Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Kingdom of the Blind
The Kingdom of the Blind

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Kingdom of the Blind
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.
There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.
The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.
A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.
A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.
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 Kingdom of the Blind

Chapter I

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.
Line 2
There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.
Line 3
The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.
Line 4
A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.
Line 5
A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

Learner Dictionary

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

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.”

All words in this reading · 89

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

actor

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

actress

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

air

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

almost

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

Anselman

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

attitude

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

background

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

beautiful

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

Cabinet

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

centre

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

chaff

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

charm

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

chatting

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

correct

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

counted

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

delicately-poised

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

discussing

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

exceedingly

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

exchanging

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

eyes

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

famous

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

feast

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

forefinger

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

French

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

further

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

girl

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

golden

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

good-looking

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

grey-blue

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

guests

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

hair

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

Hotel

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

husband's

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

illicit

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

impressive

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

Lady

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

latest

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

lieutenant

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

lounge

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

man

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

Minister

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

musician

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

naval

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

pale-faced

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

perfect

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

petite

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

play

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

popular

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

present

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

rather

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

Ritz

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

school-boy

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

talking

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

tall

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

There

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

uniform

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

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

very

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

vivaciously

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

wealth

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A little further in the background, a young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff with a petite but exceedingly good-looking girl.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.

wife

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

From this reading The popular wife of a great actor was discussing her husband’s latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a school-boy present at an illicit feast.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicately-poised forefinger counted her guests.

woman

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

yellow

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

young

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

From this reading A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with grey-blue eyes and a wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician.

youth

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

From this reading There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously with a tall, pale-faced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct.