Snoozecast

Good Wives ch. 13 Nov 22, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott titled “Beth’s Secret”. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 36th chapter as part of that work as a whole.

In the last chapter, Laurie graduates with honors and invites Jo to celebrate with him, but during their walk, he finally confesses his love for her, hoping she’ll reciprocate. Jo, though fond of him, gently but firmly declines, explaining she cannot love him in the way he desires and believes they are unsuited for marriage. Despite Laurie’s disappointment and insistence, Jo holds to her decision, urging him to move on, though it pains them both.

— read by 'V' —

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Marbles & Kites Nov 20, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “Healthful Sports for Boys”, written by A.R. Calhoun and published in 1882. Also known as Alfred Rochfort, born in 1844, Calhoun was an American soldier, author, journalist and critic. He served in the Union army during the U.S. Civil War.

"Healthful Sports for Boys," was a guide to engaging in physical activities that promoted health and well-being. One popular game covered in the book was marbles. Calhoun likely saw the value in marbles not just as a fun pastime, but also as a way to develop hand-eye coordination, strategic thinking, and social skills. Glass marbles ultimately came into being around the middle of the 1800's, not too long before this book was written. It is believed that they were first created by glassmakers who shaped bits of leftover glass at the end of the day to take home for their children.

For Calhoun, games like this wasn't just about exercise. His book emphasized the importance of sportsmanship, fair play, and the development of character. Our episode tonight offers a glimpse into the sporting world of a bygone era, reflecting the values and ideals of the time.

— read by 'V' —

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The Golden Goose Nov 18, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the classic fairy tale “The Golden Goose”. We found this version in Katherine Pyle’s 1918 “Mother’s Nursery Tales”. “The Golden Goose” was one of many folk tales documented and published by The Brothers Grimm. Snoozecast first read this story back in 2020.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German scholars who collected and published folklore during the 19th century. Their collection of tales helped preserve and popularize these stories, which were previously passed down orally through generations. While the Grimms' versions are widely known today, many of these tales have roots in much older oral traditions and exist in various forms across different cultures.

In this tale, a simple and sweet man named John finds a goose with golden feathers- and it turns his whole world on its head. The story is a reminder that generosity and kindness can lead to unexpected rewards.

— read by 'V' —

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Persuasion pt. 12 Nov 15, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, the off-season tourists to the beach town of Lyme become acquainted with Captain Wentworth’s friends, Captain and Mrs. Harville along with Captain Benwick. At a dinner party, Anne spends the evening chatting about poetry and literature with the melancholic Captain Benwick. The next day, a gentleman stranger seems captivated with Anne’s fine looks, which seemed to have regained their earlier charms amidst the fresh air and change of scene.

In the last chapter, and in the coming episode, there is mention of the “cobb” that tourists visit in Lyme. The cobb is a real-life harbor wall originally constructed in ancient times to act as a breakwater to protect the ships and the town. To this day, no one knows for sure when it was originally constructed, or why it is called the Cobb.

We will pick up within chapter twelve.

— read by 'V' —

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The Invisible Man Nov 13, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Invisible Man”, a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, published in 1897.

The title of this story refers to a scientist named Griffin, whose devotion to the study of optics leads him to a remarkable breakthrough: he has invented a way to render oneself invisible. However, as Griffin eagerly tests his invention on himself, he soon realizes the consequences of his success – the inability to reverse the invisibility. This novel’s exploration of the profound implications of scientific discovery and its impact on the human condition resonated deeply with readers.

"The Invisible Man" established Wells's reputation as a visionary genius who was the “father of science fiction”.

— read by 'V' —

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An Old Road Nov 11, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a chapter titled “An Old Road.” from “A Rambler’s Lease” by Bradford Torrey, published in 1892. Torrey was an American ornithologist who wrote many stories about his experiences walking through woods while bird watching.

The preface he wrote to tonight’s book is paraphrased as follows: “The writer of this little book has found so much pleasure in other men's woods and fields that he has come to look upon himself as in some sort the owner of them. Their lawful possessors will not begrudge him this feeling, he believes, nor take it amiss if he assumes, even in this public way, to hold a rambler's lease of their property. His private opinion is that the world belongs to those who enjoy it.”

— read by 'N' —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 34 Nov 08, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

We first began Twenty Thousand Leagues in April of 2022. Cheers to you if you’ve listened along with us for the entire journey aboard the Nautilus. Each completed novel Snoozecast reads is available as a separate podcast if you’d like to listen through continuously. Just search for “Snoozecast Presents” and the title of the novel wherever you listen to podcasts.

In the previous episode, Captain Nemo, filled with anger and vengeance, prepares to attack a warship that has been pursuing the Nautilus. Unfurling a black flag, he reveals his intent to sink the ship, driven by past personal losses. Despite attempts to dissuade him, Nemo is resolute, seeing the warship as his oppressor. Arronax and his companions, horrified but powerless, witness the tension as the Nautilus nears the ship. Nemo’s attack is swift and destructive, sinking the vessel. Afterwards, deeply affected, Nemo retreats to his room, where he mourns his lost family, leaving the crew in silence.

We will pick up within chapter 22.

— read by 'N' —

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At Sea Nov 06, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from the book “Fresh Fields” by John Burroughs, published in 1896. The main section we will read is titled “At Sea”.

In "Fresh Fields," Burroughs takes us on a journey through his travels and observations of the natural world, both in America and abroad. This collection of essays showcases Burroughs' keen eye for detail and his deep appreciation for the beauty and complexity of nature.

John Burroughs was an American nature essayist, active in the U.S. conservation movement. Burroughs accompanied many personalities of the time in his later years, including Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford (who gave him an automobile), and Thomas Edison.

— read by 'V' —

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The Rose and the Ring pt. 3 Nov 04, 2024

Tonight, we’ll continue our journey through "The Rose and the Ring," by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1854. The previous episode aired last month.

In the last episode, we learned how Princess Angelica's parents neglected to invite Fairy Blackstick to her christening, resulting in Gruffanuff, the strict doorman, being transformed into a brass knocker as punishment for his rudeness. Now, as we turn the page, we explore the lively relationship between Princess Angelica and Prince Giglio.

Thackeray masterfully blends humor and fantasy, inviting us to witness the enchanting complexities of young love in this magical realm.

— read by 'V' —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 22 Nov 01, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 22nd chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne is Invited Out to Tea”

In the previous chapter, Anne is excited about the new minister and his wife Mrs. Allan, who she decides is a kindred spirit. Marilla invites the Allans to tea and Anne is allowed to bake a cake. Anne flavors the cake with what she thinks is vanilla, but ends up being Anodyne Liniment. Although Anne assumes the worst and becomes bereft, Mrs. Allan kindly forgives the mistake.

Anodyne Liniment was a topical pain reliever, not meant for consumption, let alone the flavoring of a cake. Ingredients may have included menthol, camphor and possibly turpentine, which would have created a bitter, medicinal and unpleasant flavor.

— read by 'N' —

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The Cat Who Speaks Once a Year Oct 30, 2024

Tonight, for the last episode of our 6th annual “Spooky Sleep Story Series”, we shall read a Snoozecast original, “The Cat Who Speaks Once a Year.” about a young girl Lila Everwood who loves Halloween especially – because it’s the only night of the year her cat, Toby, can speak. We hoped you tuned in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety- like classic horror literature and ghost stories. If you prefer to avoid the mildly macabre we hope you’ll enjoy one of our many other stories available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Every year Lila and Toby set out on Halloween on small adventures, solving magical mysteries and keeping their town of New Hope safe from mischievous spirits.

However, this Halloween is different, as Toby seems tense, hinting that the force they’ll be up against this year has been waiting for centuries to reclaim the town…

— read by 'V' —

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Max Morrow and the Train of Tomorrow pt. 2 Oct 28, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to a Snoozecast original sleep story titled “Max Morrow and the Train of Tomorrow.

Previously on Max Morrow…Max finds a mysterious train ticket in his grandfather’s old jacket that leads him to a hidden train station platform, where he boarded a strange, time-traveling train called The Flying Yankee. Inside, he meets Professor Aldous “Tock” Tickwell, who tells him he’s a new “Guardian of Time” and whisks him off to Munich, 1893 to help set right a potential developing ripple in time centered on a young Albert Einstein.

— read by 'N' —

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Good Wives ch. 12 Oct 25, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott titled “Heartache”. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 35th chapter as part of that work as a whole.

In the last chapter, Jo tried to make a living by writing sensational stories for a magazine, keeping it a secret from her family. She was successful, but when Professor Bhaer gently criticized such work as shallow and harmful, it made her reconsider. Realizing she was sacrificing her integrity for quick money, Jo burned her manuscripts and decided to stop writing anything she wouldn’t be proud of. Though it meant starting over, it marked a turning point as she chose a more genuine path, guided by her own conscience and the Professor’s encouragement.

— read by 'V' —

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Carmilla Oct 23, 2024

Tonight, as part of our 6th annual spooky sleep story series, we’ll rebroadcast the opening to “Carmilla”, an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu which first aired in October of 2022. Tune in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety- like classic horror literature and ghost stories. If you prefer to avoid the mildly macabre we hope you’ll enjoy one of our many other stories available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Originally published in 1872, Carmilla predates Bram Stoker’s Dracula by over 25 years and is considered one of the earliest works of vampire fiction. Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella is a gothic tale set in a remote Austrian estate, where a young woman named Laura encounters the enigmatic and alluring Carmilla. What begins as an unexpected friendship quickly descends into something far more sinister as Laura becomes entangled in Carmilla’s dark, seductive influence.

What makes Carmilla particularly fascinating is its portrayal of a female vampire with overtly sensual undertones, challenging Victorian norms. The novella is rich with gothic atmosphere, utilizing isolated settings, eerie dreams, and uncanny occurrences to build suspense.

Le Fanu’s story is not only notable for its eerie ambiance but also for its early feminist subtext. Carmilla is portrayed as a powerful, predatory force in a genre that typically cast women as passive victims.

For fans of gothic literature and early vampire lore, Carmilla remains a foundational piece, paving the way for the vampire genre as we know it today, and offering a haunting tale of desire, fear, and the dangers lurking behind a beautiful façade.

— read by 'V' —

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The Lazy Tour Oct 21, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices”, written in collaboration by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Snoozecast first read this story back in the year 2020.

An instrumental event in Wilkie Collins’s career was an introduction in 1851 when he was in his late twenties, to Charles Dickens by a mutual friend. They became lifelong friends and collaborators. For example, first, Collins acted with Dickens in a play together. Among the audience were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Then one of Collins's stories was published in Dickens's magazine the next year. Later that year Collins went on tour with Dickens's company of amateur actors.

“The Lazy Tour” reads as an autobiographical tour taken by the two of them in the north of Britain. What resulted is extremely whimsical, occasionally absurd, and it has to be said, very much of its time. The book takes place in the year 1857 and provides insight into the friendship and adventures of the pair of titans of Victorian literature.

— read by 'M' —

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Persuasion pt. 11 Oct 18, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, Anne finally extricates herself from the long, awkward walk through the countryside by hitching a ride with Captain Wentworth’s parents, who happen to pass by in their carriage. Anne starts to look forward to meeting back up with Lady Russell after her two month stay with her sister, and moving on with her life. We will pick up our story where the group of young people went to visit the scenic town of Lyme on a lark, where Captain Wentworth has old friends.

— read by 'V' —

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The Goose, the Fox and the Dog Oct 17, 2024

Tonight, for this month’s Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we’ll read a Snoozecast original story titled “The Goose, the Fox and the Dog”. In this tale, a quiet farmer returns from a bustling town market with his purchases: a fox, a goose, and a sack of grain. On his way home, he faces a dilemma as to how to cross the riverbank with his goods. The small boat can only carry one of his new acquisitions at a time, but to do so would surely ruin the others before they could be transported across. While the animals ceaselessly squabble and fret, the simple farmer keeps them all safe with his patience and steadiness.

This story is inspired by the classic “river crossing puzzle” in which the object is to carry items from one river bank to another, usually in the fewest trips. The difficulty of the puzzle may arise from restrictions on which or how many items can be transported at the same time, or which or how many items may be safely left together. The earliest known river-crossing problems occur in a manuscript from the 9th century.

This type of puzzle is also a form of recreational mathematics, which is to say it is carried out for entertainment rather than for research, formal education or professional applications. These sorts of puzzles and games are often appealing to children and untrained adults and can inspire their further study of the subject. Some of the more well-known topics in recreational mathematics are Rubik's Cubes, magic squares, fractals, logic puzzles and mathematical chess problems, the culture and aesthetics of mathematics, amusing stories and coincidences about mathematics, and the personal lives of mathematicians.

— read by 'N' —

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The Phantom Coach Oct 16, 2024

Tonight, to continue our 6th annual “Spooky Sleep Story Series”, we shall read the opening to The Phantom Coach by Amelia B. Edwards. Tune in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety- like classic horror literature and ghost stories. If you prefer to avoid the mildly macabre we hope you’ll enjoy one of our many other stories available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Catch up on previous years by finding our free standalone podcast series “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories” or if you are a premium subscriber, look for “Snoozecast+” or “Snoozecast+ Deluxe: Spooky Stories” instead to listen ad-free.

The Phantom Coach by Amelia B. Edwards, first published in 1864, is a classic Victorian ghost story. Edwards, an accomplished novelist, traveler, and Egyptologist, was known for her keen storytelling abilities, especially in weaving the supernatural into everyday occurrences. In this tale, she explores the eerie and unsettling experience of a man lost in a snowstorm who encounters a mysterious coach that may not be of this world.

Set against a bleak, wintry landscape, The Phantom Coach delves into themes of isolation, fate, and the unknown. What sets The Phantom Coach apart from other ghost stories of its time is Edwards’ use of psychological suspense. Rather than relying on overt scares, she creates a slow-burn tension that lingers long after the tale is finished. The story reflects the Victorian fascination with the unknown and the afterlife, common themes in the literature of the period, making it a quintessential example of 19th-century ghostly fiction.

— read by 'V' —

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The White Cat pt. 2 Oct 14, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the second half of “The White Cat” , penned by Madame d’Aulnoy in 1698. The first half aired last week. This story is one of the earliest examples of the contes de fées, or fairy tales, that were a hallmark of French literary culture in the late 17th century. These stories gained popularity not only for their fantastical elements but also for their subtle commentaries on social norms and gender roles, often woven into the intricate plots.

Unlike Charles Perrault, whose tales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty became classics, Madame d’Aulnoy’s work was often marked by a stronger emphasis on clever, resourceful female protagonists and the nuanced exploration of power dynamics within courtly life. Her stories, including The White Cat, catered to an aristocratic audience that enjoyed wit, irony, and moral lessons hidden beneath layers of enchantment.

The White Cat stands out not only for its magical setting but also for its structure, which reflects the taste of the era for episodic storytelling and rich, ornate descriptions. The enchanted castle, where a prince spends time with a talking cat, offers readers a blend of whimsy and allegory, symbolizing deeper ideas about loyalty, love, and transformation.

— read by 'V' —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 33 Oct 11, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the previous episode, the Nautilus continues its journey past Newfoundland, Ireland, and England, but avoids the English Channel. Arronax spots an abandoned electric cable on the ocean floor, once meant to transmit telegrams, symbolizing the power of nature over humanity's greatest achievements. Then Arronax sees a distant steam ship, and Captain Nemo cryptically remarks, “It is here.” As the submarine descends, they discover the wreck of the Marseillais, later renamed the Avenger, a ship from 1762, which Nemo praises for its powerful name.

We will pick up within chapter 21.

— read by 'N' —

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The War of the Worlds Oct 09, 2024

Tonight, to continue our 6th annual “Spooky Sleep Story Series”, we shall read the opening to “The War of the Worlds”, written by H.G. Wells and first published in 1898. Tune in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety- like classic horror literature and ghost stories. If you prefer to avoid the mildly macabre we hope you’ll enjoy one of our many other stories available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Catch up on previous years by finding our free standalone podcast series “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories” or if you are a premium subscriber, look for “Snoozecast+” or “Snoozecast+ Deluxe: Spooky Stories” instead to listen ad-free.

H.G. Wells, often referred to as the “father of science fiction,” published The War of the Worlds in 1898, marking a groundbreaking moment in the genre. Born in 1866 in England, Wells was a prolific writer whose works spanned both fiction and non-fiction, often reflecting his deep interest in social issues, science, and human evolution. The War of the Worlds stands out as one of his most enduring and influential works, imagining a catastrophic alien invasion of Earth.

Set in Victorian England, the novel explores the vulnerability of humankind in the face of superior extraterrestrial forces, an idea that was revolutionary for its time. Wells blended scientific ideas with thrilling narrative, vividly imagining Martian invaders wielding advanced technology like heat-rays and enormous tripods. This portrayal of a technologically superior race wreaking havoc on humanity mirrored concerns of imperialism and the unknown, while questioning the assumptions of Western dominance.

The story's cultural impact is immense—most notably when Orson Welles’ 1938 radio adaptation apparently caused public panic, as listeners mistook the dramatization for a real Martian invasion. Although new data seems to suggest the extent of this “panic” may have been minimal. Wells' tale remains timeless, continuing to inspire adaptations, films, and discussions on human survival and the role of science in society. In The War of the Worlds, Wells not only entertains but also offers a compelling critique of humanity’s fragile position in the universe, showcasing the blend of imagination and intellect that defined his career.

— read by 'N' —

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The White Cat pt. 1 Oct 07, 2024

The White Cat, written by Madame d’Aulnoy in 1698, and originally broadcast by Snoozecast in July 2020, is part of the early wave of literary fairy tales popular in France at the time. These tales were not just for children—they were enjoyed by adults, especially in the aristocratic salons of Paris, where storytelling was a fashionable pastime.

Madame d’Aulnoy was one of the key figures in this genre, alongside writers like Charles Perrault. Her stories often featured magical elements, royal characters, and challenges, but they also had more elaborate plots and strong, clever female characters. The White Cat tells the story of a prince who encounters a talking white cat living in an enchanted castle.

This story reflects the style of the period, blending traditional folklore with the social dynamics and expectations of the court.

— read by 'V' —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 21 Oct 04, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 21th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “A New Departure in Flavorings”

In the previous chapter – Anne is captivated by the beauty of spring, especially the Mayflowers and enjoys a day gathering them with her classmates. Later, Anne’s vivid imagination causes her to fear “The Haunted Wood,” (a name she made up herself) but Marilla forces her to confront her fear by walking through it alone at night. Terrified but unharmed, Anne completes the walk and vows to appreciate the ordinary rather than romanticizing spooky happenings.

— read by 'N' —

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How He Left The Hotel Oct 02, 2024

Tonight, to start off our 6th annual “Spooky Sleep Story Series”, we shall read the opening to “How He Left The Hotel”, written by Louisa Baldwin and first published in 1895. Tune in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety- like classic horror literature and ghost stories. If you prefer to avoid the mildly macabre we hope you’ll enjoy one of our many other stories available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Catch up on previous years by finding our free standalone podcast series “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories” or if you are a premium subscriber, look for “Snoozecast+” or “Snoozecast+ Deluxe: Spooky Stories” instead to listen ad-free.

Louisa Baldwin was a British writer known primarily for her contributions to the genre of supernatural fiction. She was part of the illustrious Baldwin family, with connections to notable figures in politics and the arts. Louisa was one of the "Macdonald sisters," four siblings whose descendants include celebrated authors and artists. Despite this distinguished familial background, she forged her own path in literature, creating ghost stories and other eerie tales that captivated readers with their chilling atmospheres and suspenseful narratives.

Baldwin's most famous works include the collection The Shadow on the Blind (1895), which features several of her ghost stories, showcasing her ability to weave psychological tension into supernatural occurrences. Her tales often delve into the uncanny, where ordinary lives are suddenly disrupted by inexplicable, ghostly events. Baldwin’s prose combines a sharp observational style with a deep understanding of human nature, leading readers into unsettling, suspenseful narratives that leave a lasting impression.

— read by 'V' —

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The Rose and the Ring pt. 2 Sep 30, 2024

Tonight, we’ll dive into the second part of our tale, "The Rose and the Ring," written by William Makepeace Thackeray and first published in 1854. The first episode in this series aired 4 weeks ago.

Thackeray, known for his sharp wit and social commentary, infuses The Rose and the Ring with humor and fantasy, offering a playful critique of royalty and social expectations in a magical setting.

Previously, King Valoroso of Paflagonia received a letter about Prince Bulbo's visit, sparking excitement and a whirlwind of preparations. In this episode, we explore Princess Angelica's early life, filled with whimsical palace events and a hint of royal mischief.

— read by 'V' —

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Good Wives ch. 11 Sep 27, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott titled “A Friend”. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 34rd chapter as part of that work as a whole.

Our last episode was the chapter focused on letters Jo wrote from the New York boarding house she is working within as governess to the girls Kitty and Minnie. She also befriends a professor who lives in the house named Frederich Bhaer, a kind and playful older man that gives German lessons. He is poor and raising his two nephews. Jo also becomes friendly with Miss Norton, who requests she escort her sometimes to lectures and concerts. Jo enjoys a masked New Years Eve party and is generally quite content in her new role.

— read by 'V' —

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A Dream of the 1890s, Portland Sep 25, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a non-fiction sleep story we call “A Dream of the 1890s in Portland” that we first aired back in 2020. It comes from excerpts from “Oregon, Washington And Alaska: Sights And Scenes for the Tourist” published in 1890 by E.L. Lomax. Our title is a reference to a sketch from the show “Portlandia”, as the creators behind Snoozecast, who are from New England, both lived in the Pacific Northwest in the past when we were younger and found it to be a dreamy place.

The author Edward Lloyd Lomax remains a somewhat enigmatic figure, with scant biographical information available. However, Lomax's legacy is particularly tied to this seminal travel guide we will read tonight. His contribution to travel literature is significant for its detailed first-hand descriptions, which served as valuable resources for travelers and enthusiasts of American frontiers.

