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Sylvia: A Novel
Sylvia: A Novel

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Sylvia: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.
Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.
The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.
It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.
Yet I believe that I can tell her story.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Sylvia: A Novel

Chapter I

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.
Line 2
Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.
Line 3
The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.
Line 4
It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.
Line 5
Yet I believe that I can tell her story.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Yet I believe that I can tell her story.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.”

Third noun US /third/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet I believe that I can tell her story.”

All words in this reading · 82

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

15

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

From this reading Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.

1913

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

From this reading Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

all

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

April

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

From this reading Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.

aristocracy

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

back

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

begins

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Yet I believe that I can tell her story.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Yet I believe that I can tell her story.

Castleman

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

Castleman's

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

days

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

dreamed

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

existed

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

farmer's

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

goes

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

golden

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

homestead

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Yet I believe that I can tell her story.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

known

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

lonely

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

love

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

luxury

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

magazines

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

Manitoba

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

marriage

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

old

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

pictures

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

pioneer

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

Printing

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

From this reading Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.

proudest

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

Published

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

From this reading Published, May 15, 1913 First Printing, April, 1913.

scenes

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

Second

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

South

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

stories

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

story

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

Sylvia

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

ThirdnounUS /third/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

thirty

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Second Printing, May, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1913 This is the story of Sylvia Castleman, of her love and her marriage.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

wife

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

woman

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.

world

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

years

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

From this reading It begins with scenes of luxury among the proudest aristocracy of the South; it is told by one who for the first thirty years of her life was a farmer’s wife in a lonely pioneer homestead in Manitoba, and who, but for the pictures and stories in magazines, would never have known that such a world as Sylvia Castleman’s existed.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet I believe that I can tell her story.

youth

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

From this reading The story goes back to the days of her golden youth; but it has to be told by an old woman who had no youth at all, and who never dreamed of having a story to tell.