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The Last of the Vikings
The Last of the Vikings

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of The Last of the Vikings is here in full — 220 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By John (Novelist) Bowling • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 31 of The Last of the Vikings by John (Novelist) Bowling holds 220 sentences, grouped into 44 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 31 of The Last of the Vikings contain?

Chapter 31 holds 220 sentences of The Last of the Vikings, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of The Last of the Vikings by John (Novelist) Bowling exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 220 sentences, grouped into 44 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 31 of The Last of the Vikings?

Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 44 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 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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 Last of the Vikings

Common questions about reading The Last of the Vikings by John (Novelist) Bowling on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Last of the Vikings?

Yes. All 5661 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36054 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Last of the Vikings is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36054, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Last of the Vikings take to read?

About 471 minutes of reading across 1133 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Last of the Vikings section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Last of the Vikings 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 Last of the Vikings

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Last of the Vikings, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Vikings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Last of the Vikings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Last of the Vikings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brailsford
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Last of the Vikings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Riding
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Last of the Vikings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Last of the Vikings
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.
"When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."
Nathaniel Lee.
It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.
When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.
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 Last of the Vikings

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of The Last of the Vikings is here in full — 220 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.
Line 2
"When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."
Line 3
Nathaniel Lee.
Line 4
It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.
Line 5
When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Whilst conjunction US /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading “It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 55

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
appealed

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
attack

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Velmora curated lexicon
capture

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
checkmate

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
council

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
DARING

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

From this reading WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.

Pending verification
decided

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
disappointment

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
finally

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
Greeks

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

From this reading "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

Pending verification
grievous

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Velmora curated lexicon
Hereward

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Velmora curated lexicon
hope

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
importunately

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
join

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
joined

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

From this reading "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

Pending verification
leaders

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
Lee

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

From this reading Nathaniel Lee.

Pending verification
most

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
Nathaniel

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

From this reading Nathaniel Lee.

Pending verification
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Velmora curated lexicon
Normans

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.

Velmora curated lexicon
saw

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
Saxon

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
Saxons

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
SIGURD

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

From this reading WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.

Pending verification
sought

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Velmora curated lexicon
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.

Velmora curated lexicon
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
then

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

From this reading "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

Pending verification
there

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Velmora curated lexicon
thus

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Pending verification
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
tug

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

From this reading "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

Pending verification
uniting

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
vain

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

From this reading When he saw that there was no hope of the Saxons uniting in this, he appealed most importunately to Hereward to join him, but in vain.

Pending verification
VIKING

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

From this reading WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.

Pending verification
war

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

From this reading "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

Pending verification
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

Velmora curated lexicon
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

Velmora curated lexicon
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading It was a most grievous disappointment to Sigurd when the Saxon leaders finally decided not to attack the Normans, and thus checkmate them as they sought to capture the Saxons whilst in council.

Velmora curated lexicon
WILD

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

From this reading WILD DARING OF SIGURD THE VIKING.

Pending verification