Officially incorporated in 1851, Portland grew steadily, forming an identity as an industrial trading town. Up into the 1890s, Portland hosted the Pacific Northwest's largest port, only to be surpassed later by Seattle.

— read by 'N' —

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Max Morrow and the Train of Tomorrow pt. 1 Sep 23, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original sleep story with a pulp-magazine vibe titled “Max Morrow and the Train of Tomorrow pt. 1” the conclusion will be available next month.

When Max Morrow finds a forgotten train ticket to a seemingly defunct line in his grandfather's old coat, he realizes the boarding date happens to be today. Deciding to visit the platform on a lark he’s soon whisked away on a mysterious adventure.

Pulp fiction is a genre of literature that was popular in the United States from 1896 to 1955. Read and enjoyed by millions, pulp magazines reached their zenith in the 1930s, though the genre began in earnest in 1896 with The Argosy, a monthly magazine that was printed on low-cost pulp paper. The genre is characterized by its action-packed stories, often featuring stereotypical characters. The term "pulp" comes from the cheap, low-quality wood pulp paper used to print the magazines.

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Persuasion pt. 10 Sep 20, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, we find Anne obliged to go on what should be a very awkward walk through the countryside with her sister Mary, their cousins Henrietta and Louisa, her brother-in-law Charles, and Captain Wentworth. We observe the degree to which Captain Wentworth prizes conviction and loyalty in a woman in reaction to how Anne had allowed herself to be persuaded against him eight years earlier. Their long walk seems random but when they reach the grounds of the cousin’s relation’s The Hayter’s home, Henrietta and Charles go in to visit while the rest of the party stay out in the woods to enjoy the fresh air. Anne rests quietly while the others go walking around. She accidentally ends up privy to a conversation between Louisa and Captain Wentworth where Louisa gives the captain an example of her sister being indecisive towards her old lover Charles Hayter, and the captain uses this as an example of what he most abhors. We will pick up in this private conversation.

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The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood Sep 19, 2024

Tonight, for our monthly bonus episode for Snoozecast+ Deluxe listeners, we bring you our retelling of the classic fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty”. This version is inspired by the original writer of this tale, Charles Perrault.

Perrault was a French author who is often credited as the founder for a new literary genre, the fairy tale, with his works derived from earlier folk tales. The best known of his tales include "Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella", "Puss in Boots" along with “Sleeping Beauty”.

Thank you to all our listeners. If you are interested in learning more about our premium subscription options, where you can listen to our expanded catalog ad-free, go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Tears of Gold pt. 2 Sep 18, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the final half of the story “Tears of Gold” found in “Folk-Tales of the Khasis” which was compiled by Mrs. Rafy and published in 1920. The original story in the book is titled “The Blessing of the Mendicant”. We first read this back in 2020. The first half of this story aired last week.

In part one, a boy named U Babam Doh grows up not knowing that the father he had never known had was eaten by the dragon U Yak Jakor. The boy was bestowed the ability to cry tears of gold nuggets, because the boy’s mother had consumed a magical rabbit stew. The rabbit was a gift from a wise beggar. U Babam Doh grows up with another boy that is the heir apparent of his father’s chiefdom. This prince grows jealous of U Babam Doh’s uncanny luck at winning, and charges him with witchcraft.

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Count Rumford's Substitute for Tea & Coffee Sep 16, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from 1892’s “The Chemistry of Cookery” by W. Mattieu Williams that we titled Count Rumford’s Substitute for Tea and Coffee. Snoozecast first read this excerpt back in 2020.

Benjamin Thompson, also known as Count Rumford, was an interesting fellow. Born in Massachusetts in 1753, he charmed and married an heiress from Concord, New Hampshire, then called Rumford, NH. He was a British loyalist when the American Revolutionary War began. When a rebel mob attacked his house, he abandoned his house and family to join the British side of the war and conducted experiments on gunpowder. Then he moved to Bavaria, and among other things applied his scientific skills to establishing workhouses for the poor and inventing the method of cooking called Sous Vide. For his efforts in science and society his awarded the title of Count. He chose the name Rumford for the town he was married in some twenty years earlier.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 32 Sep 13, 2024

In the previous episode, the crew of the Nautilus encounters a swarm of giant cuttlefish, one of which entangles the ship’s screw, preventing it from moving. Captain Nemo leads the crew in a fierce battle against the creatures, using axes and harpoons. Despite their efforts, one of the crew is killed, leaving Captain Nemo grief-stricken, and the Nautilus remains adrift for days before resuming its course through the Gulf Stream.

We pick up at the start of chapter 20.‍

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Tears of Gold pt. 1 Sep 11, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read part one of the story “Tears of Gold” found in “Folk-Tales of the Khasis” which was compiled by Mrs. Rafy and published in 1920. The original story in the book is titled “The Blessing of the Mendicant”. We first read this back in 2020. The second half of this story will air next week.The Khasi people are an indigenous ethnic tribe from India. A unique feature of the Khasi people is that they follow the matrilineal system of descent and inheritance. A mendicant is a person who relies on alms to survive, sometimes referred to as a beggar. This person is often a monk or otherwise part of a religious order.

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The Magic Carpet Sep 09, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the short story "The Magic Carpet" from the compilation called "The Day Before Yesterday" by Richard Middleton, published posthumously in 1912. We first read this story back in 2020.

Middleton was a tragic figure- a young man impatient for success, who managed to live the archetypal life of the Romantic Bohemian poet, complete with poverty, unrequited love for an impossible woman, and an early, tragic death. No novels were published while he was alive. Soon after his death, the literary world discovered him. Critical acclaim followed for the brilliance of his work, and the brevity of his life.

Four volumes of his collected works were published, including this one. If you enjoy this story, and also enjoy mild-mannered ghost stories, be sure to listen to “The Ghost Ship” written by the same author. Just search in your podcast app for “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories”, or go to snoozecast.com/series.

But just to reassure our more delicate listeners, this story, “The Magic Carpet”, is in no way spooky. It is about a young boy who uses his imagination to embark on whimsical adventures.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 20 Sep 06, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 20th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “A Good Imagination Gone Wrong”

In the previous chapter – Anne persuades Marilla, with Matthew's help, to let her attend a concert with Diana, where she has a wonderful time. Later, when Anne and Diana accidentally jump into bed with Diana's visiting Aunt Josephine, they fear the consequences, but Anne bravely apologizes and wins Miss Barry's favor. As a result, Miss Barry stays longer than planned, becoming fond of Anne and promising to host her in the future.

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Prince Darling Sep 04, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read “Prince Darling”, a French fairy tale credited to Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. Snoozecast first read this story back in the year 2020.

This author also wrote the best-known version of the story “Beauty and the Beast”. Her third husband was the French spy Thomas Pichon.

As a long-time educator, she became well known for her written works on behavior and instructional teaching for young women. Her interest in the genre of education contributed to her inclusion of fairy tales to teach moral behavior. She was one of the first writers to utilize folk tales as moralist and educational tools.

Within many of her other works, Leprince de Beaumont discussed reform for the roles of women in society. She urged women to become active political participants by providing them with literary instruction on how to become instrumental citizens.

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The Rose and the Ring pt. 1 Sep 02, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening chapters to a new series titled “The Rose and the Ring”. Written by William Makepeace Thackeray, and originally published in 1854, the tale is set in the enchanting imaginary realms of Paflagonia and Crim Tartary.

As we follow the lives of King Valoroso, his Queen, and their Princess Angelica, we’ll experience a fascinating blend of royal manners and gentle magic.

Thackeray’s story explores themes of loyalty, power, and family dynamics, with a touch of mystery and charm.

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Good Wives ch. 10 Aug 30, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott titled “Jo’s Journal”. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 33rd chapter as part of that work as a whole.

Our last episode was the chapter titled “Tender Troubles” and in it, Beth’s behavior worries Mrs. March. After observing Beth in secret, Jo concludes that Beth must have fallen in love with Laurie. Jo also suspects that Laurie has fallen in love with herself. To put a damper on that, Jo decides to move away and work for a family friend for a while, to give herself some space.

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History of Bread Aug 28, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read about the history of bread-making in Europe and America, from “The History of Bread”, written by John Ashton and published in 1905. Snoozecast first aired this story back in 2020.

The text mentions windmills, which in the past were structures built to harness wind power to perform strenuous tasks, specifically they were well know for milling grain. But one of the earliest working windmill designs was found in Ancient Persia and used to both pump water and grind grain.

Windmills were adopted throughout late medieval and early modern European times. At their peak, Europe contained an estimated 200,000 windmills in the year 1850. With the Industrial Revolution, they were eventually replaced by steam mills and internal combustion engines.

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Centerfield Aug 26, 2024

Tonight, for our 901st episode, we’ll read a Snoozecast original titled “Centerfield”. In this story, the neighborhood boys play pickup ball games during the dog days of summer. Cole Brooks spends most of his time in centerfield daydreaming. A shift occurs when new slugger, Rolo Flores, wakes up the outfield with action at every play. In this story, Rolo hits a

dinger far beyond the boundaries of the field, launching a mysterious adventure.

A pick-up game is one spontaneously started. Unlike exhibition games, there is no sense of obligation or commitment to play. Pick-up games usually lack officials and referees, which makes them more disorganized and less structured than regular games. Without formal rules and regulations, pick-up games are often played with a less rigid set of rules.

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Persuasion pt. 9 Aug 23, 2024

Tonight, for Snoozecast’s 900th episode, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, we learn just how much of an eligible and desirable bachelor Captain Wentworth has become. The world of women has opened to him, even as the number of suitors seems to have dwindled for Anne with time. Meanwhile, a cousin and Henrietta’s suitor named Charles Hayter is dismayed to find upon returning from a trip that his sweetheart’s affections appear to have shifted towards Captain Wentworth.

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The Whispered Breeze Aug 22, 2024

Tonight for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we'll read this Snoozecast original sleep story titled The Whispered Breeze. It is a sensorial prose poem that will immerse you in nature's rhythms and sensations. The language evokes the delicate transition from day to night as colors fade from the sky and the evening air cools, bringing the quiet, soothing sounds of nature to life. You will feel the breeze as it stirs the leaves. Smell the rich earth and see air and hear the crickets, frogs, whales and owls. and hear the crickets, frogs, whales and owls. These sensory details ground you in a peaceful, meditative atmosphere where nature's beauty is felt as much as seen.

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The Snow Man Aug 21, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a short story by O. Henry titled “Snow Man” published posthumously in 1917. Snoozecast first read this story back in 2020.

William Sydney Porter, pen name O. Henry, is known for short stories with surprise twist endings. He used pseudonyms like O. Henry to hide the fact that he was for a time imprisoned for embezzlement.

This particular story, set during the winter in Colorado, had to be left unfinished by the author at the end of his life. The other then asked a friend and fellow writer to finish it for him, after describing to him in detail the remainder of his vision for it.

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The Good Anna Aug 19, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read “The Good Anna”, a short story written by Gertrude Stein as part of her first published book, titled “Three Lives” published in 1909. We first read this story back in 2020.

Stein was an American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector. Born in the United States, she moved to Paris as an adult and stayed there the rest of her life. She hosted a Paris salon, where the leading figures of modernism in literature and art, such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Henri Matisse would meet.

Two quotes from Stein’s works have become widely known: "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose," and "there is no there there”

The Good Anna is set in the fictional city of Bridgepoint, which is modeled after Baltimore, MD where Stein lived at one time.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 31 Aug 16, 2024

In the previous episode, the crew of the Nautilus breathes fresh air after a period of being under ice, and Captain Nemo continues their voyage, eventually guiding the submarine through various seas, passing Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands. The group observes a rich variety of marine life along the South American coast, including fish, mollusks, and even encounters with dangerous creatures giant cuttlefish. Despite their desire for escape, they remain prisoners on the Nautilus as it continues its journey, now nearing the Amazon River and beyond.

When we last left off, the Nautilus experiences a shock, “a trembling in every plate”, signaling a possible collision. We’ll pick up as the group tries to determine the cause of the disturbance.

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The Twelve Dancing Princesses Aug 14, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a fairy tale by listener request called “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” that we first read back in 2020. This tale is best known as part of the German “Brothers Grimm collection”, but there are variants of it from around the world including the folk tales of Russia, Iceland, India, Armenia, France, Turkey and Portugal. It is also known as "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes" or "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces".

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The Exhilaration of the Road Aug 12, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a short story by John Burroughs called “The Exhilaration of the Road” that we first read in 2020. It is taken from a compilation titled “The Footpath Way”, an anthology for walkers, published in 1911.

John Burroughs was an American nature essayist, active in the U.S. conservation movement. In the words of his biographer Edward Renehan, Burroughs' special identity was less that of a scientific naturalist than that of "a literary naturalist with a duty to record his own unique perceptions of the natural world." The result was a body of work whose resonance with the tone of its cultural moment explains both its popularity at that time, and its relative obscurity since.

Burroughs accompanied many personalities of the time in his later years, including Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford (who gave him an automobile), and Thomas Edison. According to Ford, "John Burroughs, Edison, and I made several vagabond trips together. We went in motor caravans and slept under canvas.”

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 19 Aug 09, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 19th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “A Concert a Catastrophe and a Confession”.

In the previous chapter – Anne’s quick thinking and experience helped save the life of her friend Diana’s younger sister, Minnie May. This episode not only strengthened Anne’s bond with Diana but also mended her strained relationship with Diana’s mother, Mrs. Barry, leading the two to a joyful reconciliation.

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Badger the Mischief-Maker Aug 07, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the story of the mischievous animals of Algonquin Legends, particularly the badger, the weasel fairies, the moose and the marten. This story is based on one found in the book “Algonquin Legends of New England”, published in 1884 and compiled by Charles Godfrey Leland.

The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups. Today, thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples.

Their legends involve characters who are simultaneously human and at the same time represented by an animal or a magical being, or sometimes both, as is the case of the weasel fairy sisters.

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Maldonado | Darwin's Voyage Aug 05, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from the third chapter of British naturalist Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”. This chapter explores the area around coastal Uruguay and Argentina, starting in the town of Madonado. Darwin describes the unique behaviors of the local wildlife, like ostriches and capybaras, and the customs of the local landowners and gauchos, or cowboys. He encounters curious locals who are fascinated by his pocket compass and matchsticks.

“The Voyage of the Beagle” is the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as Darwin’s “Journal and Remarks”, bringing him considerable fame and respect. If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first of this series aired on June 10th, 2024, and the second aired a month later.

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Good Wives ch. 9 Aug 02, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 32st chapter as part of that work as a whole. Our last episode was the chapter titled “Our Foreign Correspondent” and Amy writes from her travels abroad, sharing her excitement and experiences in London and Paris. She describes sightseeing, social gatherings with friends, and romantic adventures, including a potential suitor, Fred. Amy reflects on the practicality of a marriage with Fred, valuing his wealth and status, while assuring her family that she will make prudent decisions.This next chapter is titled “Tender Troubles”.

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The Betrothed of Destiny Jul 31, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read an Armenian folktale titled “The Betrothed of Destiny”. It comes from A.G. Seklemian’s 1898 “The Golden Maiden and Other Armenian Folktales”. This particular story features a fearless, strong heroine. When Snoozecast first published this story back in 2020, we realize now that we had misspelled the author’s last name as “Sekelmann”.

Abraham Seklemian was an Armenian-American editor and author. He and his wife migrated to the United States seeking refuge from Turkish oppression. They settled in California, and he was the first editor of an Armenian-American bilingual daily newspaper that still publishes to this day. It is the only bilingual daily newspaper in the country, publishing five times a week.

The author grew up hearing classic tales that were recounted by memory, as the custom was for the villagers in his homeland to gather during long winters to recite tales

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The Jumping Frog Jul 29, 2024

Tonight, for our 888th episode, we’ll read the 1865 Mark Twain short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. It was Twain’s first great success as a writer and brought him national attention. We first aired this story back in the year 2020.

In the following tale, the narrator retells a story he heard from a bartender, Simon Wheeler in California, about the gambler named Jim Smiley.

Jim Smiley is described as betting on just about anything, for example, on the travels of a “straddle bug”. If you’re wondering what a straddle bug is, just picture a large, commonplace beetle.

The story is set against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush, a period of American history marked by fervent optimism and the pursuit of fortune. Twain's depiction of this time captures the essence of a society where people from all walks of life mingled and gambled on everything imaginable. The quirky characters and their antics provide a humorous lens through which readers can view the era’s adventurous spirit and sometimes absurd undertakings.

Twain’s writing style in this story is notable for its use of vernacular speech and regional dialects. This stylistic choice adds authenticity to the characters and their environment, bringing the story to life with vivid, colloquial language. Twain's ability to capture the unique voices of his characters helped establish his reputation as a master storyteller and chronicler of American life.

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Persuasion pt. 8 Jul 26, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, Anne hears from her sister Mary that Captain Wentworth remarked that he felt Anne was so changed he would not have recognized her. This deeply mortifies Anne, though she admits it to be true. Captain Wentworth, still bitter over their past, shows no desire to renew their acquaintance despite frequent social interactions. His focus is now on finding a suitable marriage, excluding Anne from his considerations, though he still has some lingering unresolved feelings. We pick up in the middle of a conversation between Captain Wentworth, his sister and her husband, Mrs. and Admiral Croft and the Musgrove family regarding the Captain’s naval experiences.

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The Chess Master Jul 24, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Exploits and Triumphs, In Europe, of Paul Morphy, The Chess Champion.” It was published in 1859 and written by Frederick Milnes Edge, who was Morphy’s secretary.

Paul Morphy, born in New Orleans in 1837, was considered the greatest chess player of his era. He was a child prodigy who learned to play chess simply by watching family members play. When he was only 9 years old, he was hailed as the best chess player in his city.

This book describes Morphy's trip to Europe in 1858. After his triumphs in Europe, he was considered the unofficial World Chess Champion, as official championship tournaments were only held starting in 1886, almost thirty years later.

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Mighty Gneiss Jul 22, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast Original story about the friendship between two boulders on a mountain slope. In this gentle tale, you will meet Mighty Gneiss, an ancient and steadfast rock, and Little Rock, a curious and enthusiastic granite boulder. Their bond grows through shared experiences and geological lessons, highlighting themes of connection, change, and the enduring nature of friendship. As you listen, you'll be transported to a high altitude land where the ancient and the ephemeral coexist.

The Teton Range, known for its rugged peaks and stunning vistas, rises sharply above the Jackson Hole Valley in Wyoming. The Grand Teton is the highest peak within the range, standing at 13,775 feet or 4,199 meters.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 30 Jul 19, 2024

In the previous episode, the Nautilus became trapped by an impenetrable wall of ice. Captain Nemo explains that they face either being crushed or suffocating, as their air supply will only last two more days. The crew, led by Captain Nemo, attempts to break free by attacking the thinner parts of the ice with pickaxes and screws, but progress is slow. As the air quality worsens, they struggle with lack of oxygen. Nemo devises a plan to inject boiling water to raise the temperature and prevent the ice from solidifying. The crew works tirelessly, and despite the worsening conditions, they finally break through the ice and the Nautilus ascends to the surface, bringing in fresh air. We’ll pick up right as the nautilus surfaces'

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The Library of Lost Sounds Jul 18, 2024

Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast + Deluxe Bonus Episode, we’ll read a Snoozecast original, The Library of Lost Sounds, in which a bored ten-year old girl suddenly finds herself in a mysterious realm far from the department store she was shopping at with her mother.

If you’d like to learn more about our premium subscriptions, go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Princess Minon-Minette Jul 17, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast-adapted version of the story “Princess Minon-Minette” found in “The Pink Fairy Book” edited by Andrew Lang. This episode first aired back in 2021.

Originally found in the “Library of Genius and Fairies”, this story was written by French aristocrat and writer of the late 1600s Madame de Murat. She published many stories that she first debuted at the fashionable literary salons of her time, and was considered one of the leaders of the “fairy-tale vogue.”

After several years of success and recognition, Madame de Murat was imprisoned and then exiled, being accused of debauchery and “shocking practices and beliefs”. Although she failed at an attempt to escape wearing the disguise of men’s clothing, she did continue to write her body of works for several years after that.

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Saboteurs on the River | Penny Parker Jul 15, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Saboteurs on the River” written by Mildred A. Wirt and published in 1943.

In this story, Saboteurs dynamite a bridge, and a man named Burt Ottman is accused of the crime based on evidence supplied by Penny. Penny feels that Burt is innocent, so she plans to find the culprits in order to exonerate Burt. Penny seeks the help of a man named Old Noah who lives in an ark filled with animals while he awaits the second great flood. Old Noah plays a role in bringing the saboteurs to justice.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our other Penny Parker series episodes by searching for our show titled “Snoozecast Presents: Penny Parker” wherever you listen to Snoozecast. Or, you can find Penny at snoozecast.com/series.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 18 Jul 12, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 18th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne to the Rescue”.

In the previous chapter – Anne meets Diana secretly by the Dryad's Bubble, where Diana tearfully tells Anne that her mother forbids their friendship. They have an emotional farewell, exchanging heartfelt promises and a lock of hair. Anne, devastated, decides to return to school, where her imaginative presence is warmly welcomed back by her classmates.

— read by 'N' —

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The Treasure Seeker | Conclusion Jul 10, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to the fairy tale “The Treasure Seeker.” You can find the first half of this story which we aired last week. This episode first aired in 2021. In the first half, we learn of Peter Bloch, who was once a prosperous inn-keeper and master cook, but is now a poor man. He hears of a mysterious dark spirit, The Treasure Seeker of the Mountain, and directions on how to find an amazing treasure trove of hidden wealth. Although he has an unhappy marriage with the Dame Ilse, Peter also has a sweet daughter named Lucia. His love for Lucia motivates him to seek the treasure in order to change their fortunes in life for the better.

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Rio de Janeiro | Darwin's Voyage Jul 08, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from the second chapter of British naturalist Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”. This chapter explores Rio de Janeiro and it’s surrounding environment.

“The Voyage of the Beagle” is the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as Darwin’s “Journal and Remarks”, bringing him considerable fame and respect. If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first of this series aired on June 10th, 2024.

