The Sign of the Four
The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle is available here as the complete text, split into 562 reading sections of 5 sentences, each with audio and tap-to-define vocabulary.
Mary Morstan seeks Holmes' aid regarding anonymous pearls, leading to an adrenaline boat chase down the River Thames.
Course Syllabus
This syllabus gives direct access to every published chapter and its complete sequence of five-line English readings.
The Sign of the Four
Select a chapter to continue in the Cinema Lecture Hall with line-by-line English learning.
0 of 562 original contextual illustrations are live; remaining readings use the book cover while their artwork is reviewed.
- Chapter I Chapter 01: Chapter II
- Chapter II Chapter 02: Chapter III
- Chapter III Chapter 03: Chapter IV
- Chapter IV Chapter 04: Chapter V
- Chapter V Chapter 05: Chapter VI
- Chapter VI Chapter 06: Chapter VII
- Chapter VII Chapter 07: Chapter VIII
- Chapter VIII Chapter 08: Chapter IX
- Chapter IX Chapter 09: Chapter X
- Chapter X Chapter 10: Chapter XI
- Chapter XI Chapter 11: Chapter XII
This edition of The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle carries the complete text of Project Gutenberg eBook #2097, divided into 11 chapters and 568 reading sections of 5 sentences each. Every sentence of the source is kept, and each chapter records which sentences cover which part of the story. Any word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry, and each section carries a contextual illustration generated from the passage itself.
Where can I read The Sign of the Four in full?
The complete text of The Sign of the Four is here, taken from Project Gutenberg eBook #2097 and divided into 568 sections.
This page carries the whole of The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle, not an abridgement or a summary. The text comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #2097, with the Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence removed so that only the work itself remains. It runs to 2837 sentences across 11 chapters. Each chapter stores a record of which sentences cover which part of the work, so nothing is quietly dropped between the source edition and the page you read.
How is The Sign of the Four divided for reading?
The Sign of the Four is presented in 11 chapters, each split into sections of 5 sentences for steady reading.
Rather than presenting The Sign of the Four as unbroken pages, the text is grouped into 568 sections of 5 sentences each. A section is short enough to hold in mind at once, which suits a reader working in a second language or returning to a long work in short sittings. The 11 chapters follow the divisions of the source edition, and each section carries a contextual illustration drawn from the passage it accompanies rather than a stock image.
Can I hear The Sign of the Four read aloud?
Yes. Every sentence and every individual word of The Sign of the Four can be played aloud, and each word shows its dictionary entry.
Every sentence of The Sign of the Four can be played aloud, and so can any single word within it. Tapping a word plays it on its own and opens its dictionary entry, with the pronunciation shown in IPA alongside the part of speech and meaning. The reading voice uses United States English. This matters most for a work of this period, where a reader meets vocabulary and turns of phrase that are no longer in daily use and cannot be guessed reliably from spelling alone.
Questions about reading The Sign of the Four
Common questions about reading The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Is this the complete text of The Sign of the Four?
Yes. All 2837 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2097 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Which edition of The Sign of the Four is used?
Project Gutenberg eBook #2097, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
How long does The Sign of the Four take to read?
About 236 minutes of reading across 568 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to study The Sign of the Four
Read one of the 562 sections, listen, learn vocabulary, and review on schedule.
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Read the section
Read the five source sentences with its contextual illustration.
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Listen and repeat
Play each sentence and tap any word to hear it.
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Learn the phrases
Study the definition, example, and grounded collocations.
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Recall and review
Review today, tomorrow, in three days, and seven days.
Vocabulary met early in The Sign of the Four
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Sign of the Four, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
- Sherlock
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sign of the Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Holmes
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sign of the Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Bottle
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sign of the Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Corner
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sign of the Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.