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The Circular Staircase
The Circular Staircase

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 170 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Circular Staircase
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuseto recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.
Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.
Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.
Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.
There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourningshe always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becomingand Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Circular Staircase

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 170 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuseto recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.
Line 2
Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.
Line 3
Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.
Line 4
Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.
Line 5
There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourningshe always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becomingand Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

All words in this reading · 93

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 A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

affair

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

all-powerful

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

Altogether

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

always

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

and

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

Armstrong's

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

Arnold

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

at

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

back

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

Barbara

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

because

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

becoming

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

black

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

brought

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

Club

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

come

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

constituted

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

corner

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

coroner

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

coroner's

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

down

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

events

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

evidently

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

excuse

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

extravagant

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

Fitzhugh

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

from

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

gentleman

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

Gertrude

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

gist

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

giving

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

gloomy

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

Greenwood

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

had

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

hands

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

happened

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

have

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

HINT

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

I

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

In

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

inquest

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

into

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

it

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

Jarvis

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

jury

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

knew

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

man

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

Many

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

me

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

men

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

merest

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

mourning

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

Mr

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

murder

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

new

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

night

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

not

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

number

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

occurred

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

OF

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

on

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

one

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

only

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

our

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

out

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

over

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

people

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

provocation

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

puppets

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

reader

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

recall

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

sat

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

SCANDAL

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

she

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

six

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

slightest

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

some

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

that

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

the

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

there

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

things

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

to

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

told

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

veils

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

was

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

well

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

went

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

From this reading There were a number of people I knew: Barbara Fitzhugh, in extravagant mourning—she always went into black on the slightest provocation, because it was becoming—and Mr. Jarvis, the man who had come over from the Greenwood Club the night of the murder.

were

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

what

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

From this reading A HINT OF SCANDAL In giving the gist of what happened at the inquest, I have only one excuse—to recall to the reader the events of the night of Arnold Armstrong’s murder.

which

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

From this reading Many things had occurred which were not brought out at the inquest and some things were told there that were new to me.

who

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

From this reading Altogether, it was a gloomy affair, and the six men in the corner, who constituted the coroner’s jury, were evidently the merest puppets in the hands of that all-powerful gentleman, the coroner.

with

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

From this reading Gertrude and I sat well back, with our veils down.

Chapter 17 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart holds 170 sentences, grouped into 34 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 17 of The Circular Staircase contain?

Chapter 17 holds 170 sentences of The Circular Staircase, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 170 sentences, grouped into 34 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 17 of The Circular Staircase?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Circular Staircase

Common questions about reading The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Circular Staircase?

Yes. All 4811 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #434 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Circular Staircase is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #434, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Circular Staircase take to read?

About 400 minutes of reading across 963 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Circular Staircase section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 34 chapters of The Circular Staircase 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 Circular Staircase

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

Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Middle-aged
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spinster
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Deserted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.