Rio de Janeiro is a seaside city in Brazil, with almost 7 million residents. Now, it is famous for its beautiful resort beaches, its Carnival, samba dancers, street art, its weather and its huge Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado.

In this episode, Darwin explores the ecology, geology and in his words, the “shimmering tropical splendor” in Brazil.

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Good Wives ch. 8 Jul 05, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 8th chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 31st chapter as part of that work as a whole.

Our last episode was the chapter titled “Consequences” in which Amy organizes a successful fair to raise money for the family of an impoverished artist, displaying her leadership and generosity. Laurie surprises everyone by buying a large quantity of items, significantly contributing to the funds raised.

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The Treasure Seeker | Opening Half Jul 03, 2024

Tonight we’ll read "The Treasure Seeker", a story found in the "Crimson Fairy Book" written by Andrew Lang and published in 1903. In this story, a party of shepherds sat one night telling of the strange things that had happened to them in their youth. One of their stories was more exciting than expected, regarding a mysterious dark spirit who was The Treasure Seeker of the mountain.

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With the Night Mail Jul 01, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “With the Night Mail” an early sci-fi novella set in the year 2000, written by Rudyard Kipling, and published in 1905.

This story describes an airship postal worker making a routine night run from London to Quebec. In this universe, the Aerial Board of Control (or A.B.C.), a fictional supranational organization dedicated to the control and aid of airship (also known as dirigible) traffic across the entire planet.

In our age of commonplace intercontinental air travel, one needs to bear in mind that Kipling wrote this story at a time when the first successful powered flight, which lasted a total of 12 seconds, took place only two years prior.

An airship, or dirigible is a type of lighter-than-air aircraft that can navigate through the air flying under its own power. They use buoyancy from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air to achieve the lift needed to stay airborne.

In early dirigibles, the lifting gas used was hydrogen, due to its high lifting capacity and ready availability, but the inherent flammability led to hydrogen airships being rendered obsolete. The alternative lifting gas, helium gas is not flammable, but is rare and relatively expensive. Significant amounts were first discovered in the United States and for a while helium was only available for airship usage in North America.

Airships were the first aircraft capable of controlled powered flight, and were most commonly used before the 1940s; their use decreased as their capabilities were surpassed by those of aeroplanes.

From the 1960s, helium airships have been used where the ability to hover for a long time outweighs the need for speed and maneuverability, such as advertising, tourism, camera platforms, geological surveys and aerial observation.

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Persuasion pt. 7 Jun 28, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, Anne Elliott is distressed by the frequent mention of Captain Wentworth, whom she realizes is the same man she once knew years ago. She steels herself for his arrival in the area, aware that she must learn to cope with his presence. The Musgroves, grateful for the care Captain Wentworth showed to their deceased son, are eager to meet him. Anne faces an emotional trial when Captain Wentworth arrives and quickly earns the admiration of the Musgrove family. However, Anne narrowly avoids meeting him due to a child's accident, which consumes her attention.

Despite the child's recovery, Anne remains tense about seeing Wentworth. The Musgroves' praise of him deepens her turmoil, as she navigates her complex feelings and memories. When Anne finally sees Captain Wentworth briefly, she struggles with the realization that their long separation has not lessened her emotional response to him, despite her attempts at rationalizing the passage of time and the changes it brings.

— read by 'V' —

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The Wild Garden Jun 26, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from “The Wild Garden” by William Robinson, published in 1870. This episode first aired in 2021. Robinson was an Irish gardener and journalist whose ideas about wild gardening spurred the movement that led to the popularizing of the English cottage garden. He was a champion of the "wild garden", who vanquished the high Victorian pattern garden of planted-out bedding schemes, which used tropical plants grown in greenhouses.

Modern gardening practices first introduced by Robinson include: using alpine plants in rock gardens; dense plantings of perennials and groundcovers that expose no bare soil; use of hardy perennials and native plants; and large plantings of perennials in natural-looking drifts.

— read by 'V' —

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The Lighthouse Keeper's Secret Jun 24, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original titled “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Secret” where in a remote lighthouse, the keeper rescues a shipwrecked woman, who has amnesia and believes she is searching for hidden treasure.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 29 Jun 21, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Captain Nemo informs the crew that the weather is improving and plans to go ashore for observations. The narrator tries to bring Ned Land, but the Canadian refuses. After breakfast, they head to shore, traveling a league inland to a peak with observation instruments. During the journey, they see various southern whales. Reaching the summit after a difficult climb, Captain Nemo takes barometric readings and declares they are at the South Pole. He raises a black banner with a gold "N," claiming the land in his name.

The next day, preparations to depart are made. The Nautilus encounters an iceberg, and after a terrible collision, it becomes trapped at an angle. The crew works to free the submarine, eventually righting it, but still surrounded by ice. As they navigate through the icy tunnel, they are dazzled by the refracted light. After another collision and the realization that all exits are blocked, Captain Nemo confirms they are trapped by shifting ice.

— read by 'N' —

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The Heavenly Pits Jun 20, 2024

Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we invite you to explore “The Heavenly Pits” with us. This story, written by Snoozecast, features a biologist whose solo expedition into a legendary sinkhole transitions from scientific exploration to mystical journey.

If you would like to learn more about what Snoozecast’s premium subscription service offers, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“Karst tiankengs” are colossal sinkholes formed in China. Tiankeng is Manderin for “Heavenly Pits”. These geological formations are not just natural wonders; they are also ecological hotspots. They contain ancient forests that seem to be teeming with life, and may conserve long-lost DNA of endangered species for researchers.

— read by 'N' —

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The Three Golden Apples Jun 19, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the story “The Three Golden Apples” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and found in “A Wonder Book” originally published in 1851. This episode first aired in 2021.

This is Hawthorne's retelling of Hercules’ search for three golden apples. Along the way he meets the Old Man of the Sea, a six-legged man creature and the mighty giant, Atlas.

This story also features the Hesperides. In Greek mythology, they are the nymphs of evening and golden light of sunsets. The Hesperides love to sing, and they spend their time tending to Queen Hera’s apple orchard.

— read by 'V' —

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The Clocks of Rondaine Jun 17, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the story “The Clocks of Rondaine” adapted by Snoozecast and originally found in the compilation “Fanciful Tales” compiled by Frank R. Stockton and published in 1894.

A clock or chronometer is a device that measures and displays time. The clock is one of the oldest human inventions, meeting the need to measure intervals of time shorter than the natural units such as the day, the lunar month, and the year. Devices operating on several physical processes have been used over the millennia.

— read by 'V' —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 17 Jun 14, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 17th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “A New Interest in Life”.

Anne invites her best friend, Diana Barry, to tea at Green Gables. Anne is thrilled to host her first tea party and plans everything meticulously, including serving Marilla's prized raspberry cordial. However, Anne unknowingly serves Diana a different drink, currant wine, thinking it is the cordial. As they enjoy their time together, Diana drinks three glasses of the wine and becomes quite drunk, much to Anne's confusion.

Diana's mother accuses Anne of deliberately intoxicating Diana and forbidding her daughter from ever associating with Anne again. Marilla quickly realizes the mix-up and tries to explain, but Mrs. Barry is unforgiving. Anne is devastated at her loss of friendship with Diana.

— read by 'N' —

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Bicycle Etiquette for Ladies and Gentlemen Jun 12, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt about bicycle etiquette from “Twentieth Century Culture and Deportment for the Lady and Gentleman at Home and Abroad” by Maud C. Cook published in 1899.This episode originally aired in 2021.

Bicycles and horse buggies were the two mainstays of private transportation just prior to the advent of the automobile. The grading of smooth roads in the late 1800s was stimulated by the widespread advertising, production, and use of bicycles along with horse buggies.

By the turn of the century, when this book was written, cycling clubs flourished on both sides of the Atlantic, and touring and racing became widely popular.

— read by 'V' —

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Cape Verde Islands | Darwin's Voyage Jun 10, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from the first chapter of Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”. This chapter explores around the islands of Cape Verde.

“The Voyage of the Beagle” is the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as Darwin’s “Journal and Remarks”, bringing him considerable fame and respect. This was the third volume of “The Narrative of the Voyages of H.M. Ships Adventure and Beagle”, the other volumes of which were written or edited by the commanders of the ships. “Journal and Remarks” covers Darwin's part in the second survey expedition of the ship HMS Beagle. Due to the popularity of Darwin's account, the publisher reissued it later in 1839 as “Darwin's Journal of Researches”. A republication of the book in 1905 introduced the title “The Voyage of the "Beagle"”, by which it is now best known.

— read by 'N' —

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Good Wives ch. 7 Jun 07, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 7th chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 30th chapter as part of that work as a whole.

Our last episode was the chapter titled “Calls” in which Amy March, the youngest of the March sisters, navigates her social life and responsibilities. Amy is given the task of calling on the various high-society women in their town, a duty she undertakes with a mixture of determination and trepidation. As she visits each home, Amy observes and interacts with the women, learning valuable lessons about social etiquette, personal ambition, and the complexities of adult relationships.

During her calls, Amy encounters a range of characters, from the pretentious and insincere Mrs. Chester to the more genuine and kind-hearted Mrs. Moffat. These interactions provide Amy with insights into the social expectations and superficial judgments that often govern society. Despite feeling somewhat out of place and intimidated, Amy maintains her composure and grace.

— read by 'V' —

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The Seaside Princess from Brazil Jun 05, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Brazilian fairy tale called “The Seaside Princess from Brazil” or “Why the Sea Moans” from the collection by Elsie Spicer Eells’s “Fairy Tales from Brazil” published in 1917. This story was originally adapted and published by Snoozecast in 2021.The author Spicer Eells was an American researcher of folklore and a writer who traveled in the early years of the twentieth century across the Atlantic basin. Having traveled in the 1920s and ‘30s to various countries as a researcher at The Hispanic Society of America in New York, Eells was the author of numerous collections of short stories and legends based on the oral tradition of various regions she visited, including the Brazilian one we found.‍

— read by 'V' —

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The Rainbow Jun 03, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the beginning of “The Rainbow”, a novel by British author D. H. Lawrence. “The Rainbow” tells the story of three generations of the Brangwen family, a dynasty of farmers and craftsmen who live in the east Midlands of England, on the borders of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The book spans a period of roughly 65 years from the 1840s to 1905, and shows how the love relationships of the Brangwens change against the backdrop of the increasing industrialisation of Britain. The first central character, Tom Brangwen, is a farmer whose experience of the world does not stretch beyond these two counties; while the last, Ursula, his granddaughter, studies at university and becomes a teacher in the progressively urbanised, capitalist and industrial world.

— read by 'N' —

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Persuasion pt. 6 May 31, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, Anne Elliot visits Uppercross and is struck by the stark contrast between the concerns of the Musgroves and those of her family at Kellynch Hall. Despite the short distance between the two places, the conversations and interests at Uppercross revolve around local and everyday matters like hunting, household management, and social gatherings, rather than the weighty and publicized affairs of Kellynch. Anne learns a humbling lesson about her own insignificance outside her familiar circle and resolves to integrate herself into Uppercross life, finding solace in the genuine sympathy of her friend Lady Russell.

Anne's stay at Uppercross proves manageable, as she gets along with her sister Mary, enjoys the company of her nephews, and recognizes Charles Musgrove's amiable nature, despite his lack of intellectual zeal. She often acts as a mediator between her sister and the Musgroves, trying to balance their complaints and grievances. Anne's spirits are lifted by the change of scenery and subjects, and the visit of the Crofts, the new tenants of Kellynch Hall, stirs her emotions as they mention Captain Wentworth, a significant figure from her past.

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Cooking with Chocolate May 29, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from “Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes” by Miss Parloa.

The Maya believed that cacao was discovered by the gods in a mountain along with other delectable foods, for their divine use. According to Maya mythology, the Plumed Serpent gave cacao to the Maya after humans were created by the divine grandmother goddess.

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The Crow's Nest May 27, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a selection from “The Crow’s Nest”, also known as “On the other side of the latch” by Sara Jeanette Duncan, who also published as Mrs. Everard Cotes and Garth Grafton.

Duncan worked as a travel writer for Canadian newspapers and a columnist for the Toronto Globe and eventually the Washington Post. Later she made a journey to India and married an Anglo-Indian civil servant thereafter dividing her time between England and India. She wrote 22 works of fiction, many with international themes and settings.

Unlike her travel writing, The Crow’s Nest is a memoir of description and not action as Duncan spends her time in recovery at a mountain house in Simla, India as she undergoes a rest cure for tuberculosis.

In the passage we’ll read tonight, Duncan pauses contemplating her current situation and turns her attention to the garden at the home where she is exiled.

— read by 'V' —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 28 May 24, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Arronax and the crew of the Nautilus reach the South Pole. They encounter a scattered icebergs and various wildlife. Captain Nemo expresses uncertainty about their exact location and decides to take bearings. We pick up right after Arronax’s and Captain Nemo’s last conversation where they discuss the importance of taking observations the next day, as it marks the equinox and the last opportunity for six months to determine their position at the South Pole before the polar night descends. The captain expresses confidence that if they can see the sun exactly cut by the northern horizon at noon, it will confirm their location. Despite potential mathematical errors due to the equinox not necessarily beginning at noon, the captain is optimistic that their bearings will be accurate enough. They agree to reconvene after breakfast to choose a suitable observation post ashore.

— read by 'N' —

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The Buddha's Path May 22, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from “The Buddha’s Path of Virtue: A Translation of the Dhammapada” by F. L. Woodward. This episode first aired in 2021.

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures.

This particular translation by Woodward was published by The Theosophical Society, which was founded by Madame Helena Blavatsky. You can listen to some of her travel memoir in our episode from January 2020 titled “Madame Blavatsky Visits Bombay | From the Caves and Jungles of Hindustan.”

— read by 'N' —

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Koofy: Diary of a Robot Vacuum Cleaner May 20, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original titled “Koofy: Diary of a Robot Vacuum Cleaner”. Koofy, a diligent vacuum cleaner from the KFY company performs his daily routines with humility. Initially a source of joy and fascination for the family’s toddler and baby, Koofy’s role takes an unexpected turn as the children’s reactions shift from amusement to cautiosness.

Facing the possibility of retirement, Koofy finds solace and wisdom from some of the other kitchen appliances in their late night conversations.

— read by 'V' —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 16 May 17, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 16th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Diana is Invited to Tea with Tragic Results”.

In the last episode, Anne attends school and is oblivious to Gilbert Blythe’s attempts to get her attention, which culminates in him teasingly calling her “Carrots”. Infuriated, Anne reacts impulsively by breaking her slate over Gilbert’s head, an act that causes a significant stir among their classmates.

Anne is publicly shamed by Mr. Phillips, the teacher which deeply humiliates her and solidifies her resolve not to return to school under such disgrace. The incident also cements her animosity towards Gilbert, despite his attempts to apologize. She eventually decides to return to school when she realizes how much she would miss Diana.

— read by 'N' —

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Rumpelstiltzkin May 16, 2024

Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we’ll read a Snoozecast Original, inspired by the Brothers Grimm tale “Rumpelstiltskin”.

In this reimagined version, a country miller’s daughter is thrust into the realm of kings and gnomes due to her father’s loud boasts. Greta must navigate royal demands and mystical deals to protect what is most precious to her.

The tale of Rumpelstiltskin, with its origins steeped in European folklore, has been captivating audiences for centuries. First formally recorded by the Brothers Grimm in the early 19th century, the narrative explores the motifs of bargaining and naming, language and promises.

— read by 'N' —

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Canoe Cookery May 15, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from “Canoe and Camp Cookery : A Practical Cook Book For Canoeists, Corinthian Sailors and Outers” by H.H. Soulé [Soul-ay] under the pen name Seneca, published in 1893. This episode first aired in 2021.

Canoes were developed by cultures all over the world. Until the mid-1800s the canoe was an important means of transport for exploration and trade, and in some places is still used as such.

A canoe, in American English, is a lightweight narrow vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top.

In British English, the term "canoe" can also refer to a kayak, while canoes are then called Canadian or “open” canoes to distinguish them from kayaks.

— read by 'V' —

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Daughter of the Sky May 13, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Daughter of the Sky: The Story of Amelia Earhart” written by Paul L. Briand and published in 1960. As the New York Times wrote in their review of the book when it was published “While so many were struggling to keep themselves or their business intact, this fine, calm young woman from 1928 to 1937, experienced a whole series of spectacular successes.”

Earhart was an American pioneer of aviation. In 1937 she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. During her life, she embraced celebrity culture and women's rights, and since her disappearance has become a cultural icon. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and she set many other records.

Recently, in 2024, a company that operates unmanned underwater vehicles found via sonar what appears to be the remains of an airplane on the ocean floor near Howland Island. The object, shaped like her particular plane, was located along the path she had been expected to fly in the Pacific Ocean. More exploration, however, is necessary to confirm whether this is indeed Earhart's missing aircraft.

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Good Wives ch. 6 May 10, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 5th chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel.

Our last episode was the chapter titled “Domestic Experiences” in which Meg navigates her life as newlyweds with John. She also grapples with the expectations placed upon her (and which she places on herself) as a married woman, striving to embody the ideal of a "good little wife." Meg faces challenges as she navigates the complexities of married life, but also finds moments of joy and fulfillment in her role, learning the importance of compromise, communication, and mutual respect.

— read by 'V' —

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The Red House Mystery May 08, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from “The Red House Mystery” by A. A. Milne, published in 1922. This episode is dedicated to Kerry, who first recommended the author Milne to us. It was Milne’s only mystery novel, and yet it was immensely popular. It falls into the “locked room” whodunnit category.

The setting is an English country house, where Mark Ablett has been entertaining a house party. The black sheep of his family arrives from Australia and a mystery ensues.

There is a preface to this book by the author that reads “My dear Father,

Like all really nice people, you have a weakness for detective stories, and feel that there are not enough of them. So, after all that you have done for me, the least that I can do for you is to write you one. Here it is: with more gratitude and affection than I can well put down here.”

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The Patagonia May 06, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Patagonia” a story written by Henry James and published in 1888. Like many of James’s other stories, its origins were inspired by an anecdote relayed to him over the dinner table. It features a young woman on a long sea voyage going to meet the man to whom she is betrothed.

This story also exemplifies two themes James is well known for. One being the contrasts between old and new worlds of America and England. The other is of the ‘new type’ of woman or the ‘self-made girl’ who pushes against the boundaries of social convention – at a cost to herself.

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Persuasion pt. 5 May 03, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, Admiral and Mrs. Croft visit Kellynch to the great satisfaction of all parties. The deal of the renting of Kellynch Hall is settled. Mary complains that she is feeling unwell and Anne must stay with her instead of heading straight to Bath with Sir Walter and Elizabeth. Anne is pleased with the opportunity to be useful and not go to Bath so soon. Lady Russell and Anne share concern that Mrs. Clay plans to travel to Bath with Sir Walter and Elizabeth. She warns Elizabeth of the danger that their father may fall for the young woman, but Elizabeth rejects the notion as ridiculous and offensive. When Anne visits Mary, she finds her in a sour mood as is usual. Anne patiently perseveres in cheering up her sister, and the two take a walk to visit the Musgroves.

We will pick up at the beginning of chapter 6.

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Soria Moria Castle May 01, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the classic Norwegian folk tale “Soria Moria Castle” originally written by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, and collected in “The Red Fairy Book”.

In this story, a poor, lazy son named Halvor is offered the opportunity to go sailing at sea. A storm blows the ship far off course. Halvor eventually finds a mysterious land and starts his journey towards a castle.

According to legend, the path to the castle is not clearly marked, and the journey is solitary because all people are different and therefore cannot reach the goal in the same manner. One of the most common values expressed is the idea of a common person rising above the circumstances of his birth and finding his own happiness and success.

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At Home in the Smokies Apr 29, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a section from “At Home In the Smokies”, a History Handbook for Great Smoky Mountains National Park produced by the National Park Service and written by Wilma Dykeman and James Stokely.

The Great Smoky Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, are renowned for their breathtaking beauty and rich history. Straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, they boast the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States. This majestic area draws millions of visitors each year with its ancient mountains, diverse ecosystems, and vibrant display of wildflowers, which bloom year-round.

The Smokies are named for the natural fog that often hangs over the range, appearing as large smoke plumes from a distance. This mist is caused by vegetation exhaling volatile organic compounds, a phenomenon that adds to the mystical quality of the landscape.

For tonight’s selection we’ll be reading the section titled “Birth of a Park”

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 27 Apr 26, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Arronax is puzzled over the direction in which the Nautilus is heading, wondering if Nemo is aiming to reach the South Pole. They are so far south that there are only a few hours of darkness per night. The Nautilus navigates through icebergs, and Arronax sees cities in their “surprising” shapes.As the submarine progresses, ice forms over its surface, and Arronax realizes that they have become trapped in a kind of vice. Nemo however, is confident that it will come loose, and that they will be able to go even further south. The Nautilus descends into the icy depths of the sea.

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The Bad Little Owls Apr 24, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Bad Little Owls” from the “Told at Twilight” series by John Breck. It was published in 1923. This episode first aired in May of 2021.

A group of owls is called a parliament. This term supposedly originates from C.S. Lewis’ description of a meeting of owls in “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

Many of the avian collective nouns originate in an anonymously published book from 1486 titled “ The Book of Hawking, Hunting, and Blasing of Arms”, later discovered to be written by a nun named Juliana Barnes. Some of the many terms from this book still in use today are an “exaltation of larks”, a “murmuration of starlings”, a “watch of nightingales”, a “sedge of herons”, and an “unkindness of ravens”.

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Olive and the Endless Rain Apr 22, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original tale about a furry friend. After 2 weeks of rain showers, Olive, the family’s “sassy senior” jack russell terrier takes it upon herself to bring an end to the ongoing downpour with the help of some other city creatures.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 15 Apr 19, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 15th chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne’s Confession”.

In the last episode, Marilla believes Anne lost Marilla’s special brooch and accuses her of lying. To punish her, Marilla disallows Anne to attend the much anticipated Sunday school picnic. Eventually, after much despair, Anne confesses for the crime she did not commit. Then Marilla finds that she herself lost her brooch when she finds it. Anne then gets to attend the Sunday school picnic after all.

