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The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts
The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts is here in full — 433 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.
2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:
NORAH MARSH Irene Vanbrugh.
EDWARD MARSH C. V. France.
GERTRUDE MARSH Marion Ashworth.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts is here in full — 433 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.
Line 2
2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:
Line 3
NORAH MARSH Irene Vanbrugh.
Line 4
EDWARD MARSH C. V. France.
/ˈedwərd mɑːrʃ siː viː fræns/
Line 5
GERTRUDE MARSH Marion Ashworth.

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.

applications noun US /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃənz/

plural of “application” — the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose

From this reading “_All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.”

February noun US /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading “2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:”

Golding noun US /ˈɡoʊldɪŋ/

English novelist (1911-1993)

From this reading “_All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.”

Leicester noun US /ˈlestər/

a largely agricultural county in central England

From this reading “_All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.”

marsh noun US /mɑːrʃ/

low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water

From this reading “NORAH MARSH Irene Vanbrugh.”

Performance noun US /pərˈfɔːrməns/

a dramatic or musical entertainment

From this reading “_All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.”

regarding verb US /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/

-ing form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading “_All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.”

York's noun US /jɔːrks/

possessive form of “york” — the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

All words in this reading · 49

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.

1914

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

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

2

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

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

20

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

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

26

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

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

addressedadjectiveUS /əˈdrest/

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

applicationsnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃənz/

plural of “application” — the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

Ashworth

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

From this reading GERTRUDE MARSH Marion Ashworth.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

BrightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

castverbUS /kæst/

put or send forth

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

DukenounUS /duːk/

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

EDWARDnounUS /ˈedwərd/

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading EDWARD MARSH C. V. France.

FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

FrancenounUS /fræns/

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading EDWARD MARSH C. V. France.

GERTRUDE

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

From this reading GERTRUDE MARSH Marion Ashworth.

GoldingnounUS /ˈɡoʊldɪŋ/

English novelist (1911-1993)

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

GreennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

Irene

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

From this reading NORAH MARSH Irene Vanbrugh.

LeicesternounUS /ˈlestər/

a largely agricultural county in central England

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

Marion

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

From this reading GERTRUDE MARSH Marion Ashworth.

MARSHnounUS /mɑːrʃ/

low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water

From this reading NORAH MARSH Irene Vanbrugh.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

NORAH

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

From this reading NORAH MARSH Irene Vanbrugh.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

PerformancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/

a dramatic or musical entertainment

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

playverbUS /pleɪ/

participate in games or sport

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

producedverbUS /prəˈduːst/

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

RnounUS /ɑːr/

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

regardingverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/

-ing form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

RightsnounUS /raɪts/

plural of “right” — an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

SquareverbUS /skwer/

make square

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

TheatrenounUS /ˈθiːətər/

a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

VnounUS /viː/

a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt

From this reading EDWARD MARSH C. V. France.

Vanbrughnoun

English architect (1664-1726)

From this reading NORAH MARSH Irene Vanbrugh.

WnounUS /ˈdʌbəljuː/

a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite

From this reading _All applications regarding the Performance Rights of this play should be addressed to Mr. R. Golding Bright, 20, Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

York'snounUS /jɔːrks/

possessive form of “york” — the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading 2._ This play was produced on February 26, 1914, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, with the following cast:

Chapter 1 of The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts by W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham holds 433 sentences, grouped into 87 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 Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts contain?

Chapter 1 holds 433 sentences of The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts by W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 433 sentences, grouped into 87 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 Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts?

Work through the 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 87 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.

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Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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

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About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts

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Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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