Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I)
The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I)

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) is here in full — 398 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 8 of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) by Henry James holds 398 sentences, grouped into 80 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 8 of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) contain?

Chapter 8 holds 398 sentences of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I), unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) by Henry James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 398 sentences, grouped into 80 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 8 of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I)?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Henry James (Vol. I)

Common questions about reading The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I)?

Yes. All 5683 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38776 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38776, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) take to read?

About 473 minutes of reading across 1137 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) section by section

How to work through The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) 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 Henry James (Vol. I)

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Letters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Alice
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
James
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mother
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I)
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HENRY JAMES.
_To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]
My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.
I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.
I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.
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 Letters of Henry James (Vol. I)

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Letters of Henry James (Vol. I) is here in full — 398 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HENRY JAMES.
Line 2
_To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]
Line 3
My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.
Line 4
I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.
Line 5
I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

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.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.”

Via preposition US /ˈvaɪə/

by way of; passing through

From this reading “My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.”

All words in this reading · 77

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

1893

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

21st

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

34

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

Catriona

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

confide

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

conveyed

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

De

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

dear

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

disobligingly

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

doing

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

enthusiasm

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

ever

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

few

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

Francisco

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

freshness

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

Gardens

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

guide

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

Hamburg

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

HENRY

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

From this reading HENRY JAMES.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

infinitely

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

JAMES

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

From this reading HENRY JAMES.

just

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

last

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

lines

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

longer

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

Louis

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

mail

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

missed

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

month

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

month's

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

October

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

perfidious

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

plain

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

post

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

postal

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

precarious

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

rapture

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

read

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

reason

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

repress

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

Robert

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

San

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

Stevenson

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

surged

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

tells

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

then

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

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

there

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

Vere

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

vexed

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

viaprepositionUS /ˈvaɪə/

by way of; passing through

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.

W

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

From this reading _To Robert Louis Stevenson._ 34 De Vere Gardens, W. October 21st [1893.]

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I missed, just after doing so, last month's post, and I was infinitely vexed that it should not have conveyed to you the freshness of my rapture.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading I do so, then, for the plain reason that I can no longer repress the enthusiasm that has surged within me ever since I read _Catriona_.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading My dear Louis, The postal guide tells me, disobligingly, that there is no mail to you via San Francisco this month and that I must confide my few lines to the precarious and perfidious Hamburg.