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The Spelling Bee Apr 18, 2024

Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we invite you to immerse yourself in a tale crafted by Snoozecast, set at a one room school house in the 1910s. If you would like to learn more about what Snoozecast’s premium subscription service offers, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

A spelling bee is a competition in which contestants are asked to spell a broad selection of words, usually with a varying degree of difficulty. To compete, contestants must memorize the spellings of words as written in dictionaries, and recite them accordingly. The concept is thought to have originated in the United States, and is almost exclusive to the English language.

Historically, the word “bee” has been used to describe a get-together for communal work, like a husking bee, a quilting bee, or an apple bee. Why was it referred to as a “bee”? The word bee probably comes from the dialectal “been” meaning "help given by neighbors". This in tern originated from Middle English’s “bene”, meaning "prayer", "boon" or "extra service by a tenant to his lord".

Spelling bees became widespread across the United States during the 19th century, as a way to motivate students to learn standardized spelling. These spelling bees were usually held within individual schools and towns, and were not nationally organized. Soon after the dawn of the 20th century, the "first national spelling bee" was held. Marie Bolden, a young Black student from Cleveland, was named the first champion in 1908.

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The Ugly Duckling Apr 17, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read “The Ugly Duckling”, a Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, originally published in 1843. Snoozecast originally aired this episode back in 2021.

Unlike most fairy tales, this one is completely Andersen's invention and owes no debt to humanity’s vast cultural catalog of fairy tales or folklore.

Apparently Andersen grew up awkward and tall, with a big nose and feet.

Furthermore, speculation suggests that Andersen may have been the illegitimate son of Prince Christian Frederik who later became king of Denmark. Being a swan in the story was a metaphor not just for inner beauty and talent in that case, but also for secret royal lineage.

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Charles Augustus Milverton pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Apr 15, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The first half aired last week.

In the first half, Holmes was hired by the débutante Lady Eva Blackwell to retrieve compromising letters from a blackmailer named Milverton. The accused was known as "the king of blackmailers" where he would demand great sums in exchange for avoiding the release of letters that would cause great scandals.

Holmes, intrigued by the challenge and the injustice of Milverton's actions, agrees to take on the case. He sees it as an opportunity to thwart a master blackmailer and bring him to justice. As Holmes delves into the matter, he learns more about Milverton's methods and reputation. Milverton is known for his ruthlessness and lack of scruples; he preys on the secrets and vulnerabilities of others for his own profit.

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Good Wives ch. 5 Apr 12, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the 5th chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel. Originally, Alcott had it published as a second book but in later publishings the two were combined.

Our last episode was the chapter titled “Literary Lessons” in which Jo, consumed by her writing fervor, neglects basic needs as she delves into her craft. She shifts focus from romances to thrillers inspired by a chance encounter. Entering a contest, she wins $100, enabling her to send Beth and Marmee for a seaside retreat. Her new genre proves lucrative, supporting her family. Though facing revisions and mixed reviews, she ultimately earns several hundred dollars from her published novel.

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The Herbal Handbook Apr 10, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from “The Complete Herbal” written by Nicholas Culpeper, published in 1653. Culpeper was an English botanist, herbalist, physician and astrologer. This episode first aired in April of 2021.

Culpeper cataloged hundreds of outdoor medicinal herbs. He attempted to make medical treatments more accessible to lay persons by educating them about maintaining their health. Ultimately his ambition was to reform the system of medicine by questioning traditional methods and knowledge and exploring new solutions for ill health. The systematisation of the use of herbals by Culpeper was a key development in the evolution of modern pharmaceuticals, most of which originally had herbal origins.

Culpeper's emphasis on reason rather than tradition is reflected in the introduction to his Complete Herbal. He was one of the best-known astrological botanists of his day, pairing the plants and diseases with planetary influences.

Culpeper believed medicine was a public asset, not a commercial secret, and the prices physicians charged were far too high compared with the cheap and universal availability of nature's medicine. For this, he was considered a radical, and even accused of witchcraft.

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Charles Augustus Milverton pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Apr 08, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The second half will air next week.

In this story, Holmes is hired by the débutante Lady Eva Blackwell to retrieve compromising letters from a blackmailer named Milverton. The accused was known as "the king of blackmailers" where he would demand great sums in exchange for avoid the release of letters that would cause great scandals.

The character of Charles Augustus Milverton was based on a real-life blackmailer, Charles Augustus Howell. He was an art dealer who swindled an unknown number of people.

Doyle's literary inspiration often came from his natural interest in crime, and he had no tolerance for those that preyed on the innocent and unsuspecting. The character of Charles Augustus Milverton was based on a real-life blackmailer, Charles Augustus Howell. He was an art dealer who preyed upon an unknown number of people, and died in 1890 from circumstances as bizarre as those found in the author’s imagination.

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Persuasion pt. 4 Apr 05, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, Sir Walter Elliot considers a Navy tenant for Kellynch Hall, dismissing the idea due to his disdain for the Navy's influence on social status and appearance. However, flattery sways him. Mr. Shepherd, his advisor, proposes Admiral Croft, emphasizing his respectability and lack of children. Despite initial reservations, Sir Walter agrees due to the Admiral's suitable social standing. Meanwhile, Anne Elliot's unresolved feelings for Captain Wentworth resurface. Seven years ago, Anne's engagement to Captain Wentworth was thwarted by familial pressure and societal expectations, particularly from Lady Russell. Heartbroken but obedient, Anne acquiesced, sacrificing her own happiness for perceived social propriety.

We will pick up towards the end of chapter 4.

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The Velveteen Rabbit | Redux Apr 03, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the complete story of “The Velveteen Rabbit”, a British children's book written by Margery Williams in 1922. It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit's desire to become real through the love of his owner.

Snoozecast first aired a version of this story that didn’t include the ending back in 2019. Many listeners requested the ending, so we rerecorded it in 2021, and are rebroadcasting it now. We hope you enjoy it as much this lovely tale as much as we do!

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Nibbles Poppelty-Poppett Apr 01, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read “Nibbles Poppelty-Poppett, The Story of a Mouse” written by Edith B. Davidson and published in 1911.

In this story, Nibbles the mouse sets out to seek his fortune. Along the way, he encounters a peculiar inn run by guinea pigs, where he struggles to find food until he meets a sleepy but hospitable Salamander. After a hearty meal, the Salamander shares his love for coziness and poetry with Nibbles.

If you enjoy this sort of story, be sure to find the other recent Snoozecast episode by this author, titled “The Bunnikins-Bunnies and the Moon-King”.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 26 Mar 29, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, the Nautilus passes through the Sargasso Sea, an underwater lake where currents meet, filled with aquatic plants. During this time, Aronnax wonders if Nemo will ever release them. He sees little of Nemo, and they spend much of their time on the surface.

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The House of Mirth Mar 27, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The House of Mirth,” a 1905 novel by American author Edith Wharton. Snoozecast first aired this story in 2021. It tells the story of Lily Bart, a beautiful but impoverished New York City socialite.

The commercial and critical success of “The House of Mirth” solidified Wharton's reputation as a major novelist.

The central theme of “The House of Mirth” is essentially the struggle between who we are and what society tells us we should be. Thus, it is considered by many to be as relevant today as it was in 1905.

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Prairie Eclipse Mar 25, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original about two sisters who experience the eclipse of 1918 as it passed over their part of Kansas.

In a quiet prairie town, Alice and Pearl find themselves caught in the path of a total solar eclipse. Together, they lay on a quilt in the farm field as day turns momentarily to night.

In this story, set in the year 1918, the sisters used “smoked glass” as a prudent way to protect the eyes to view the eclipsing of the sun as the moon moves over it. Now, we know that smoked glass is unfortunately not sufficient protection, and recommend eclipse watchers to wear specialized solar glasses.

Smoked glass was invented during the first telescopic viewing of a total solar eclipse by King Louis XIV of France. This method remained popular through the early 19th century, but by 1932 smoked glass started to fall out of favor. Either way, if you are in the path of totality, you do not need to use protection during the brief period of time when the sun is completely covered by the moon, referred to as “the totality.”

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 14 Mar 22, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the fourteenth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne’s Confession”.

In the last episode, titled “The Delights of Anticipation,” Anne excitedly shares with Marilla her plans for a Sunday school picnic. Eager for her first taste of ice cream, Anne persuades Marilla to let her attend, who agrees to prepare a basket of food.

Despite Marilla's attempt to temper Anne's excitement, Anne insists on embracing anticipation rather than heeding advice from conservative figures like Mrs. Rachel. She also admires Marilla's amethyst brooch, her most treasured possession, and requests to hold it briefly.

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The Farmer's Luck Mar 21, 2024

Tonight, in our special monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we invite you to immerse yourself in a tale crafted by Snoozecast, drawing inspiration from an ancient Chinese Taoist parable. If you would like to learn more about what our premium subscriptions offer, go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Our story centers on a farmer who embodies the Taoist principle of withholding judgment towards the events unfolding in his life. He understands that labeling occurrences as either good or bad fortune is futile, recognizing the inherent uncertainty of life.

This timeless parable gained traction in the West largely due to the efforts of the self-styled "philosophical entertainer," Alan Watts. Renowned for his interpretations and popularizations of Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu philosophies, Watts played a significant role in bridging Eastern thought with Western audiences.

His lectures continue to resonate even after his passing, finding renewed popularity through regular broadcasts on public radio and more recently, on the internet. The majority of his recorded talks date back to the vibrant cultural landscape of the 1960s and early 1970s.

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The Golden Mermaid Mar 20, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the fairy tale “The Golden Mermaid” from the “Green Fairy Book”. In this story, three princes are sent on a quest by their father, to find who it is who steals the golden apples from the King's tree. The youngest son befriends a wolf who is in reality a magician. With the aid of the wolf, the prince sets out to attempt an impossible task. Snoozecast first aired this story back in March of 2020.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German academics, linguists, and folklorists. Their legacy is enshrined in their monumental work, "Grimm's Fairy Tales," which comprises folk stories collected from oral traditions across Germany and Europe. Despite facing adversity in their early lives, they dedicated themselves to scholarship and preserving cultural heritage.

Their profound impact on literature transcends generations and borders. Through meticulous research and dedication, they compiled and edited tales that continue to enchant and inspire readers worldwide.

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Carolus Rex Mar 18, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read from the opening to “History of Charles XII” written by French writer and philosopher Voltaire. It was first published in 1731. In this first major historical biography from the author, Voltaire tells the story of a warrior king who was the embodiment of the archetypal ‘hero’. Voltaire’s Charles was a leader both admirably strong and unabashedly tyrannical.

Charles XII, also known as Carl XII or Carolus Rex, was the king of Sweden and what is now Finland. Charles assumed power at the age of 15. His reign lasted for about 20 years, ending in the year 1718.

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Good Wives ch. 4 Mar 15, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the fourth chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel. Originally, Alcott had it published as a second book but in later publishings the two were combined.

Our last episode was the chapter titled “Artistic Attempts” In it, Amy grows serious in her undertaking to become a real artist. Aunt March has enrolled her in a drawing class, and as a result she experiments with many methods as the results collect around the house.

Amy then invites her drawing class for lunch. Determined to provide a proper meal, she promises to cover expenses. Despite initial support from her mother, Jo finds the plan frivolous. Preparation proves challenging: costs soar, and the weather dampens spirits. None of the guests show up, leaving the family to salvage what they can of the meal. Hope lingers for the next day, but with no provisions at home, Amy ventures out for a lobster. She manages to persuade one guest to join, salvaging the occasion. Though embarrassed, the family accommodates the unexpected guest. Amy and her friend enjoy a pleasant day together, despite the setbacks.

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Vegetable Candy Mar 13, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “Candy-Making Revolutionized: Confectionary from Vegetables” by Mary Elizabeth Hall, printed in 1912. Long-time listeners may recall that this episode first aired back in 2020.

Confectionery is the art of making confections, which are food items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates. It can be divided into two broad categories: bakers' confections and sugar confections.

Before sugar was readily available in the ancient western world, confectionery was based on honey. Honey was used in ancient civilizations to preserve perishable and delicate fruits and flowers. The ancient Persians, followed by the Greeks, made contact with the Indian subcontinent and spread sugar agriculture from what was thought of as the native Indian "reeds that produce honey without bees".

Generally, confections are low in micronutrients and protein but high in calories. Many confections are considered empty calories and ultra-processed foods.

Hall wrote that her hope was that through this book “ the more vegetable candy is made, the less unhealthful confectionery there will be consumed.

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The Wishing Well | Penny Parker Mar 11, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Wishing Well” written by Mildred A. Wirt and published in 1942.

In this story, an old abandoned estate is the location of a wishing well known for actually granting wishes. Penny investigates and discovers not only the secret of the well, but also a valuable treasure.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our other Penny Parker series episodes by searching for our show titled “Snoozecast Presents: Penny Parker” wherever you listen to Snoozecast. Or, you can find Penny at snoozecast.com/series.

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Persuasion pt. 3 Mar 08, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.

In the last episode, Mr. Shepard and Lady Russell draw up a plan for Sir Elliot to get out of debt. They decide that he must "retrench" by seriously cutting back on his expenditures, which the gentleman refuses to do. They then suggest that Sir Elliot move out of his home in order to rent it out. The plan is agreed to by Sir Elliot, with his stipulations that it not seem like he is renting it for cost-savings but rather as a favor to the renter. It is further agreed to that during this time they will stay in the city of Bath, which has a lower cost of living and where their more limited budget will go farther.

We will start back in with an abbreviated opening to chapter 3, where Sir Elliot is discussing the matter further with the group.

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The Wild Mar 07, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read "The Wild", sometimes known as “Walking”, a lecture by Henry David Thoreau first delivered in 1851. It is a transcendental essay that analyzes the relationship between man and nature, trying to find a balance between society and our raw animal nature. Thoreau read the piece a total of ten times, more than any other of his lectures. This episode first aired back in 2021.

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The Bunnikins-Bunnies and the Moon King Mar 05, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the story titled “The Bunnikins-Bunnies and the Moon King” written by Edith B. Davidson, and published in 1912. In this early science-fiction story geared towards children, the Bunnikin-Bunnies go on a family vacation to the Moon, via the Milky Way.

While traveling to the moon was not possible when this book was published in 1912, scientists were diligently laying down groundwork for the future accomplishments. In 1903, a Russian study showed that physical space exploration was theoretically possible using rockets. And by the end of the 1910s, an influential paper from the US discussed reaching extreme altitudes through rocketry. As for the Bunnikins-Bunnies, you will soon learn that their means of transportation was not on a rocketship, but on a vehicle that looked much like a fishing boat, but with large wings.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 25 Mar 02, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

Have you ever wished that a continuing Snoozecast story was easily available as a playlist so you could either start from the beginning, or play multiple episodes from just that story in a row, so that you don’t need to go searching through the catalog? In case you didn’t know, we also produce standalone versions of these stories as its own separate Snoozecast podcasts, for easy listening. Just search for “Snoozecast Presents” to find all the options available. And if you subscribe to Snoozecast+, you get complete access to all these series, ad-free. To learn more, go to snoozecast.com/plus .

In the last episode, the captives aboard the Nautilus awaken one day to learn that they are now underground, inside an extinct volcano. The cave is used by Nemo as a place of refuge, where he sources the elements needed to produce the electricity that makes the Nautilus run. While Nemo spends the day loading up the reserve stock of sodium they keep down there, Arronax, Conseil, and Ned explore the volcanic island. They forage for food including a beehive full of honey, before returning the ship.

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Madam Blavatsky Visits Bombay | From the Caves and Jungles of Hindustan Feb 29, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening section from FROM THE CAVES AND JUNGLES OF HINDOSTAN, written by Helen Blavatsky and published in 1883. This episode first aired in January of 2020.

Madame Blavatsky was a Russian occultist and philosopher who traveled around the world, including India, before moving to New York City. She co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875 and gained an international following from the esoteric religion that the society promoted. Madame Blavatsky was a controversial figure, championed by supporters as an enlightened guru and derided as a fraudulent charlatan by critics. Her Theosophical doctrines influenced the spread of Hindu and Buddhist ideas in the West as well as the development of Western esoteric currents like the New Age Movement.

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Forest Runes | Woodcraft Feb 27, 2024

Tonight, for our final selection in our “Woodcraft” series, we will read selections of the author’s poetry, published as “Forest Runes” by George Washington Sears and published in 1887. Sears was a writer and adventurer who penned essays on hunting, fishing, and camping for popular journals and magazines.

Runic alphabets are native to the ancient Germanic peoples, before they adopted the Latin alphabet. The earliest runic inscriptions found on artifacts give the name of either the craftsman or the proprietor, or sometimes, remain a linguistic mystery. Due to this, it is possible that the early runes were not used so much as a simple writing system, but rather as magical signs to be used for charms. Although some say the runes were used for divination, there is no direct evidence to suggest they were ever used in this way. The name rune itself, taken to mean "secret, something hidden", seems to indicate that knowledge of the runes was originally considered esoteric, or restricted to an elite.

The Bluetooth logo is the combination of two runes that are the initials of Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson's who was a king of Denmark from the Viking Age.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 13 Feb 24, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the thirteenth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “The Delights of Anticipation”.

In the last episode, titled “A Solemn Vow and a Promise,” Marilla is dismayed to hear about the wildflowers on Anne's Sunday school hat, and of course she lectures Anne about them. Though Anne points out many girls at church had bouquets pinned to their dresses—and many had artificial flowers on their hats—Marilla is worried about the bad impression Anne must have made.

Marilla may have been more anxious than usual because she is about to bring Anne with her to meet Diana Barry, who lives close by and is Anne's age. As she has done in the past, she warns Anne of the importance of impressing Diana's strict mother.

Out in the garden the two girls stare bashfully at each other until Anne breaks the silence by asking, "Do you think you can like me a little—enough to be my bosom friend?" It's an odd and startling question for someone Anne has just met, but Diana laughs and agrees. Diana says in response that, "I heard before that you were queer. But I believe I'm going to like you real well."

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The Princess of Babylon pt. 2 Feb 22, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Princess of Babylon”, found in the The Strange Storybook by Mrs. Lang, published in 1913. The first half aired last week. This story first aired way back in 2020.

The story is taken from a lesser known philosophical tale by Voltaire, written in 1768. Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit and social critiques, he was an advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state.

In the first episode, the king holds a competition of the world’s rulers who were interested in marrying his daughter, the princess. The games would be impossibly difficult. A handsome and magical stranger appears out of seeming thin air to win the games, however he is suddenly called away to care to matters at home.

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The Sleep Crown Feb 20, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original story about a family who is visited by the fairy Luminastra Slumbornia, who gives the gift of peaceful sleep.

Like Luminastra, all fairies are a type of mythical being, a form of spirit, often with metaphysical, supernatural, or preternatural qualities.

Let’s define those three common fairy qualities. The system of metaphysics is a philosophical branch dealing with the first principles of things. This includes abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space.

And whereas a supernatural force is one that is beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature, a preternatural force is one which is simply beyond what is normal or natural. An example would be to say that “autumn arrived with preternatural speed.”

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Good Wives ch. 3 Feb 17, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the third chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel. Originally, Alcott had it published as a second book but in later publishings the two were combined.

Our last episode was the chapter titled “The First Wedding” and it is Meg’s sweet, little wedding we attend. All of the March sisters look lovely as they’ve grown into themselves more over the last three years. When Laurie asks what happened to the fancy wine that his grandfather sent, Meg tells him that they have put a little aside for medicinal use and have given the rest away. Meg then asks Laurie to promise her to never drink alcohol. It is a tall order, but he can’t refuse her. As Meg departs to her new home down the road, she asks her family to keep her in their hearts.

— read by 'N' —

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The Midwinter Owl Prowl Feb 16, 2024

Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we’ll read an original story that is about the dark side of birdwatching. And by dark, we simply mean that it is done in the cold and silence of a winter night.

For the residents of Russell Mills, it’s the night of the first annual “Midnight Owl Prowl”. Expert and amateur birders alike convene at midnight at Parsons Field, guided by a RMNRT volunteer, with hopes to spot the elusive Snowy Owl.

Mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey, owls are typified by their upright stance, large, broad heads, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight.

Another notable feature of owls is their facial discs. These are the concave collection of feathers on owl’s faces surrounding their eyes. These facial discs collect sound waves and directs those waves towards the owl's ears. Owls can actually adjust their disc feathers to enable them to focus and locate prey by sound alone under snow, grass, and plant cover. In many species, these discs are placed asymmetrically, for better directional location.

— read by 'V' —

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The Princess of Babylon pt. 1 Feb 15, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Princess of Babylon”, found in the The Strange Storybook by Mrs. Lang, published in 1913. The second half will air next week.

The story is taken from a lesser known philosophical tale by Voltaire, written in 1768. The story focuses on Amazan, a handsome, unknown shepherd, and Formosanta, the Princess of Babylon, whose love and jealousy drive them to travel the world. Through their travels they encounter the basic values of the Enlightenment. This episode first aired in January of 2020.

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The Sleuths Feb 13, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read a light-hearted O. Henry short story that creates a pastiche out of the popular Sherlock Holmes stories.

In this story, a man searching for his missing sister in New York realizes the official police detective can’t help him. Only one man can: the famous private consulting detective named Shamrock Jolnes.

Although many of O. Henry’s stories involve crimes or contain some elements of mystery, the author never actually wrote detective fiction.

The character of Shamrock Jolnes also appears in O. Henry’s short stories "The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes" and "The Detective Detector".

In reading about these stories, we found different but similar terms like pastiche, parody, spoof and satire. While both parody and pastiche imitate the works of others, pastiche does so respectfully. It is used to highlight and pay homage to the original works while not stealing directly from it. Parody, on the other hand, mocks and ridicules the original works. It exaggerates its form and language, often replacing serious subjects with silly ones. And whereas a parody imitates a specific work, a spoof imitates a general genre. Finally, satire is similar to parody in that it uses ridicule, exaggeration and irony, but instead of poking fun at a specific creative work, it comments on society, religion and politics.

