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The Moonstone

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Moonstone is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Wilkie Collins • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Moonstone

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

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 I Reading 1/18

The Moonstone Wilkie Collins

Cover illustration for The Moonstone

Chapter I

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Moonstone is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England. My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle. The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit. I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative. And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

The Moonstone

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Moonstone is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

Line 2

My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

Line 3

The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

Line 4

I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

Line 5

And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

All words in this reading · 87

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.

1799

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

a

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

about

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From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

address

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

am

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

And

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From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

been

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

by

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

cannot

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

consent

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

cousin

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

decision

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

declare

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

EIGHTH

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

England

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

EPILOGUE

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

explain

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

Extracted

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From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

Family

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

FIFTH

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

forfeit

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

FOURTH

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

friendship

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

from

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

good

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

hand

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

has

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

have

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

Herncastle

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

hitherto

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

honour

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

I

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

II

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

III

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

in

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

India

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

induced

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

is

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

IV

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

John

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

lines

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

literally

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

maintained

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

matter

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

me

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

members

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

misinterpreted

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

motive

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

my

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

NARRATIVE

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

now

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

object

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

OF

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

on

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

opinion

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

Paper

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

PROLOGUE

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

read

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

refuse

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

relatives

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

request

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

reserve

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

right

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

SERINGAPATAM

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

SEVENTH

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

SIXTH

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

STORMING

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

strictly

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

suspend

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

that

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

THE

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

their

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

them

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

these

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

they

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

THIRD

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

this

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

to

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

truth

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

until

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

From this reading I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative.

V

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

what

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

which

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

From this reading My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle.

whose

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

From this reading The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit.

word

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

write

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

From this reading And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.

written

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

From this reading THIRD NARRATIVE FOURTH NARRATIVE FIFTH NARRATIVE SIXTH NARRATIVE I II III IV V SEVENTH NARRATIVE EIGHTH NARRATIVE EPILOGUE I II III PROLOGUE THE STORMING OF SERINGAPATAM (1799): _(Extracted from a Family Paper.)_ I I address these lines—written in India—to my relatives in England.

Chapter 1 of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins holds 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 1 of The Moonstone contain?

Chapter 1 holds 92 sentences of The Moonstone, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 Moonstone?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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.

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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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Project Gutenberg eBook #155, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Moonstone take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2302 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Open a chapter

Choose one of the 38 chapters of The Moonstone 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 Moonstone

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

Third: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narrative: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fourth: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fifth: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.