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The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V
The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Henry Cabot [Editor] Lodge • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.
The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)
I Boswell's Introduction to Johnson.
(From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.
(From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") III The Meeting of Johnson and John Wilkes.
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.

The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.
Line 2
The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)
Line 3
I Boswell's Introduction to Johnson.
Line 4
(From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.
Line 5
(From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") III The Meeting of Johnson and John Wilkes.

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.

Biographical adjective US /ˌbaɪəˈɡræfɪkəl/

of or relating to or being biography

From this reading “With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boswell noun US /ˈbɑːzwel/

Scottish author noted for his biography of Samuel Johnson (1740-1795)

From this reading “The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Classics noun US /ˈklæsɪks/

study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome

From this reading “The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Explanatory adjective US /ɪkˈsplænətɔːri/

serving or intended to explain or make clear

From this reading “With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Introduction noun US /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/

the act of beginning something new

From this reading “With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Johnson's noun US /ˈdʒɑːnsənz/

possessive form of “johnson” — English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading “(From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Wilkes noun US /wɪlks/

English reformer who published attacks on George III and supported the rights of the American colonists (1727-1797)

From this reading “(From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") III The Meeting of Johnson and John Wilkes.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
World's noun US /wɜːrldz/

possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading “The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 34

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.

1740

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

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

Pending verification
1795

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

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

Pending verification
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AudiencenounUS /ˈɑːdiəns/

a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BiographicaladjectiveUS /ˌbaɪəˈɡræfɪkəl/

of or relating to or being biography

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOSWELLnounUS /ˈbɑːzwel/

Scottish author noted for his biography of Samuel Johnson (1740-1795)

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Boswell's

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

From this reading I Boswell's Introduction to Johnson.

Pending verification
ClassicsnounUS /ˈklæsɪks/

study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
diedverbUS /daɪd/

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
etc

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

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

Pending verification
ExplanatoryadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsplænətɔːri/

serving or intended to explain or make clear

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I Boswell's Introduction to Johnson.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IInoun

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

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IIInoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IntroductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/

the act of beginning something new

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JAMESnounUS /dʒeɪmz/

a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") III The Meeting of Johnson and John Wilkes.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JohnsonnounUS /ˈdʒɑːnsən/

English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading I Boswell's Introduction to Johnson.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Johnson'snounUS /ˈdʒɑːnsənz/

possessive form of “johnson” — English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") II Johnson's Audience with George III.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MeetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") III The Meeting of Johnson and John Wilkes.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NotesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I Boswell's Introduction to Johnson.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WilkesnounUS /wɪlks/

English reformer who published attacks on George III and supported the rights of the American colonists (1727-1797)

From this reading (From Boswell's "Life of Johnson") III The Meeting of Johnson and John Wilkes.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With an Introduction, Biographical and Explanatory Notes, etc.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
World'snounUS /wɜːrldz/

possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The Best of the World's Classics JAMES BOSWELL--(Born in 1740, died in 1795.)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V by Henry Cabot [Editor] Lodge holds 411 sentences, grouped into 83 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V contain?

Chapter 1 holds 411 sentences of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V by Henry Cabot [Editor] Lodge exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V

Common questions about reading The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V by Henry Cabot [Editor] Lodge on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V?

Yes. All 2513 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #22182 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #22182, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V take to read?

About 209 minutes of reading across 503 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V section by section

How to work through The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V 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 Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Introduction
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Biographical
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Explanatory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Notes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Best of the World's Classics — Vol. V; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.