— read by 'N' —

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Persuasion pt. 2 Feb 10, 2024

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817.

The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife. The novel was well-received at it’s debut, but its greater fame came decades later, and continues to this day.

In the first episode, we read chapter 1, in which we meet Sir Walter Elliot, a 54-year-old man of distinct ancestry, and his three daughters. The father prides himself on his good looks and family lineage.

His eldest daughter, who most resembles him in personality and looks, is named Elizabeth. At 29 she is unmarried but attractive. His youngest daughter, Mary, has married a respectable local man. And then there is the middle child- Anne. She is also unmarried like Elizabeth, but at 27 years old has grown less attractive with age. Sir Walter feels that Anne is inferior to her sisters and often overlooks her.

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Mr. Midshipman Easy Feb 08, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Mr. Midshipman Easy,” an 1836 novel by Frederick Marryat, a retired captain in the Royal Navy. The novel is set during the Napoleonic Wars, in which Marryat himself served with distinction. This episode first aired in February of 2021.

At fourteen, the naive Jack Easy leaves the luxury of his family estate in England and sails into a world of adventure aboard the sloop of war HMS Harpy. At first, Jack finds it hard to bear the discipline of naval life and is always getting himself into trouble. But soon he is bravely taming a band of mutinous seamen as the Harpy chases Spanish ships on the Mediterranean.

This episode is dedicated to our many listeners who have requested Roald Dahl stories. Alas, he is not in the public domain yet for us to read. However, this particular author was listed as a literary influence on Dahl.

— read by 'V' —

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Dickens Visits Boston Feb 06, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “American Notes” a travelogue written by Charles Dickens detailing his trip from the year 1842. While there he acted as a critical observer of North American society, almost as if returning a status report on their progress. Having arrived in Boston, he travelled as far south as Richmond, Virginia, as far west as St. Louis, Missouri and as far north as Quebec, Canada. The city he liked best on his trip? Boston.

The inspiration for this episode came from our recent “Helen Keller” episode. Her autobiography references a story within another section of tonight’s book as inspiring Helen’s mother to seek out specialized education for her daughter.

Dickens’s American journey was also an inspiration for his novel “Martin Chuzzlewit”. If you’ve been listening to our “Woodcraft” series of episodes lately, you may have heard mention of how the Woodcraft author named one of his famous hand-crafted canoes after a Chuzzlewit character.

— read by 'N' —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 24 Feb 03, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Aronnax accompanies Nemo on an expedition at night without lanterns or anyone else. The two walk in darkness toward a red light for a couple miles before they climb up a platform of man-made stones and pillars. Aronnax realizes that the mountain they are climbing is a volcano, still emitting lava. They are visiting the fabled underwater ruins of Atlantis. The two men contemplate the scene and the history while the moon rises, before returning to the Nautilus as the sun rises.

— read by 'N' —

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Around the World in 80 Days Feb 01, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Around the World in 80 Days,” a novel by Jules Verne published in 1872.

In this story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a 20-thousand pound wager ( over two million pounds now) set by his friends. It is one of Verne's most acclaimed works.

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Helen Keller's Autobiography Jan 30, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “The Story of My Life” written by Helen Keller and published in 1903. The book details her early life, and especially her education.

Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in Alabama, she lost her sight and her hearing after a bout of illness when she was still a baby. She had limited communicative capability as a little girl. Her mother became inspired after reading a travelogue from Charles Dickens that described a similar girl being educated. This led the family on a quest to find such education for their daughter. Finally, at the age of seven, Helen met her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan. Sullivan taught Keller language, including reading and writing. Keller later became the first deafblind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

In 1920, Helen Keller helped to found the American Civil Liberties Union. She traveled to over 40 countries with Sullivan, making several trips to Japan and becoming a favorite of the Japanese people. Keller met every U.S. president of her time, and was friends with many famous figures, including Alexander Graham Bell, Charlie Chaplin and Mark Twain.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 12 Jan 27, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the twelfth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “A Solemn Vow and Promise”.

In the last episode, titled “Anne’s Impressions of Sunday-School”, Marilla shows Anne the new dresses she has made for her, all of which are embarrassingly unfashionable. The next day, Anne goes to church and Sunday school alone, wearing one of her new ugly dresses. On the way, she picks a bunch of flowers and decorates her otherwise plain hat with them, an eccentric adornment meant to make up for the dress, but that causes other churchgoers to scoff.

After church, Anne reports to Marilla that the service did not impress her. She says that the whole experience was quite unimaginative. Anne was able to survive the boring morning only by daydreaming. Marilla scolds Anne for her inattention at church but inwardly agrees with her. Although she never articulates her own criticisms of the minister and the Sunday school teacher, she, like Anne, has always felt that the church service is rather uninspiring.

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The Maiden of the Mist Jan 25, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read “The Maiden of the Mist” or “Anne of Geierstein”, by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1829. It is set mainly in Switzerland, shortly after the Battle of Tewkesbury in the 1400s. This episode originally aired in January of 2021.

In this story, two exiles are on a secret mission to the court of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, hoping to gain his help in regaining the English crown from Edward IV. The two Englishmen get into difficulties in the Swiss mountains. They meet Countess Anne and her family, who are involved in the politics of the newly independent Swiss Confederation and plan to confront Charles with complaints about his conduct towards the Swiss nation.

This book is part of a long series called The Waverley Novels. For nearly a century, they were among the most popular and widely read novels in Europe. Because Scott did not publicly acknowledge authorship until later, the series takes its name from Waverley, the first novel of the series released.

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The Princess and the Pea Jan 23, 2024

Tonight, for our 801st episode, we’ll read a Snoozecast original sleep story, inspired by the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea”.

First published by H.C. Andersen in 1835, the tale features a princess who is tested to become wife to a lonely prince.

At under 400 words long, it is triflingly short. Yet though it be small, it has served as the inspiration for many culturally popular works. The story was adapted to the musical stage in 1959 as Once Upon a Mattress, with comedian Carol Burnett playing the play's heroine, Princess Winnifred the Woebegone. The musical was revived in 1997 with Sarah Jessica Parker in the role. The story has been adapted into three films as well a television production starring Liza Minelli.

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Good Wives ch. 2 Jan 20, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the second chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel. Originally, Alcott had it published as a second book but in later publishings the two were combined.

If you haven’t listened to the first part to the book, you can search in your podcast player for “Snoozecast Presents: Little Women”. You will find a standalone series available so that you can refresh your memory or start from the very beginning if you’d like.

Our last episode opens after three years have passed since the conclusion of “Little Women”. Meg is about to get married. The war has ended, and Mr. March and Mr. Brooke have returned home. In the meantime, Meg has learned more about keeping house, and Amy has taken over Jo’s job caring for Aunt March. Jo has continued to write stories for the newspaper, while Laurie has passed the years at college.

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The Amaterasu Particle Jan 19, 2024

Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we’ll read an original story about a mysterious cosmic ray that has baffled scientists around the globe. Where did it come from? What exactly was it? In our story, the phenomenon turns out to carry good fortune to the people of earth.

Although the story begins and ends in science fiction, most of the science discussed including cosmic rays, interstellar distances and special relativity are not among other things. Cosmic Rays are high energy particles, usually protons, that originate from various sources within the Milky Way as well as from extragalactic sources . An international team of scientists use specialized equipment to detect, and study these rays which provide insight into the most energetic processes occurring in the universe. These processes include supernova explosions, active galactic nuclei and other astrophysical phenomena.

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The Snow Queen pt. 3 Jan 18, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the third part of a fairy tale called “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. The story centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and her friend, Kay. The first part originallyaired on January 4th, 2021.

This story is one of Andersen's longest and most highly acclaimed tales. It was also the inspiration for the Disney movie “Frozen.”

In the second part, we follow little Gerda on her journey to find her friend Kay. She is bewitched and talks with flowers, and then gets caught up with a family of robbers. A raven tries to help her and leads her to a castle where he thinks he has seen her Kay.

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Turning In | Woodcraft Jan 16, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read our second-to-last selection in our “Woodcraft” series, published by George Washington Sears, under the pen name "Nessmuk."

Sears was a writer and adventurer who penned essays on hunting, fishing, and camping for popular journals and magazines.

This episode will feature the last chapter of the “Woodcraft” book.

Next month, for the final episode in the series, we will read selections of the author’s poetry, published as “Forest Runes”.

In this episode, the author discusses his preference for clinker-built canoes over other styles. A Clinker-built (also known as lapstrake) is a method of boat building in which the edges of hull planks overlap each other. Clinker-built ships were a trademark of Northern European navigation throughout the Middle Ages, particularly of the longships of the Viking raiders and traders.

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Persuasion pt. 1 Jan 13, 2024

Tonight, to start off “Persuasion”, our latest addition to the Friday rotation of four ongoing stories, we shall read the opening to the book. Or rather, we shall “re-read” the opening, as we have once before read the opening to this novel, several years ago now.

This was the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, along with being considered her most mature and refined writing. “Persuasion” was published in 1817.

The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife. The novel was well-received at it’s debut, but its greater fame came decades later, and continues to this day

— read by 'V' —

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The Snow Queen pt. 2 Jan 11, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the second part of a fairy tale called “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. The story centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and her friend, Kay. The first part originally aired on January 4th, 2021.

The story is one of Andersen's longest and most highly acclaimed stories. It was also the inspiration for the Disney movie “Frozen.”

In the first part, we meet best friends, Gerda and Kay. We also learn of the wicked mirror that splinters into tiny pieces over the land. The shards sometimes land in unknowing people’s eyes or hearts, and cause them to be cold-hearted and mean-spirited. This happens to the little boy, Kay. Then he gets whisked away by the Snow Queen’s sled. Gerda goes in search of him, and meets a kindly witch.

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The Priory School pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Jan 09, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Adventure of the Priory School” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The first half aired last week.

In last week’s episode, Holmes is approached by Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable, the headmaster of the prestigious Priory School. Huxtable seeks Holmes's help in locating the missing Lord Saltire, the young heir to the Duke of Holdernesse. Lord Saltire disappeared under mysterious circumstances from the school.

The Duke tells Holmes that he does not think that his estranged wife has anything to do with his son's disappearance, nor has there been a ransom demand.

Holmes and Dr. Watson go hunting on the moor for clues. They find a bicycle track, but it is not the German school master Heidegger's. Almost everything observable has been obliterated by cow tracks (of which there are many tracks). We will pick up as they continue their search.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 23 Jan 06, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, harpooner Ned Land expresses his disappointment to Aronnax about their failed escape plan. Aronnax then fills him in about Nemo's treasure-filled “bank” of shipwrecks at the bottom of the sea. Although Land hopes for another chance, they realize that the Nautilus is departing. We will pick up where Nemo invites Aronnax alone to go with him on an underwater excursion.

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The Snow Queen pt. 1 Jan 04, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the first part out of three episodes to the fairy tale “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. The other two parts will air in the next two weeks. All three episodes first aired in January of 2021. The story centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and her friend, Kay. The story is one of Andersen's longest and most highly acclaimed stories. It was also the inspiration for the Disney movie “Frozen.”

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The Priory School pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Jan 01, 2024

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Adventure of the Priory School” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The second half will air next week. Doyle ranked this story tenth in his list of his twelve favorite Holmes stories.

In this story, Holmes is approached by Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable, the headmaster of the prestigious Priory School. Huxtable seeks Holmes's help in locating the missing Lord Saltire, the young heir to the Duke of Holdernesse. Lord Saltire disappeared under mysterious circumstances from the school. If you can stay awake, you will find a plot that is filled with twists and turns, showcasing Holmes's keen observational skills and his ability to connect seemingly unrelated clues.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 11 Dec 30, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the eleventh chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne’s Impressions of Sunday School”.

In the last episode, titled “Anne’s Apology”, Anne spends the entire next day sulking in her room, avoiding food and nursing her wounded pride. Concerned for Anne, Matthew, who hasn't been upstairs in four years, secretly creeps into her room after Marilla leaves. He persuades Anne to apologize to Mrs. Rachel, knowing Marilla won't change her mind about the punishment. Anne, less furious but still reluctant, agrees to apologize to please Matthew. Satisfied with his success, Matthew hurries away to avoid Marilla's disapproval of his interference.

Anne and Marilla then visit Mrs. Rachel's house, where Anne initially displays shame and remorse. However, midway through the walk, her demeanor shifts to dreaminess. At Mrs. Rachel's, Anne theatrically apologizes, confessing to being a wicked and ungrateful girl. Mrs. Rachel readily accepts the apology, attempting to make amends for her own thoughtlessness by predicting Anne's red hair may turn auburn. Marilla, uneasy about the dramatic apology, senses that Anne enjoyed the punishment. Despite feeling it backfired, Marilla refrains from chastising Anne, and on their way home, Anne's simple gesture of holding Marilla's hand evokes a rush of unexpected maternal warmth, prompting Marilla to regain emotional control by emphasizing good behavior.

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Lewis & Clark Dec 28, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from The Journals of Lewis and Clark. The Lewis and Clark Expedition, from 1803 to 1806, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country. The Corps of Discovery was a select group of Army and civilian volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend Lieutenant William Clark. This episode first aired in December of 2020.

President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 to explore and to map the newly acquired territory, to find a practical route across the western half of the continent, and to establish an American presence in this territory before other powers tried to claim it. The campaign's secondary objectives were scientific and economic: to study the area's plants, animal life, and geography, and to establish trade with local American Indian tribes. The expedition returned to Jefferson, with maps, sketches, and journals in hand.

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Adrian and the Unicorn's Reality Dec 25, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original story called “Adrian and the Unicorn’s Realm”. This is the follow up story to last month’s episode titled “Adaline and the Unicorn’s Realm.” In this story, Adrian, a budding artist with a penchant for vibrant designs, stumbles upon an otherworldly revelation guided by a mysterious figure. He discovers the enchanting potential of his own creations to transport him into a realm beyond imagination, where a unicorn emerges as a mystical guide between the tangible and the extraordinary.

In the study of classical antiquity, unicorns are not found in Greek mythology, but rather in the accounts of their natural history. Greek writers of natural history were convinced of the reality of unicorns, which they believed lived in India, a distant and fabulous realm for them. The earliest description described them as wild asses, fleet of foot, having a horn over two feet in length, and colored white, red and black.

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Good Wives ch. 1 Dec 23, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the first chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel. Originally, Alcott had it published as a second book but in later publishings the two were combined. This book picks up three years later as Meg is preparing for her wedding.

As always, Snoozecast episodes on Fridays are on a rotation of four current books. When one finishes, we will replace it with something new. This way you can be assured that any series on Fridays will always come out at least once a month.

Another detail about Snoozecast is that we have many different series available separately from our primary Snoozecast show. If we are still adding new episodes to a series, it is fully available for anyone to listen to. Once a series is completed, it will eventually be made only fully available to our Snoozecast+ listeners. To find a list of current series available for free, and which ones are only fully available to our premium subscribers, go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Because “Good Wives” is a continuation of “Little Women”, we have decided to make the “Snoozecast Presents: Little Women” standalone series available to the public again as well, so that you can refresh your memory or start from the very beginning if you’d like.

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Baxter's Midnight Flight Dec 22, 2023

Tonight, for this monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus, we’ll read an original story about a curious kitten named Baxter. He accidentally falls whiskers over paws into Santa’s sack during a midnight visit, and is soon whisked away to fall off lands to see new sights.

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Armadale Dec 21, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from Wilkie Collin’s 1864 novel “Armadale.” It is the third of his four 'great novels' of the decade: after “The Woman in White” and “No Name”, and before “The Moonstone.”

This is Snoozecast’s third-and-a-half time featuring Collins’ work. If you enjoy this episode, you can also find our “Moonstone” episode from March 2019, our “Woman in White” episode from December 2019, and the “Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices” from July 2020, which Collins co-wrote with his friend Charles Dickins. This episode first aired in December of 2021.

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Ma’ame Pélagie Dec 19, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the short story “Ma'ame Pélagie” written by Kate Chopin [Show-Pan]. Chopin was an American author of short stories and novels based in Louisiana. Her major works were two short story collections (of which this story is found) and two novels. One of those novels, “The Awakening” is what she is best known for today. Snoozecast read an excerpt back in 2019, but it has been much too long since we have read any more from this author.

Kate Chopin lived in a variety of locations, based on different economies and societies. These were sources of insights and observations from which she analyzed and expressed her ideas about late 19th-century Southern American society. She based many of her stories and sketches on her life in Louisiana. They expressed her unusual portrayals (for the time) of women as individuals with separate wants and needs.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 42 Finale Dec 16, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the final part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. This has been our longest running series as we started reading it way back in the summer of 2019. Welcome to all our newer listeners, and a sincere thank you to our listeners that have been following along throughout these four years.

In the last episode, Darcy and Elizabeth take a long walk together alone. They are joyful to learn that they both would like to be married. Elizabeth discovers that she has Lady Catherine to thank for Darcy’s visit, for she had told him of Elizabeth's refusal to promise not to accept him. Darcy also explains how her previous reproofs of him made him realize how rude and spoiled he had been. He made it his aim to show her he had changed.

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The Precious Fishing Hook Dec 14, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a Japanese tale adapted by Snoozecast called “The Precious Fishing Hook” or “The Happy Hunter and the Skillful Fisher.” It was originally found in “Japanese Fairy Tales” compiled by Yei Theodora Ozaki.

If you enjoy this sleep story, be sure to check out our other ones that come from the same book. “The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon Child” is a two-parter that first aired in April of 2019. “Momotaro” also aired in April 2019. “The Fisher-Boy Urashima” aired in May of 2020. And this particular story originally aired in November of 2021.

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Westward Hoboes Dec 12, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Westward Hoboes” written by Winifred Hawkridge Dixon and published in 1921.

In this story, two early 1920s girls from Boston set out to tour the West all by themselves, equipped with a sturdy car, a camping outfit, courage and a sense of humor.

A hobo is an old-fashioned term for a migrant worker in the United States. Hoboes, tramps, and bums are generally regarded as related, but distinct. A hobo travels and is willing to work. A tramp travels, but avoids work if possible. A bum neither travels nor works.

Following these definitions, it seems that the protagonists should have been referred to as tramps instead of hoboes, as they were only traveling, not working.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 22 Dec 09, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, the submarine the Nautilus glides quickly through the Mediterranean Sea, to the chagrin of Ned Land, who was really hoping to make his escape. Aronnax and Conseil were less eager, but agreed to go with Ned. Soon, however, they find themselves in the rough seas of the Atlantic. Ned is not swayed, and insists that they must make their break that night, at 9 pm.

While Aronnax wrestles with conflicted feelings on this, he prepares himself to leave. As the time approaches, the submarine suddenly stops. There is no sign of Ned where Aronnax waits in the salon. Nemo suddenly appears and launches into an impromptu Spanish history lesson, where we will pick up the story.

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The Nutcracker Dec 07, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ “The Nutcracker of Nuremberg” story, originally published in 1844.

Dumas’ version of The Nutcracker was itself adapted from the original, written by E.T.A. Hoffman. However it was Dumas adaptation that gave inspiration to the famous “Nutcracker” ballet composed by Tchaikovsky. This episode originally aired in December of 2021.

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Canoes, the Poor Man's Yacht | Woodcraft Dec 05, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “Woodcraft” published by George Washington Sears, under the pen name "Nessmuk." Sears was a writer and adventurer who penned essays on hunting, fishing, and camping for popular journals and magazines.

This chapter is called “Canoeing”. In contemporary times, the author lives on not just through his writing but through his canoe. In fact, one of the most celebrated canoes in American canoeing annals and referred to as “the Nessmuk”. Historic replicas of this canoe can be purchased so that canoeists can paddle in one just like the one commissioned by the author for his famous 1880 Adirondack cruise.

This type of craft has come to be generically known as the Adirondack Pack canoe, and is the best way to obtain the smallest, lightest solo recreation paddle craft. Incredibly handy to paddle and transport, the Nessmuk is still known to surprise paddlers with her quickness and seaworthiness.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 10 Dec 02, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the tenth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne’s Apology”.

In the last episode, titled “Mrs. Rachel Lynde Is Properly Horrified”, Anne has been settling in at Green Gables for the last couple weeks, when Mrs. Rachel Lynde pays a visit. She would have visited sooner, but had been laid up with a bout of grippe, which is an archaic term for the flu.

Mrs. Lynde sees any orphan as suspicious as a rule, and when Anne comes in from playing outside, she is messy, dirty, and in ill-fitting orphanage clothes. The lady does not hold her tongue on how she perceives Anne- as a homely, pathetic creature with “hair as red as carrots”. Anne in return also does not hold back- and calls Mrs. Lynde fat, clumsy and without imagination. Later, Marilla talks to Anne privately and insists that while Mrs. Lynde may have deserved what she got, she was still Anne’s elder and must be treated with an expected amount of courtesy. Otherwise, it would harm not only Anne’s reputation in the community but also Marilla’s. Thus, Anne would need to muster up the courage to apologize

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Entertaining Luncheons Nov 30, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from “For Luncheon and Supper Guests” written by Alice Bradley published in 1923. “Luncheon” is the formal word for lunch, a light mid-day meal.

In the Middle Ages, before electric lighting and industrialization, the mid-day meal was large and considered dinner. There was no lunch, so later in the evening a lighter meal was had called “supper”.

But by the 1800s, the large meal of dinner was pushed into the evening and thus, not only was supper squeezed out, but there was a need for something to eat in between breakfast and dinner.

Up until the early 1800s, luncheon was generally reserved for ladies, who would often have lunch with one another when their husbands were out. The meal was often made up of left-overs from the previous night's plentiful dinner. Beginning in the Victorian era, afternoon tea supplemented this luncheon at four o'clock.

This episode first aired in November of 2021.

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The Clock Strikes Thirteen | Penny Parker Nov 28, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Clock Strikes Thirteen” part of the “Penny Parker” anthology written by Mildred Wirt, also known by Mildred Benson. It was originally published in 1942.

