambassadors section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Ambassadors 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 The Ambassadors

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Ambassadors, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Second
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Third
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.