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The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856
The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 is here in full — 421 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.
I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.
This is only a shake of the hand.
I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.
Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.
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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 Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 is here in full — 421 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.
Line 2
I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.
Line 3
This is only a shake of the hand.
/ðɪs ɪz ˈoʊnli ə ʃeɪk ʌv ðə hænd/
Line 4
I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.
Line 5
Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.
/nɔːr kæn aɪ raɪt mʌtʃ wen aɪ θɪŋk ʌv juː seɪf ənd saʊnd ənd ˈhæpi ˈæftər ɔːl jɔːr ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/

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.

fold noun US /foʊld/

an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading “I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.”

genoa noun US /ˈdʒenoʊə/

a seaport in northwestern Italy; provincial capital of Liguria

From this reading “PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.”

greet verb US /ɡriːt/

express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading “I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.”

October noun US /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

safe adjective US /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading “Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.”

shake verb US /ʃeɪk/

move or cause to move back and forth

From this reading “This is only a shake of the hand.”

wanderings noun US /ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/

plural of “wandering” — travelling about without any clear destination

From this reading “Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.”

write verb US /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading “Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

14th

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

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

1844

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

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading This is only a shake of the hand.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

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 Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

cannot

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

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

couldn't

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

From this reading I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.

DEARadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

foldnounUS /foʊld/

an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

GENOAnounUS /ˈdʒenoʊə/

a seaport in northwestern Italy; provincial capital of Liguria

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

greetverbUS /ɡriːt/

express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading This is only a shake of the hand.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

MACREADY

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

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.

MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading This is only a shake of the hand.

PALAZZO

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

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

PESCHIERE

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

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.

shakeverbUS /ʃeɪk/

move or cause to move back and forth

From this reading This is only a shake of the hand.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

soundnounUS /saʊnd/

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This is only a shake of the hand.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is only a shake of the hand.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.

VERYadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

wanderingsnounUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/

plural of “wandering” — travelling about without any clear destination

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading I couldn't _say_ much to you, if I were home to greet you.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading I have not yet felt so far off as I do now, when I think of you there, and cannot fold you in my arms.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading PALAZZO PESCHIERE, GENOA, _October 14th, 1844._ MY VERY DEAR MACREADY, My whole heart is with you _at home_.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Nor can I write much, when I think of you, safe and sound and happy, after all your wanderings.

Chapter 5 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 by Charles Dickens holds 421 sentences, grouped into 85 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 5 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 contain?

Chapter 5 holds 421 sentences of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 421 sentences, grouped into 85 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 5 of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856

Common questions about reading The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856?

Yes. All 6921 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25852 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25852, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 take to read?

About 576 minutes of reading across 1385 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 section by section

How to work through The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856 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 Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Reader
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Things
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Handwritten
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Denoted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.