Penny Parker was a high school student turned sleuth who also sporadically worked as a reporter for her father's newspaper.

In this story, Penny investigates mysterious riders who are bothering farmers at night. Meanwhile, a man makes a suspiciously generous donation to the Riverview orphan's camp.

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The Boxcar Children pt. 9 Finale Nov 25, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the final part to “The Boxcar Children” written by school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and originally published in 1924. We are reading this original, full version, and in it the children’s last name is Cordyce. Later, in 1942, the stories were revised shorter, and the children’s last name was changed to Alden.

As Warner wrote the story, she read it to her first grade class and rewrote it many times so the words were easy to understand. Some of her pupils spoke other languages at home, so the book gave them a fun story that was easy to read. Warner once wrote that the original book "raised a storm of protest from librarians who thought the children were having too good a time without any parental control! That is exactly why children like it!"

In the last episode, the children and their grandfather are reunited. He is not only overjoyed to invite them to live with him (rather than out in an old boxcar in the woods) but he happens to live in a mansion with plenty of extra room. We will pick up on the tail-end of their grand tour of their new home.

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In the Mist of the Mountains Nov 23, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from “In the Mist of the Mountains,” by Australian novelist and children’s writer Ethel Turner, published in 1906. Her best-known work is her first novel, Seven Little Australians (1894), which is widely considered as a classic of Australian children's literature. Turner was awarded a number of prestigious literary awards and could be considered one of Australia's best-loved authors. This story is set in a tiny mountain vacation town during tourist season. This episode first aired in November of 2021.

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Adaline and The Unicorn's Realm Nov 21, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original story, unveiling the tale of a girl briefly transported into a mysterious and enchanting reality. As an adult, she grapples with a dual existence—navigating her public persona as an acclaimed artist while nurturing a clandestine passion for rediscovering the mystical realm. Commissioned for conventional paintings, she conceals a world teeming with vibrant and fantastical creations.

The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years or so been depicted as a white horse-like animal with a long straight horn with spiralling grooves, cloven hooves, and sometimes a goat's beard. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, and a symbol of purity and grace.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 41 Nov 18, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Elizabeth’s father stuns her with his congratulations on her upcoming engagement. He reads a letter he received from Mr. Collins in which Elizabeth is cautioned not to go forward with an engagement to Darcy against Lady Catherine's wishes. Mr. Bennet thinks this is simply a ridiculous rumor because he is certain that Elizabeth hates Darcy and that Darcy is indifferent to her. Elizabeth fakes laughter to hide her embarrassment about her father's misjudgment while she privately wonders if her father might be on to something. Could she have overestimated Darcy's interest?

A few days later, Darcy and Bingley visit Longbourn. They all go for a walk and Elizabeth and Darcy soon find themselves alone. Elizabeth cannot contain her gratitude any longer for all that Darcy suffered and sacrificed for Lydia. Darcy tells Elizabeth that he did everything for her.

Darcy says his feelings for her have not changed since his rejected proposal. Elizabeth confesses that her feelings have significantly changed. Darcy is overjoyed. That is where we will resume our story.

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The Golden Pumpkin Pie Nov 17, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast+ Deluxe original story about uncovering a special pumpkin pie recipe to feed the community at Thanksgiving. Faced with the impending sale and demolition of Acorn Hollow's textile mill, Emma O'Connell decides that the way to bring everyone together is through their stomachs.

A day of Thanksgiving in America had been a sporadic occurrence for most of the country’s history, typically being an autumn harvest feast although sometimes occurring at other times of the year. A Thanksgiving feast was primarily a social gathering, although sometimes some prayer was involved.

It wasn’t until 1863, when President Lincoln proclaimed that November 26th would be a national Thanksgiving Day, to be observed every year on the fourth Thursday of November.

Today, Thanksgiving is a time when many families come together, and many churches are open for special services. We have both Native Americans and immigrants to thank for the opportunity to observe a day of thanksgiving.

— read by 'V' —

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Aunt Susanna's Thanksgiving Dinner Nov 16, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the short story “Aunt Susanna’s Thanksgiving Dinner” written by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1907.

This is a heart-warming holiday tale from the author of “Anne of Green Gables.”

Maud was a prolific writer, with over 500 short stories and poems to her name, along with some 20 novels. This episode originally aired in November of 2021.

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Stormy Nov 14, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Stormy, Misty’s Foal” a children's novel written by Marguerite Henry and published in 1963.

The Chincoteague pony, also known as the Assateague horse, is a breed of horse that developed, and now lives, within a semi-feral island population off the US states of Virginia and Maryland. The Chincoteague pony is one of the many breeds of feral horses in the United States, but it was made famous by the series of pony books written by this author about Misty, the mother of Stormy.

The story describes events on the island during a powerful hurricane of 1962.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 21 Nov 11, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, their submarine has navigated into the Mediterranean. Ned Land expresses his firm desire to escape the Nautilus, now that they have made it to European territory. Aronnax feels conflicted. He doesn’t like being held captive, however he is thrilled at the scientific exploration he has been allowed to make.

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Cinderella Nov 09, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the fairy tale “Cinderella” taken from the old French tale by Charles Perrault originally published in 1697. This version has also been lightly adapted by Snoozecast.

"Cinderella", also known as "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale about the triumphant reward of a persecuted heroine. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world, since ancient times. This episode first aired in November of 2021.

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Going It Alone | Woodcraft Nov 07, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “Woodcraft” published by George Washington Sears, under the pen name "Nessmuk." Sears was a writer and adventurer who penned essays on hunting, fishing, and camping for popular journals and magazines.

This chapter is called “A Ten Day’s Trip in the Wilderness- Going It Alone.” At 40 years old, Sears served in the Civil War. Five years later he traveled up the Amazon River in Brazil.

At the age of 59, a little more than 5 feet tall, weighing less than 105 pounds, and weak with tuberculosis, Sears decided to see if the Adirondack lakes and forests could improve his health. Only then is when his experiences (and plentiful writings) as an Old Adirondack Woodsman began.

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 9 Nov 03, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the ninth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Mrs. Rachel Lynde is properly horrified”.

In the last episode, titled “Anne’s Bringing-Up Has Begun”, Anne learns from Marilla that she can indeed stay at Green Gables permanently. Anne is so happy, she cries.

Marilla instructs Anne to memorize the Lord’s prayer. Anne asks Marilla if she might find “a kindred spirit” in Avonlea. Marilla says there is another girl named Diana who is Anne’s age. Anne is excited to meet her, and excited to now officially be “Anne of Green Gables”.

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Cat Tales Nov 01, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read stories from “Pussy and Doggy Tales” written by English author and poet Edith Nesbit, published in 1899.

Nesbit wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature under the name E. Nesbit, along with being a political activist.

This particular collection of stories follows the lives of various cats and dogs and will appeal to all of our animal-loving listeners. This episode originally aired in October of 2021.

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The Kennel Maid Oct 30, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read about the love between a kennel maid who is betrothed to a confirmed bachelor. It comes from the opening to the 1928 novel by Eden Phillpotts titled “Children of Men”.

Phillpotts was an English author who maintained a steady output of more than three books a year for a half century. Many of his novels were about rural life. Eden is best known as the author of many novels, plays and poems about Dartmoor. His Dartmoor cycle of 18 novels and two volumes of short stories still has many avid readers despite the fact that many titles are out of print.

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The Boxcar Children pt. 8 Oct 27, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Boxcar Children” written by school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

In the last episode, the children gather wild ginseng around their woodland home to sell to local pharmacies. Violet comes down with a fever and is taken to the doctor’s home. While she is being cared for there, the doctor secretly calls for the grandfather to come.

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The Old Hawthorne Place Oct 25, 2023

Tonight, for the final in our 5th annual Spooky Sleep Story Series, we’ll read a Snoozecast original story about a fictional New England town and the brother and sister who go out on a trick or treating adventure within it.

While this is the end of this years spooky sleep stories, be sure to check out our freely available – called “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories” or go to snoozecast.com/series to listen directly from our website. If you are a premium subscriber of Snoozecast+, all of our podcast series, including that one, are available to you ad-free.

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The Persian Throne Oct 23, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read about the Persian empire at the zenith of its expansion from the book “The Retreat of the Ten Thousand” by Carl Witt, published in 1896.

The ancient Persian or Iranian empire was the largest empire the world had ever seen at its time, spanning from the Balkans and Egypt in the west to Central Asia and the Indus Valley in the east.

In the modern era, this empire has been recognized for its imposition of a successful model of centralized, bureaucratic administration; its multicultural policy; building complex infrastructure, such as road systems and an organized postal system; the use of official languages across its territories; and the development of civil services.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 40 Oct 20, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, soon after Jane accepts Bingley’s marriage proposal, Lady Catherine De Bourgh makes a surprise visit to Elizabeth. She says almost nothing to Mrs. Bennet, coolly inspecting the rooms and property, then asks Elizabeth to take a walk. Lady Catherine rudely interrogates Elizabeth. She simply cannot believe that Darcy would choose Elizabeth as a wife, and thus, she thinks he must have been tricked by her. Elizabeth boldly asserts her freedom of mind and freedom from the class concerns of Lady Catherine. In doing so, Elizabeth suggests that individuals can define themselves regardless of class or social prejudices.

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The Harvest Festival Oct 19, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast+ Deluxe original story about a visit to a harvest festival, by a grandfather and his two grandkids. They have a delightful afternoon of rides, games and treats, before an evening fireworks display that they barely stayed awake for. We think you may have trouble staying awake for it too!

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This has been written exclusively for our Snoozecast+ Deluxe listeners. To learn more, go to Snoozecast.com/plus.

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A Haunted Island Oct 18, 2023

Tonight, as part of our Spooky Sleep Story Series, we’ll read our own lightly adapted version of Algernon Blackwood’s “A Haunted Island” from “The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories” published in 1906. In this story, our narrator is left alone for a few weeks at an island lodge in the middle of a lake in Canada, where he thinks he will focus on his studies, but soon begins to see and hear strange things.

Tune in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety– lightly adapted and read in a way to evoke a mood of spookiness, without actually causing a fright. Catch up on previous years by finding our free podcast “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories” or if you are a premium subscriber, look for “Snoozecast+” or “Snoozecast+ Deluxe: Spooky Stories” instead to listen ad-free

— read by 'N' —

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The Solitary Cyclist pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Oct 16, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The first half aired last week.

In the first episode,Holmes is contacted by a beautiful young music teacher named Violet Smith. She's worried about a stranger who follows her when she bicycles to and from the train station each weekend. Violet Smith and her mother were living in poverty until few months ago, when two supposed friends of her uncle from South Africa, came to announce that he asked them to take care of his closest relatives. One the two men, Carruthers, is affable. He offers Violet an excellent wage to live in his house and teach music to his daughter, and he seems to grow fond of the young woman. The other one, Woodley, is rough and overly forward. Watson, asked by Holmes to visit and collect information, figures out that the mystery cyclist disappears by hiding in a hedge along the property of Mr. Williamson, a defrocked clergyman.

— read by 'N' —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 20 Oct 13, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, while the passengers aboard the Nautilus approach the mysterious Arabian Tunnel that will whisk them to the Mediterranean, Ned insists on taking a detour in a dinghy to pursue a dugong. A dugong is actually a peaceful vegetarian, similar to a manatee, but in Jules Verne’s imagination it is a monstrous beast with large tusks.

— read by 'N' —

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The Raven Oct 11, 2023

Tonight, for the next in our 5th annual “Spooky Sleep Story Series”, we shall read the narrative poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1845.

The poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a mysterious visit by a talking raven. The lover, often identified as a student,[1][2] is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further antagonize the protagonist with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore".

By the way, “a bust of Pallas” refers to a sculpture of Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. The fact that the narrator has one in his bedroom represents his interest in learning and scholarship, and also can be taken as representing his own rational, sane mind. The Raven, by landing on the bust when it flies into the room, signifies a threat to the narrator’s ability to understand the reasons (if any) behind the Raven’s coming and its message. That the Raven stays on top of the bust of Pallas at the end of the poem, never flitting, suggests that irrationality has taken up a permanent home in the narrator’s formerly rational mind.

Poe claimed to have written the poem logically and methodically, with the intention to create a poem that would appeal to both critical and popular tastes. The poem makes use of folk, mythological, religious, and classical references. Its publication made Poe popular in his lifetime, although it did not bring him much financial success. It remains one of the most famous poems ever written.

Tune in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety- like classic horror literature and ghost stories, read in a way to evoke a mood of spookiness, without actually causing a fright. Catch up on previous years by finding our free podcast “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories” or if you are a premium subscriber, look for “Snoozecast+” or “Snoozecast+ Deluxe: Spooky Stories” instead to listen ad-free.

— read by 'V' —

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The Solitary Cyclist pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Oct 09, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The second half will air next week.

In this adventure, Holmes and Watson are visited by a young lady named Violet Smith. She explains that her father's recent passing left her financially destitute and that her only other relative, an uncle named Ralph Smith, lives in Africa.

One day, she meets two men visiting from South Africa, who claim to be friends of her now-deceased uncle. They claim that Ralph also passed on in poverty like his brother, but asked them to take care of his relatives.

This was not one of Doyle’s favorites- he criticized himself for mentioning in this story that Violet Smith's visit to Holmes occurred on Saturday, April 23, 1895. In actuality, the 23rd of April that year fell on a Tuesday.

— read by 'N' —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 8 Oct 06, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the eighth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne’s Bringing Up is Begun”.

In the last episode, Marilla begins her program of moral and social education for Anne at bedtime. Anne expresses a distaste for God due to the insult of purposely giving her red hair. Marilla encourages Anne to create her own spontaneous prayer. Anne’s prayer is full of flowery speech, regarding her hopes for Green Gables to become her home, and to become pretty when she grows up. She ends the prayer by saying, “Yours respectfully, Anne Shirley.” Marilla resolves to send Anne to Sunday school as soon as possible.

— read by 'N' —

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The Metamorphosis Oct 04, 2023

Tonight, to start off our 5th annual “Spooky Sleep Story Series”, we shall read the opening to “The Metamorphosis”, written by Franz Kafka and first published in 1915. Tune in every Wednesday this month for sleep stories of the darker variety- like classic horror literature and ghost stories, read in a way to evoke a mood of spookiness without actually causing a fright. Catch up on previous years by finding our free standalone podcast series “Snoozecast Presents: Spooky Stories” or if you are a premium subscriber, look for “Snoozecast+” or “Snoozecast+ Deluxe: Spooky Stories” instead to listen ad-free.

“The Metamorphosis” is referred to as a masterpiece of existential literature because of how it demands the reader to accept the absurdity of our lived modern human reality. Although some of the events may be fantastical, the ideas about existence, and humanity are highly relatable.

— read by 'V' —

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Camp Cookery | Woodcraft Oct 02, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “Woodcraft” published by George Washington Sears, under the pen name "Nessmuk." Sears was a writer and adventurer who penned essays on hunting, fishing, and camping for popular journals and magazines.

The author was born in Massachusetts in 1821 as the oldest of 10 children. A young Narragansett Indian named Nessmuk ("wood drake") befriended him and taught him hunting, fishing, and camping. Later Sears took that as his pen name, and also as the name of a couple of his canoes.

This episode refers a few times to an Old Woodsman who enjoys smoking “navy plug”. Th name for this strong, dark tobacco was given because sailors would fill a long canvas tube with tobacco (or tightly wrap rope around tobacco) and sometimes add flavourings like rum, fruits and spices. Then the tube was twisted tight, mimicking the pressing process. This technique created a dense roll, or “plug” of tobacco about an inch thick which could be cut into smaller pieces or coins.

— read by 'N' —

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The Boxcar Children pt. 7 Sep 29, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Boxcar Children” written by school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.

In the last episode, encouraged by the doctor, Henry spontaneously joins a community running race at a nearby town’s annual event. Little does Henry know that the race that he has won was sponsored by his own grandfather, James Henry Cordyce. His grandfather didn’t seem to realize this either, even though he was searching for his missing grandchildren. Also, sister Jessie and Violet resourcefully create printed letters for little Benny to start to learn how to read.

— read by 'V' —

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The Mariposa Barbershop | Sunshine Sketches Sep 27, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from the 1912 book Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, from a chapter called “The Speculations of Jefferson Thorpe”.

You won’t need to listen to the first episode in order to listen to this episode, as they are non-sequential vignettes. However, if you would like to find the first episode in this series, it aired on August 23, 2019.

This humorous and affectionate account of small-town life in the fictional town of Mariposa is inspired by the author’s experience living in Ontario, Canada. The book illustrates the inner workings of life in Mariposa—from business to politics to steamboat disasters.

In this vignette, we learn about the town’s barbershop, and the leisurely art of the afternoon shave. This episode first aired in September of 2020.

— read by 'N' —

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Autumn | Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal Sep 25, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the final excerpt in our series from Dorothy Wordsworth’s personal journals. This was one which she kept the year 1805. It was published a century later in 1897.

Wordsworth was an English author, poet, and diarist.

This particular journal was from a mountainous “ramble” her and her brother took around the Lake district of Cumbria, England. The story of this "ramble," written by Dorothy, was afterwards incorporated in part by her brother William in his prose “Description of the Scenery of the Lakes”—another instance of their literary copartnery.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out the Winter, Spring and Summer journal episodes that aired recently, and our other episode featuring this author titled “First Steps | A Scottish Tour” that we rebroadcast on January of 2023.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 39 Sep 22, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Bingley visits the Bennets, and then he keeps coming back for more visits. Soon, Jane and him are ecstatic and engaged to be married. Elizabeth is overjoyed for her sister, but assumes that she must not be in Darcy’s favor any longer, after everything that happened.

— read by V —

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The Garden's Lullaby Sep 21, 2023

Tonight, as we launch our new premium subscription service Snoozecast+, we’ll read a sleep story we created about a stroll through a lush garden before bedtime. It will feature roses, lilies, Swiss chard, lavender, tomatoes, primroses and more.

This has been written exclusively for our Snoozecast+ Deluxe listeners. To learn more, go to Snoozecast.com/plus.

— read by V —

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Some Premium Snoozenews Sep 21, 2023

Today is a big day for this little sleep story podcast as we launch Snoozecast+. Join the co-hosts of Snoozecast as they dish out the inside scoop. Go to snoozecast.com/plus to learn more!

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Stonehenge Sep 20, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from “Stonehenge: Today and Yesterday” written by Frank Stevens and published in 1916. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire , England. One of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom, Stonehenge is regarded as a British cultural icon.

The whole monument, now in ruins, is orientated towards the sunrise on the summer solstice. This episode first aired in September 2021.

— read by N —

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The Secret Pact | Penny Parker Sep 18, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Secret Pact” part of the “Penny Parker” anthology written by Mildred Wirt, also known by Mildred Benson. This series of stories aren’t consecutive so don’t worry if you didn’t hear the first episode. You can pick up on this one just fine!

Penny Parker was a high school student turned sleuth who also sporadically worked as a reporter for her father's newspaper.

In this story, Penny wants to write a story about a strange tattoo she sees on a sailor, but neither her father's nor her school's newspaper agree to the idea. She decides to start a new newspaper in the abandoned Morning Press building and enlists the help of a few close friends. She soon finds herself in over her head and courting trouble.

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 19 Sep 15, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, the Nautilus cruises through the Persian Gulf towards the Red Sea. This confuses the three captives onboard, because at the time this novel was written, the Red Sea was a dead end. The Suez Canal was only in the process of being built to connect the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. After a couple days admiring the sea life in the Red Sea, Nemo visits Aronnax. We will pick up in the middle of their conversation discussion things like the history and navigational difficulties within the Red Sea.

— read by N —

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The Man in the Brown Suit Sep 13, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from the 1924 detective novel “The Man in the Brown Suit” written by Agatha Christie and adapted by Snoozecast.

We will open with a mysterious and glamorous prologue set in Paris, regarding a dancer and a count. Then we will learn about young Anne Beddingfield, who decides to live a life of freedom and adventure. She moves to London on her own and soon finds life to be more adventurous than she expected. This episode first aired in September of 2021.

— read by V —

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A Tail of Belonging Sep 11, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read “A Tail of Belonging”, a Snoozecast original sleep story dedicated to our listener on Spotify who asked for more dog-themed sleep stories.

The term “pound” for an animal shelter comes from the old British Saxon word “pinfald” or “pund”. An animal pound is a place where stray livestock were impounded. Animals were kept in a dedicated enclosure, until claimed by their owners, or sold to cover the costs of impounding. The village pound was a feature of most English medieval villages, and they were also found in the English colonies of North America and in Ireland.

— read by N —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 7 Sep 08, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the seventh chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne Says Her Prayers”.

In the last episode, Marilla Cuthbert, the stern and pragmatic woman was at first dismayed to find that not only have been given a girl instead of a boy orphan, but that this girl is the particularly imaginative and talkative Anne Shirley.

Initially hesitant about keeping Anne due to her unconventional and spirited nature, Marilla has been monitoring Anne's behavior closely. She witnesses Anne's passionate enthusiasm for learning and her ability to charm others in the community.

The chapter ends with Marilla making a significant decision: she decides to keep Anne at Green Gables and give her a chance to prove herself. This marks a turning point in the story, as Marilla's change of heart opens the door to a new chapter in Anne's life.

— read by N —

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The Castle on the Lake Sep 06, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read “The Castle on the Lake”, from a Danish fairy tale called “The Green Knight” found in “The Olive Fairy Book” compiled by Andrew Lang. The story was originally found in a book written by Evald Tang Kristensen.

Working first as a schoolteacher and later solely as a collector of folklore, Tang Kristensen assembled and published a huge amount of detailed information as he visited country people throughout his native land.

His labors eventually were supported by his state government, allowing him to travel as the official folklore collector and resulted in a wealth of data. He himself recorded some 3,000 songs, 2,700 fairy tales, 2,500 jokes, 25,000 legends, numerous sayings, poems and riddles as well as tens of thousands of descriptions of traditions and everyday life.

