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The Mayor of Casterbridge

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Mayor of Casterbridge is here in full — 175 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Thomas Hardy • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Mayor of Casterbridge

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

“No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

The Saturday afternoon slipped on thus desultorily.

The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XVII Reading 1/35

The Mayor of Casterbridge

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Mayor of Casterbridge is here in full — 175 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

“No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Line 2

Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

Line 3

The Saturday afternoon slipped on thus desultorily.

Line 4

The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

Line 5

Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

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.

Merchant noun US /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading ““No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.””

Stood verb US /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

afternoon

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

From this reading The Saturday afternoon slipped on thus desultorily.

and

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

auctioneer

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

before

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

Benjamin

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

besides

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

breeder

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Brownlet

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Bulge

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

but

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

called

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

From this reading Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

changed

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

dealer

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

desultorily

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

From this reading The Saturday afternoon slipped on thus desultorily.

did

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

distinctly

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

Farfrae

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

from

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

had

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

From this reading Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

he

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

From this reading Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

he's

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Henchard

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

From this reading Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

him

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

homewards

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

horse

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

hour

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

idle

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

Kitson

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Lucetta

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

From this reading Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

maltsters

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

market

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

mention

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

millers

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Mr

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

near

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

From this reading Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

No

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

not

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

now

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

on

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

out

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

pig

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

quite

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

sample-showing

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

Saturday

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

From this reading The Saturday afternoon slipped on thus desultorily.

she

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

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

slipped

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

From this reading The Saturday afternoon slipped on thus desultorily.

so

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

starting

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Farfrae stood out quite distinctly now; but she did not mention him.

tales

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

the

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

There's

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

though

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

From this reading Henchard had not called on Lucetta though he had stood so near.

thus

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

From this reading The Saturday afternoon slipped on thus desultorily.

to

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

told

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

were

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

when

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

From this reading The market changed from the sample-showing hour to the idle hour before starting homewards, when tales were told.

wine

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Yopper

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

From this reading “No. There’s Mr. Bulge—he’s a wine merchant; there’s Benjamin Brownlet—a horse dealer; and Kitson, the pig breeder; and Yopper, the auctioneer; besides maltsters, and millers—and so on.”

Chapter 17 of The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy holds 175 sentences, grouped into 35 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 Mayor of Casterbridge contain?

Chapter 17 holds 175 sentences of The Mayor of Casterbridge, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 175 sentences, grouped into 35 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 Mayor of Casterbridge?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 Mayor of Casterbridge

Common questions about reading The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Mayor of Casterbridge?

Yes. All 6288 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #143 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #143, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Mayor of Casterbridge take to read?

About 524 minutes of reading across 1258 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Mayor of Casterbridge section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 36 chapters of The Mayor of Casterbridge to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Mayor of Casterbridge

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Mayor of Casterbridge, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Death: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Character: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Evening: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Summer: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.