— read by V —

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Camp-Fires | Woodcraft Sep 04, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “Woodcraft” published by George Washington Sears, under the pen name "Nessmuk." Sears was a writer and adventurer who penned essays on hunting, fishing, and camping for popular journals and magazines.

Here is some Nessmuk lore: This book we are reading from tonight, Woodcraft, has remained generally in print ever since it was published in 1884. There is a mountain in Northern Pennsylvania named after him- Mount Nessmuk.

And finally, his hand-crafted canoe, the Sairy Gamp, was named after the Charles Dickens character Sarah Gamp. Sarah was a comic fictional character in Charles Dickens’s novel Martin Chuzzlewit. She was a high-spirited Cockney nurse-midwife of questionable training. The canoe Sairy Gamp was later acquired by the Smithsonian Institution.

— read by N —

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The Boxcar Children pt. 6 Sep 01, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Boxcar Children” written by school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.

In the last episode, Henry gets more work to do from the doctor, this time with his siblings picking cherries at the doctor’s home orchard. The doctor and his mother wonder at these hard-working and good-natured children. Where do they come from? Who are their parents? Then the doctor notices an advertisement in the newspaper asking for anyone to notify a James Henry Cordyce if they find four missing children that match the mystery children’s ages.

— read by V —

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The Fish Prince Aug 30, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the Hindu folk tale “The Fish Prince.” It comes from “Wonder Tales from Many Lands” by Katherine Pyle, published in 1920, and is adapted by Snoozecast.

This story features an ancient and still popular item of jewelry called a bangle. Bangles are circular in shape, and, unlike bracelets, are not flexible. Although people in some parts of India used to wear a thick single bangle as protection during battle, they are now worn mostly as adornment by women in many parts of the world.

The oldest bangle was recently found to be at least 50,000 years old. It was masterfully crafted out of green stone by a species of early hominid that lived side by side with both homo sapiens and neanderthals.

This episode originally aired in August of 2021.

— read by V —

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Summer | Dorothy Wordsworth's Journals Aug 28, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from Dorothy Wordsworth’s personal journal, which she kept the year 1802. It was published a century later in 1897.

Wordsworth was an English author, poet, and diarist. She was the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, and the two were close all their adult lives.

This particular journal was from a period that the siblings were staying in the village of Grasmere, England. The Wordsworths, part of the 'Lake Poets' group known for living near Grasmere lake, lived in Grasmere for 14 years and called it "the loveliest spot that man hath ever found."

Another of the “Lake Poets” is mentioned frequently in this journal- their friend the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out the “Winter” and “Spring” journal episodes that aired recently, and our other episode featuring this author titled “First Steps | A Scottish Tour” that we rebroadcast on January of 2023.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 38 Aug 25, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, soon after Wickham and Lydia leave, Mrs. Bennet hears rumors that Bingley is returning to Netherfield. Mr. Bennet refuses to visit him, however.

Not long after, however, Bingley and Darcy visit the Bennets. Mrs. Bennet gives a warm welcome to Bingley and almost none to Darcy. She then goes on to speak glowingly about Lydia's marriage to Wickham, much to Elizabeth's mortification.

— read by V —

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Stage-Coach Views | Thoreau's Cape Cod Aug 23, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a selection from “Cape Cod” by Henry David Thoreau, published in 1908.

Thorough was an American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher. A leading transcendentalist, he is best known for “Walden”, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay "Civil Disobedience" , an argument for disobedience to an unjust state.

Thorough traveled to Cape Cod in Massachusetts four times, which inspired this “excursion” or travel book.

This episode originally aired in August of 2021. If you would like to hear more Thoreau on Snoozecast, check out “The Wild” from March of 2021, along with “Walden” parts 1 and 2, which both aired in 2019.

— read by N —

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The Quilt of Happiness pt. 2 Aug 21, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to the short story “The Quilt of Happiness” by Kate Douglas Wiggin, originally published in 1901. If you haven’t listened to the first half, you will find it aired just last week.

Wiggin was an American educator, author and composer. She wrote children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”, and composed collections of children's songs

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 18 Aug 18, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Nemo proposes an expedition to the Ceylon pearl fisheries. Aronnax explains pearls to Ned Land, including their value, shape, size, types, and method of harvesting. The group reach the vast oyster beds and follow Nemo to a deep grotto where he shows them an enormous oyster. Nemo opens the oyster’s shells to reveal a pearl the size of a coconut. When Aronnax reaches to touch it, Nemo stops him, revealing his intention to allow the giant pearl to continue to grow.They also spot an Indian free diver attached to a canoe, but the diver does not see them, as he steals oysters in hopes of finding pearls as well.

— read by N —

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The Bird King and the Mermaid Aug 16, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a sleep story called “The Bird King and the Mermaid,” adapted by Snoozecast from “The Story of Tremsin, the Bird Czar, and Nastasia, the Lovely Maid of the Sea” found in “Cossack Fairy Tales”, published in 1916.

The Cossacks are a group of predominantly Orthodox Christian people who speak a slavic language and originated in Eastern Europe. They played an important role in the historical and cultural development of both Ukraine and Russia. This episode originally aired in August of 2021.

— read by V —

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The Quilt of Happiness pt. 1 Aug 14, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to the short story “The Quilt of Happiness” by Kate Douglas Wiggin, originally published in 1901. We’ll finish the story next week.

Wiggin was an American educator, author and composer. She wrote children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”, and composed collections of children's songs. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco, and also established a training school for kindergarten teachers with her sister. Kate Wiggin devoted her adult life to the welfare of children in an era when children were commonly thought of as cheap labor.

If you enjoy this episode, you can also listen to our “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” episode from April of 2020.

— read by V —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 6 Aug 11, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the sixth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Marilla Makes Up Her Mind”.

In the last episode, Marilla and Anne travel by carriage on a 5 mile journey to visit the woman who picked an orphaned girl instead of a boy for the Cuthberts. Realizing that Anne would keep chatting anyway, Marilla asks Anne to tell her about her past. Anne says she would prefer to tell what she imagines about herself, as her imagination is so much richer than her history, but she agrees to tell her story.

— read by N —

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North and South Aug 09, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the social novel “North and South,” published in 1854 and written by Elizabeth Gaskell. The novel’s protagonist, Margaret Hale, is forced to leave her home in the tranquil, rural south, to settle with her parents in Milton, a fictional industrial town in the north.

Elizabeth Gaskell, often referred to as Mrs Gaskell, was an English novelist, biographer and short story writer. Her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of Victorian society Her work is of interest to social historians as well as readers of literature.

This episode first aired August of 2021.

— read by V —

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Getting Lost | Woodcraft Aug 07, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “Woodcraft” published by George Washington “Nessmuk” Sears. Sears was a sportswriter and an early conservationist. His stories popularized self-guided canoe camping and what is today called ultralight camping or ultralight backpacking.

Canoeing had been popularized by a Scottish lawyer in the 1860s, but the typical canoe trip of the day employed expert guides and heavy canoes. Sears, who was 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed little more than 100 pounds had a lightweight solo canoe built. He named it after a Charles Dickens character and used it to travel alone for months at a time through the Adirondack wilderness of New York.

— read by N —

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The Boxcar Children pt. 5 Aug 04, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Boxcar Children” written by school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.

In the last episode, Henry gets more work to do from the doctor, this time organizing his garage. He ends up impressing the doctor. He suggests that when he next comes to work, the cherry trees need picked, and if he knows any other hard workers, he can bring them along. The next day is Sunday, so instead of working for the doctor, Henry spends the day with his siblings damming water from their creek to build a swimming pool.

— read by V —

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Kashtanka the Mutt Aug 02, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an 1886 short story titled “Kashtanka” by Anton Chekhov, and adapted by Snoozecast. It is a sincere and simple story about loyalty, about a dog named Kashtanka who experiences life with two very different masters. It has been speculated that the story is a veiled biography of the author himself.

This episode first aired in August of 2021.

— read by V —

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Spring | Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal Jul 31, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from Dorothy Wordsworth’s personal journal, which she kept the year 1798. It was published a century later in 1897.

Wordsworth was an English author, poet, and diarist. She was the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, and the two were close all their adult lives.

Modern readers often perceive Dorothy as a first-rank nature writer. In her assumption of humans as companions rather than overlords of nature, she is arguably also an early environmentalist.

If you enjoy this episode, please check out the “Winter” journal episode that aired last month, and our other episode featuring this author titled “First Steps | A Scottish Tour” that we rebroadcast on January of 2023.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 37 Jul 28, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Mrs. Gardiner sent a detailed reply to Elizabeth explaining how Darcy worked on the situation with Lydia and Wickham.

Wickham had been planning on dumping Lydia the first chance he could get, which would have ruined Elizabeth’s reputation along with her family’s. So Wickham paid Wickham a fortune to bribe him to marry Lydia. Elizabeth still shows compassion towards Wickham by accepting him as now part of the family, while not being again fooled by his manipulative and cunning ways.

— read by V —

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Rapunzel Jul 26, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the German fairy tale “Rapunzel” lightly adapted by us from “The Red Fairy Book,” and attributed to The Brothers Grimm.

Some researchers have proposed that the earliest possible inspiration for the “Maiden in the Tower” archetype is to the pre-Christian European (or proto-Indo-European) sun or dawn goddess myths, in which a “light deity” is trapped and then rescued.

If you are still awake after Rapunzel, you will find another hair-themed fairy tale titled “Ricky with the Tuft” from “The Tales of Mother Goose,” by Charles Perrault. This episode first aired July of 2021

— read by V —

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The Dancing Men pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Jul 24, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. If you haven’t listened to the first part, it aired just last week.

This story is considered one of the detective's most famous and memorable cases. In the previous episode, Hilton Cubitt arrives at Baker Street and tells Holmes and Watson his strange tale. The appearance of childish drawings is mysteriously frightening his wife, Elsie Cubitt nee Patrick. Cubitt had married the American Elsie a year earlier, but one of the conditions of marriage was that Cubitt was not to ask his wife about her life prior to their meeting. It was a strange request, but being a gentleman, was one Cubitt was willing to agree to.

— read by N —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 17 Jul 21, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Nemo invites the captives on another underwater expedition, this time, it is to The Coral Kingdom. Also, Aronnax starts to think that the captain does not just love being away from humanity by being underwater- he may seek revenge against humanity as well. The conversation of escaping the ship is discussed by Aronnox and Ned.

— read by N —

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Emily Dickinson | Nature Poetry Jul 19, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read selected poems from Emily Dickinson, starting with a collection about nature.

Little-known during her life, Dickinson has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry.

Evidence suggests that Dickinson lived much of her life in isolation. Considered an eccentric by locals, she developed a penchant for white clothing and was known for her reluctance to even leave her bedroom. Dickinson never married, and most friendships between her and others depended entirely upon correspondence.

Her poems were unique for her era. They contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation. In early editions, including this one, Emily Dickinson's poems were edited by her friends, better to fit the conventions of the times. Thus some of the uniqueness is best understood by viewing her direct handwriting on the page, or by reading more recent editions.

This episode first aired in July of 2021.

— read by V —

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The Dancing Men pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Jul 17, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The second half will air next week.

This was one of Doyle’s favorites- he ranked it third in his “top 12” list of Holmes stories, out of 56 total stories.

In this story, Holmes has to decipher the code hidden in what appears to be a child’s drawing.

— read by N —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 5 Jul 14, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the fifth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne’s History”

Written for all ages, this book recounts the adventures of an eleven year old orphan named Anne Shirley on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

In the last episode, Anne relishes the picturesque beauty of Green Gables, even while bracing herself for the painful reality of being taken away from it later that same day. Matthew lets Marilla know that he is going to hire a farm boy to help him for the summer, implying that they don’t technically need to return the orphan girl for a boy. Marilla sets off to visit Mrs. Spencer with Anne to figure out how the mistake could have happened.

— read by N —

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Emily of New Moon Jul 12, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “Emily of New Moon” written by L. M. Montgomery. Similar to the author’s other series “Anne of Green Gables,” this is the first in a series of novels about an orphan girl growing up on Prince Edward Island.

Emily is a heroine with a love for the beauty in nature and art, loyalty to her friends, a thirst for knowledge, and a passionate dedication to her writing.

This episode aired in July of 2021.

— read by V —

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Knapsacks and Ditty-Bags | Woodcraft Jul 10, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Woodcraft” published by George Washington “Nessmuk” Sears. Sears was a sportswriter for Forest and Stream magazine in the 1880s and an early conservationist. His stories popularized self-guided canoe camping and what is today called ultralight camping or ultralight backpacking.

Growing up in Massachusetts, he took his pen name from a Native American who had befriended him in early childhood. A period of factory labor while still a child left him with a fondness for the writing of Charles Dickens. At nineteen he signed on for a three-year voyage on a whaler headed for the South Pacific; it was the same year that Herman Melville shipped out of the same port bound for the same whaling grounds.

— read by V —

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The Boxcar Children pt. 4 Jul 07, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Boxcar Children” written by school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.

In the last episode, Jess and the children start fixing up their new boxcar home and exploring their forest neighborhood. Henry goes out and gets a job.

— read by V —

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The Valiant Little Tailor Jul 05, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm titled “The Valiant Little Tailor.” This episode originally aired in July of 2021.

In this story, the tailor starts out having achieved a very small feat and ends up a hero.

— read by V —

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Baking Powder Bread Jul 03, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from “The New Royal Cook Book by Royal Baking Powder Co.” published in 1920.

When the first truly American cookbook was published in 1792, the recipes included used three possible types of leavening: baker's yeast, emptins (from the leavings of brewing beer), and pearlash.

The effectiveness of such leavenings varied widely. At that time, reliable commercial products were not available.

The creation of shelf-stable chemical combinations of sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar is seen as marking the true introduction of baking powder later in the 1800s. Although cooks had used both sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar previously in recipes, they had to purchase the ingredients individually from chemists and store them separately to prevent them from reacting prematurely.

Regardless of the expiration date, the effectiveness can be tested by placing a teaspoon of the powder into a small container of hot water. If it bubbles vigorously, it is still active and usable.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 36 Jun 30, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Lydia and Wickham arrive at Longbourn. Lydia is giddy over her marriage, mocking her older sisters for failing to get married before she did. While gloating about the details of her wedding, Lydia reveals to Elizabeth that Darcy attended the ceremony. Lydia quickly apologizes: it was supposed to be a secret. Elizabeth burns with curiosity and writes to Mrs. Gardiner for more details.

— read by V —

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The Great Gatsby Jun 28, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “The Great Gatsby,” a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, the novel depicts narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and Gatsby's obsession to reunite with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. This episode first aired in June of 2021.

The novel was inspired by youthful romance and riotous parties the author had recently experienced.

“The Great Gatsby” was a commercial failure that many critics thought was sub-par to Fitzgerald’s previous work. Now, it is widely considered to be a literary masterwork and a contender for the title of the Great American Novel.

— read by V —

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Winter | Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal Jun 26, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from Dorothy Wordsworth’s personal journal, which she kept the year 1798. It was published a century later in 1897.

Wordsworth was an English author, poet, and diarist. She was the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, and the two were close all their adult lives. Dorothy Wordsworth had no ambitions to be a public author, yet she left behind numerous letters, diary entries, topographical descriptions, poems, and other writings.

Dorothy Wordsworth's works came to light just as literary critics were beginning to re-examine women's role in literature. Her observations and descriptions have been considered to be as poetic if not more so than those of her brother.

If you enjoy this episode, please look for our other episode featuring this author titled “First Steps | A Scottish Tour” that we rebroadcast on January of 2023

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 16 Jun 23, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, electricity temporarily fails on the submarine, and the captives onboard are enchanted at the view of bioluminescent marine life surrounding them in the dark. Later, Captain Nemo spies something that disturbs him at a distance. In response, he apparently slips a sleeping potion into the captives breakfast so that they sleep deeply through the disturbance.

— read by N —

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Ali Baba Jun 21, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a story called “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” from “The Arabian Nights: Their Best-known Tales” by Smith, Wiggin, and Parrish. It has become one of the most familiar of the "Arabian Nights" tales, and is where the phrase “Open, Sesame!” comes from.

This folk tale was added to the “One Thousand and One Nights” anthology in the 18th century by its French translator. This translator heard it from a Syrian storyteller who travelled to Paris.

This episode originally aired in June of 2021.

— read by V —

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The Gyro-Hat Jun 19, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the humorous short story “An Experiment in Gyro-Hats” written by Ellis Parker Butler and published in 1910.

Butler was a prolific American writer, although his writing was mostly a part-time endeavor for him as he was also a banker. Butler was also known as an always-present force in the New York City literary scene.

A gyroscope is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation. It is a spinning disc in which the axis of rotation is free to assume any orientation by itself.

While in this story a gyroscope is used in a hat, real life applications include the Hubble telescope, submarines, and smartphones.

— read by V —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 4 Jun 16, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the fourth chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Morning at Green Gables.”

Written for all ages, this book recounts the adventures of an eleven year old orphan named Anne Shirley on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

In the last episode, we learn that Marilla, unlike her brother Matthew, does not shrink from voicing her surprise upon seeing a girl orphan, instead of a boy, at her front door. As the Cuthberts talk about Mrs. Spencer’s mistake, Anne realizes she is not wanted.

— read by N —

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The Doilied Breakfast Table Jun 14, 2023

Tonight, for our 700th episode, we’ll read excerpts from “The Myrtle Reed Cook Book” written by Myrtle Reed and published in 1916. Reed was an American author, poet, journalist, and philanthropist. She was a diagnosed insomniac with prescribed sleeping potions, called sleeping drafts in her day. This episode originally aired in June of 2021.

— read by V —

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The Silken Ladder | Penny Parker Jun 12, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Clue of the Silken Ladder” part of the “Penny Parker” anthology written by Mildred Wirt, also known by Mildred Benson. This series of stories aren’t consecutive so don’t worry if you didn’t hear the first episode. You can pick up on this one just fine!

Penny Parker was a high school student turned sleuth who also sporadically worked as a reporter for her father's newspaper.

In this story, Penny discovers a strange silken ladder and learns how it is used in burglaries. Her story, and what it exposes, earns her a much-needed raise in pay at the newspaper.

— read by V —

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The Boxcar Children pt. 3 Jun 09, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Boxcar Children” written by first grade school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.

In the last episode, we explore the children’s new boxcar home in the woods, and they are introduced to a new member of their family- a lost but friendly dog with a thorn in his paw.

— read by V —

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A Retrieved Reformation Jun 07, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read "A Retrieved Reformation", a short story by American author O. Henry first published in 1903. This episode first aired in June of 2021.

The story we will read shows how love can change anyone for the better. It describes the events which lead up to the reformation of an ex-convicted burglar. As usual, the ending of this O. Henry is worth hearing for the twist.

— read by N —

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The Corn Field | Farm Flowers Jun 05, 2023

Tonight, for our final episode in this series, we’ll read about more wildflowers on the farm, including cornflowers and charlock in the hay-field, from “Flowers of the Farm” written by Arthur O. Cooke and published in 1900.

In the last episode of this series, which aired last week, we read about dandelions and common grasses that grow wild around British farmlands.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 35 Jun 02, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, we learn the details of the deal. Wickham is basically ransoming Lydia, and Mr. Bennet feels obliged to pay a small sum every year in return for Wickham actually marrying her. Otherwise, they would apparently live together unmarried and thus tarnish the reputations of all her other unmarried sisters.

— read by V —

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Golden King Midas May 31, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a short story called “The Golden Touch” from “A Wonder Book and Tanglewood Tales” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1910. This episode is dedicated to our patron Kathryn, who was craving something from Greek mythology, and our listener, Sue, who suggested this particular book.

— read by N —

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The Hay-Field | Farm Flowers May 29, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read about more wildflowers on the farm, including poppies in the hay-field, from “Flowers of the Farm” written by Arthur O. Cooke and published in 1900.

In the last episode, which aired last week, some plants found in the foldyard of the farm were discussed. A fold was a pen or enclosure for cattle or sheep, and the inference is that it must often have been a temporary structure, made by fastening hurdles, bars or ‘fleaks’ to fixed stakes.

— read by N —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 15 May 26, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Arronax, Conseil and Ned encounter the Papuan people from the island, and the people are unfriendly to the visitors. The three intruders retreat to the Nautilus. When Aronnax tells Nemo about the natives, the captain is unconcerned. He says “Savages? Where are there not any?” Soon, the native people storm the vessel and try to get inside. However, Nemo has cleverly set up an electrified cable on the stairs so that anyone who touches it is merely shocked. The Papuans retreat, the tide pushes the Nautilus out to sea exactly as Nemo has planned, and the vessel continues its journey.

— read by N —

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Pinocchio May 24, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by Italian writer Carlo Collodi, published in 1883. This episode originally aired in May of 2021.

Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto as a wooden puppet but he dreams of becoming a real boy. He is notably characterized for his frequent tendency to lie, which causes his nose to grow.

Pinocchio is a cultural icon. He is one of the most re-imagined characters in children's literature. His story has been adapted into many other media, notably the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio.

Collodi often used the Italian Tuscan dialect in his book. For example, the name of Pinocchio’s father, Gepetto, comes from the diminutive for Geppo, the Tuscan pronunciation of ceppo, meaning a log, stump or block.

— read by V —

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Three Handsome Weeds | Farm Flowers May 22, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read about handsome weeds and wildflowers from “Flowers of the Farm” written by Arthur O. Cooke and published in 1900.

In the last episode, which aired last week, the wallflower was discussed among other flowers. Wallflowers are perhaps more commonly known today as people who gravitate to the sidelines of social gatherings. However, the wallflower is the common name for a genus of flowering plants called Erysium, part of the cabbage family of plants. It includes more than 150 species, both popular garden plants and many wild forms.

— read by V —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 3 May 19, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the third chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Marilla Cuthbert is Surprised.”

Written for all ages, this book recounts the adventures of an eleven year old orphan named Anne Shirley on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

In the last episode, we learn that all women scare timid Matthew, except for his sister Marilla, and his neighbor Mrs. Rachel. He rides his horse and buggy to the train station to pick up the orphan boy that turns out to be a talkative girl. Instead of insisting that she turn back around due to the mistake, he chooses to let her ride all the way home, and let the more assertive Marilla give the bad news.

— read by N —

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Tess of the d'Urbervilles May 17, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “Tess of the d’Urbervilles,” a novel by Thomas Hardy, published in 1891.

Hardy's writing often explores what he called the ""ache of modernism"", and this theme is notable in Tess, which as one critic noted portrays ""the energy of traditional ways and the strength of the forces that are destroying them"".

The book, now considered a major work of it’s time, received mixed reviews when it first appeared, in part because it challenged the sexual morals of late Victorian England.

— read by 'V' —

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In the Coppice | Farm Flowers May 15, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening section to “Flowers of the Farm” written by Arthur O. Cooke and published in 1900.

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, which is called a copse, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level, resulting in a stool. New growth emerges, and after a number of years, the coppiced tree is harvested, and the cycle begins anew. Pollarding is a similar process carried out at a higher level on the tree in order to prevent grazing animals from eating new shoots.

— read by N —

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The Boxcar Children pt. 2 May 12, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Boxcar Children” written by first grade school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.

In the first episode, we learn that the only relative for the orphans to live with would be their supposedly hard-hearted grandfather, whom they never met because of his disapproval of their parents' marriage. So instead, the children strike out on their own into the woods.

We will pick back up at the end of the first episode, where Jessie sees it is about to rain, and finds an abandoned boxcar for her siblings to shelter in, just in time.

— read by V —

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The Sugar Boiler's Assistant May 10, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from “The Bread and Biscuit Baker’s and Sugar Boiler’s Assistant” written by Robert Wells and published in 1890. This episode originally aired in May of 2021.

Candy is made by dissolving sugar in water or milk to form a syrup, which is boiled until it reaches the desired concentration or starts to caramelize. The type of candy depends on the ingredients and how long the mixture is boiled. Candy comes in a wide variety of textures, from soft and chewy to hard and brittle.

— read by V —

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Cranford May 08, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Cranford”, a novel by the English writer Elizabeth Gaskell, first published in 1853. The work slowly became popular and from the start of the 20th century it saw a number of dramatic treatments for the stage, the radio and TV.

The fictional town of “Cranford” is based on the author’s childhood home town of Knutsford in England. The stories within portray the old-fashioned class snobbery prevalent in country towns at the time. Charles Dickens encouraged Gaskell to turn her stories into the completed novel.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our August 2021 episode “North and South” from the same author.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 34 May 05, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, much is changing as the Bennet family worries about Lydia’s fate. Mr. Bennet has decided that Elizabeth was right and he must be stricter with his remaining young daughters. Mrs. Bennet is besides herself with self-pity and grief. Jane and Elizabeth spend much of their time together wondering what they should have done differently, to avoid Wickham’s wicked influence on their family.

— read by V —

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A Voyage to the Moon May 05, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read “A Voyage to the Moon” written by Edgar Allen Poe. It was intended by the author as a hoax when it was originally published in 1835 titled as "The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall."

The story is regarded as one of the early examples of the modern science fiction genre. Jules Verne acknowledged Poe as the creator of the "scientific novel."

This episode originally aired in May of 2021.

— read by N —

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Lulu's Triumph May 02, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the short story “Lulu’s Triumph” written by Matilde Serao and published in English in 1907.

In this character study, Lulu meets a young man at the races, and they start courting. Lulu talks about her expectations to her sister, Sofia, who is older and more serious than she.

Matilde Serao was a Greco-Italian writer. She was the first woman editor of an Italian newspaper. Serao never won the Nobel Prize in Literature despite being nominated on six occasions.

Read by 'V'

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 14 Apr 28, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Aronnax, Conseil and Ned obtain permission to row ashore to a nearby deserted tropical island. After only eating seafood, Ned in particular is craving to hunt down some land food. They feast on local flora and fauna for several days.

— read by V —

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The Forest of the Freed Apr 26, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a story from a short story collection titled “Mrs. Spring Fragrance” written by Sui Sin Far, published in 1912. The story we will read, about two children who find themselves lost in a magical forest, was originally titled “The Banishment of Ming and Mai.” This episode originally aired in April of 2021.

The author Sui Sin Far was the pen name of Chinese-British-Canadian-American writer Edith Maude Eaton. The work is notable for being the earliest book of fiction published in the United States by an author of Chinese descent.

— read by V —

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Desert Oases Apr 24, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read about desert oases from a book written by H. J. Llewellyn Beadnell and published in 1909.

In ecology, an oasis is a fertile area of a desert that sustains plant life and provides habitat for animals. Surface water may be present, or water may only be accessible from wells or underground channels created by humans.

— read by V —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 2 Apr 22, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the second chapter to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Matthew Cuthbert is Surprised.”

Written for all ages, it recounts the adventures of an eleven-year-old orphan named Anne Shirley on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

In the first episode, we meet busybody Rachel, who checks in on Marilla Cuthbert. They live in a small town on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Marilla lives on her farm with her brother Matthew, and they are both growing older. They decided to adopt an orphan boy, which shocks Rachel. Rachel tries to frighten Marilla with terrible orphan stories from the news, but Marilla has a cooler head. Also, she reasons, at least the orphan isn’t going to be a girl.

— read by N —

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A Girl of the Limberlost Apr 19, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “A Girl of the Limberlost” by Gene Stratton-Porter, published in 1909. This episode first aired in April of 2021.

The story takes place in Indiana, in and around the Limberlost Swamp. Even at the time of its publication, this impressive wetland region was being reduced by heavy logging, natural oil extraction and drainage for agriculture.

The author, Stratton-Porter, was considered one of the most popular woman novelists of the era.

Elnora Comstock is an impoverished teenager who lives with her widowed mother, Katharine Comstock, on the edge of the Limberlost swamp. Elnora’s mother treats her neglectfully, and makes her to go to her first day of high school at a new school unprepared. She is wearing ugly, out-dated clothes, and doesn’t have proper books or tuition.

Luckily, Elnora is a plucky and good-hearted young woman. She also has loving neighbors who want to help her. And that is where we will start.

— read by V —

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The Empty House pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Apr 17, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Adventure of the Empty House” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The first half aired last week.

Doyle ranked "The Adventure of the Empty House" sixth in his list of his twelve favorite Holmes stories out of 56 total stories.

In the first half, the year is 1894, and it is three years after the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes. An apparently unsolvable locked-room murder takes place in London: Ronald Adair was in his sitting room at the time. The motive does not appear to be robbery as nothing has been stolen, and it seems that Adair had not an enemy in the world. It seems odd that Adair's door was locked from the inside.

Dr. Watson, having retained an interest in crime post- Holmes, visits the scene. He runs into an elderly book collector, knocking several of his books to the ground. The encounter ends with the man snarling in anger and going away. However, that is not the last that Watson sees of him, for a short time later, the man comes to Watson's study to apologize. Once in, he transforms himself into Sherlock Holmes, astonishing Watson so much that he faints to the ground.

— read by N —

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The Boxcar Children pt. 1 Apr 14, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Boxcar Children” written by first grade school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924. This episode originally aired in August of 2021, and we will continue to the end of this book over time.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest. They eventually meet their grandfather, who is a wealthy and kind man (although the children had believed him to be cruel).

As she wrote the story, Warner read it aloud to her classes and rewrote it many times to make it easy to understand and enjoyable.

— read by V —

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Baking Cakezzz Apr 12, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read about baking cakes from the “Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Volume 4”

This episode originally aired in March of 2021.

The Woman’s Institute was founded by Mary Brooks Picken in Scranton, PA. Born in Kansas in 1886, Picken wrote the first dictionary to be published by a woman in the English language, beyond the over one hundred other books she wrote.

— read by V —

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The Empty House pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Apr 10, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Adventure of the Empty House” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. It was first published in 1903. The second half will air next week.

Public pressure forced Conan Doyle to bring the sleuth back to life, and explain his apparently miraculous survival after his struggle with Professor Moriarty in "The Final Problem". This is the first Holmes story set after his supposed demise in Switzerland, as recounted in "The Final Problem".

Read by -N-

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 33 Apr 07, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle hurry home after hearing the terrible news about Lydia running off with Wickham. There is plenty of time as they travel to consider the situation from all angles, and try to reassure each other from too much worry. They arrive at Longbourne and reconnect with the rest of the family.

— read by V —

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Cloudland Apr 05, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “Meteorology, The Science of the Atmosphere” by meteorologist Charles Fitzhugh Talman, published in 1922. This episode first aired in April of 2021.

The word meteorology, stemming from the Ancient Greek, means "the study of things high in the air."

Though study of meteorology dates back millennia, significant progress did not occur until the 18th century. Prior attempts at prediction of weather depended on historical data. It was not until after the elucidation of the laws of physics and more particularly, the development of the computer, allowing for the automated solution of a great many equations that model the weather, in the latter half of the 20th century that significant breakthroughs in weather forecasting were achieved.

— read by N —

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Mr. and Mrs. Dove Apr 03, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the 1921 short story “Mr. and Mrs. Dove” written by New Zealand author Katherine Mansfield.

In this story, Reginald is a young man who works on a fruit farm in Rhodesia, but is currently back home in England for one more day. There, he visits his friend Anne with the pet doves, who he is in love with.

Now known as Zimbabwe, Rhodesia was a state located just north of South Africa, colonized by Britain.

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 13 Apr 01, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part of, “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, it’s the New Year and Aronnax keeps himself busy studying on the submarine as usual. The Nautilus enters dangerous waters and gets stuck on a reef. Seeing as they're already stuck on land, Ned and Conseil convince Aronnax to ask Nemo to let them go ashore to explore, hunt, and reconnect with solid ground.

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Johnny Town-Mouse Mar 29, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a selection of mouse-featured Beatrix Potter stories, starting with “Johnny Town-Mouse” and followed with “The Tale of Two Bad Mice” and “The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse.”

This episode first aired in March of 2021.

Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children's books featuring animals. Though Potter was typical of women of her generation in having limited opportunities for higher education, her study and watercolours of fungi led to her being widely respected in the field

of mycology. In all, Potter wrote thirty books; the best known being her twenty-three children's tales.

— read by V —

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The Elements of Style Mar 27, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the first part to the writing style guide “The Elements of Style”, written by William Strunk Jr. in 1918, published in 1920.

Strunk was a professor at Cornell University and wrote the book for use at the university.

He is best remembered for the version of this guidebook, enlarged in 1959 by his student, New Yorker writer E.B. White. Now in its fourth edition, it is the most frequently assigned book on college syllabuses, and continues to earn both praise and criticism over a century after its first publication.

This episode is guest narrated by Stephen Frost of Stereo Couture, who specialize in producing music, sound, and voices for animation. If you are interested in learning more, please go to https://stereocouture.com/

— read by J —

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Anne of Green Gables pt. 1 Mar 24, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Anne of Green Gables” the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Written for all ages, it recounts the adventures of an eleven year old orphan named Anne Shirley on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

The novel recounts how Anne makes her way through life with two middle-aged siblings, the Cuthberts, in school, and within the town.

— read by N —

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The Odyssey Mar 22, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Odyssey,” from the Samuel Butler translation, is one of two ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. This episode first aired in March of 2021.

“The Odyssey” is one of the oldest works of literature still read by contemporary audiences. It follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his journey home after the Trojan War. After the decade of war itself, his journey lasts for an additional perilous decade. In his absence, he is assumed dead, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must contend with a group of rude suitors competing for Penelope's hand in marriage.

— read by V —

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All About Gemstones Mar 20, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read all about gemstones from the book “Jewels and the Woman” written by Marianne Ostier and published in 1958.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our other jewelry episode featuring this author titled “The Story of Jewels” which aired in November 2022.

Gemstones are classified into different groups, species, and varieties. For example, ruby is the red variety of the species corundum, while any other color of corundum is considered sapphire. Other examples are the emerald (green), aquamarine (blue), red beryl (red), goshenite (colorless), heliodor (yellow), and morganite (pink), which are all varieties of the mineral species beryl.

Gemstones may also be classified in terms of their "water". This is a recognized grading of the gem's luster, transparency, or "brilliance". Very transparent gems are considered "first water", while "second" or "third water" gems are those of a lesser transparency.

— read by V —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 9 Finale Mar 17, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the final part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926.

Pooh is naive and slow-witted, but he is also friendly, thoughtful, and steadfast. Although he and his friends agree that he is "a bear of very little brain", Pooh is occasionally acknowledged to have a clever idea, usually driven by common sense. These include riding in Christopher Robin's umbrella to rescue Piglet from a flood, and discovering "the North Pole" by picking it up to help fish Roo out of the river

In the previous episode, we finished chapter 9, in which piglet was entirely surrounded by water.

— read by V —

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The Dancing Maiden Charan Mar 15, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a story called Charan, The Dancing Maiden, taken from the book “Korean Folk Tales” written by Im Bang and translated to English by James Gale and published in 1913. This episode first aired in March of 2021.

Im Bang was born in 1640, the son of a provincial governor. He was a great scholar and a disciple of one of Korea's first famed writers. When he was eighty years old, he became governor of Seoul, and held other high cabinet positions as well. In 1722 he played a part in a disturbance of the government and was exiled to North Korea.

— read by V —

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The Dream Mar 13, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Dream” a 1924 novel by H. G. Wells about a man from a Utopian future who dreams the entire life of a 19th century Englishman named Harry Mortimer Smith.

In circa 4,000 A.D., a biologist named Sarnac is taking a holiday among mountains and lakes with his lover, Sunray. With four other holiday travellers, they visit some 2,000-year-old "ancient remains that had recently been excavated" in a nearby valley. A little later, after a brief afternoon nap, Sarnac awakens from "a very vivid dream." The rest of the novel consists of Sarnac's recounting of the dream, with occasional discussion of its particulars with his companions. Sarnac's dream brings with it total recall of the complete life of Harry Mortimer Smith, from the point of view of the achieved Utopia of 2,000 years later.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 32 Mar 10, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Elizabeth is shocked to read a letter with wretched news from home- her sister Lydia has run off with Wickham. This will cause scandal to befall not only Lydia but the rest of her sisters. Immediately after reading the letter, Darcy pays a visit and tries to comfort her. She is inconsolable.

— read by V —

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A Little Princess Mar 08, 2023

Tonight we’ll read the opening to A Little Princess, a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, published in 1905. It is considered one of the top children’s books in the US of all time, along with Burnett’s other book, “The Secret Garden”. This episode first aired in February 2020.

— read by V —

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The Drawbridge | Penny Parker Mar 06, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the 1940 mystery “Danger at the Drawbridge”, part of the “Penny Parker” anthology written by Mildred Wirt, also known by Mildred Benson. The first episode was “The Green Door” and aired on December 5th, 2022. These stories aren’t consecutive so don’t worry if you didn’t hear the first episode. You can pick up on this one just fine!

Along with being the heroine of the series, Penny Parker was a high school student turned sleuth who also sporadically worked as a reporter for her father's newspaper.

Benson was a journalist and prolific writer, under many pseudonyms, who is best known for creating the Nancy Drew series.

The author Benson favored Penny Parker over all the other books she wrote, including Nancy Drew. Her obituary quoted her as saying, " 'I always thought Penny Parker was a better Nancy Drew than Nancy is."

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 12 Mar 04, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, our narrator Arronax and his companions watch the underwater world float by, including some shipwrecks. Nemo appears after a long absence and tells Aronnax they're headed for the island of Vanikoro, the site of two famous shipwrecks back at end of the 18th century and early in the 19th century. We will pick up where Nemo and Arronax are discussing this.

— read by N —

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The Art of Breadmaking | Breadtime Mar 02, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read “A treatise on the art of making good wholesome bread of wheat, oats, rye, barley” by Friedrick Accum, published in 1821.

Accum was a German chemist, whose most important achievements included advances in the field of gas lighting, efforts to keep processed foods free from dangerous additives, and the promotion of popular chemistry.

Following an apprenticeship as an apothecary, he opened his own commercial laboratory enterprise in London.

— read by V —

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Surprise House Feb 28, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read “Surprise House” written by Abbie Farwell Brown and published in 1917. This children’s story depicts a legacy left by an eccentric old lady to her grand-niece.

Brown was a prolific American author of children’s stories and poems, who spent her entire life living in her family’s Beacon Hill Boston home. Her family was at that time the 10th generation to live in New England. Brown also penned the official song of the “Girl Scouts of the USA.”

This episode is guest narrated by Shann Vander Leek of the Anxiety Slayer podcast and academy. If you are interested in learning more, please go to anxietyslayer.com'

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The Secret Garden pt. 28 Finale Feb 25, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

In the last episode, we delve into the concept of how thoughts, good or bad, have power to change one’s experience of life. While Colin and Mary were filling their heads with happy magic and their lungs with moorland breezes, Master Craven was hiking across Europe and starting to find a change of heart as well. In a peaceful and quiet moment he remembers home and opens his mind to the possibility of good things again. He dreams his deceased wife calls to him to come home to the garden. And the next day, he heads home.

— read by V —

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Little Thumbelina Feb 22, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a story from Hans Christian Andersen called “Little Thumbelina.” Thumbelina is about a tiny girl and her adventures with marriage-minded toads, moles, and doodlebugs. She successfully avoids their intentions before falling in love with a flower-fairy prince just her size. This episode originally aired in February 2021.

Hans Christian Andersen was born in Denmark in 1805 to a shoemaker. An only child, Andersen shared a love of literature with his father, who read him fables and fairy tales. Together, they constructed panoramas and toy theatres, and took long jaunts into the countryside.

— read by V —

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A World of Green Hills Feb 21, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “A world of green hills : Observations of nature and human nature in the Blue Ridge” written by Bradford Torrey and published in 1898.

The Blue Ridge extends as far south as Georgia and as far north as Pennsylvania. From there it dwindles to hills, however the band of ancient rocks that form the core of the Blue Ridge continues northeast through the New Jersey and eventually reaches The Berkshires of Massachusetts and the Green Mountains of Vermont.

This mountain range is known for having a bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released by them into the atmosphere. This contributes to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their perceived color.

— read by N —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 8 Feb 17, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

In the previous episode, we finished chapter eight, in which Christopher Robin plans to lead an expotition to the north pole and then we just started chapter nine, in which piglet was entirely surrounded by water.

— read by V —

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The Swiss Family Robinson Feb 15, 2023

Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to Swiss Family Robinson, a novel by Johann David Wyss, about a Swiss family shipwrecked in the East Indies en route to Australia. This episode first aired in February 2020.

Wyss, a Swiss pastor, originally wrote this book to entertain and instruct his four sons. Years later, one of his sons, persuaded his father to allow him to complete and edit the unfinished manuscript. It was published in Zurich in 1812.

— read by M —

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Manly Exercises Feb 13, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from “Walker’s Manly Exercises and Rural Sports” written by Donald Walker and published in 1855.

Walker was a Victorian author of several books, including this one and Exercises for Ladies. He helped to introduce British society to an unfamiliar topic in the early nineteenth century: physical education.

The birth of modern physical education teaching can be traced to teachers in the 1800s who focused on nurturing a child's ability to use their body for self-expression, in combination with approaches from the 1960s, which featured spatial awareness, effort, and relationships.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 31 Feb 10, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner pay a visit to Pemberley and have an awkward tea with shy Miss Georgiana Darcy and conniving Miss Caroline Bingley. We will pick up right after Darcy has made an entrance.

— read by V —

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Wild February Feb 08, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “In New England Fields and Woods”, written by Rowland Evans Robinson in 1896. This episode first aired in February 2020.

Robinson was, in his time, one of Vermont’s best known writers. This collection of short essays follows New England's changing seasons and moods in all its natural beauty. This particular selection is part of the late winter-time section. You can find other episodes featuring Robinson by searching on snoozecast.com.

— read by N —

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Urania Feb 06, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read from “Urania”, an early science fiction novel by Camille Flammarion and published in English in 1890. This excerpt depicts an imaginary voyage through the universe.

The title of this books refers to one of The Nine Muses who presided over Astronomy. Urania’s celestial glance was said to have inspired and directed the chorus of the Spheres.

Nicholas Camille Flammarion was a French astronomer, prolific author and free thinker. Besides astronomy and science fiction, Flammarion was interested in exploring realms of consciousness and reality beyond our own.

This is the second Snoozecast episode featuring Flammarion. You can also listen to “Mysterious Psychic Forces” from October 2022.

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 11 Feb 04, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Aronnax, Conseil, Nemo and another sailor from the Nautilus embark on their hunting expedition to the underwater forests of Crespo Island in their underwater suits. They see diverse landscapes and all sorts of creatures, and also, take a long nap before continuing their wondrous trek.

— read by N —

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Aponibolinayen and the Sun Feb 01, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read a folktale called “Aponibolinayen and the Sun”, from the book “Philippine Folk Tales” published in 1916, compiled by anthropologist Mabel Cook Cole. This story originally aired on January 1st, 2021.

This story comes from the Ting-yen or Itneg people, who live in a mountainous region in the Philippines.

The Itnegs believe in the existence of numerous supernatural powerful beings. They believe in spirits and deities, the greatest of which they believe to be Kadaklan who lives up in the sky and who created the earth, the moon, the stars, and the sun. Tonight, we’ll read about the sun in particular and how he came to be married to a special mortal woman with magical powers.

— read by V —

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The Final Problem pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Jan 30, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Final Problem”, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The first half aired last week.

As with all of our Sherlock series, this story contains some darker elements and themes that may not be appropriate for all listeners.

In the first episode, Holmes is considering retiring from his private detective work, but learns about a criminal genius named Professor Moriarty, who orchestrates a huge amount of crime that happens in London and in Europe. Holmes set about gathering evidence to bring down the whole gang. The work of Holmes though, had not gone unnoticed by Moriarty, who threatens him to back off. Soon Holmes evades three attempts at his life before meeting up with Watson. Watson agrees to hide surreptiously in Europe with him while they wait for Holmes’ plans for the police to catch the whole enterprise comes to fruition in a few days time.

We will start back in the story on the train where Holmes is in disguise as an elderly Italian man and has narrowly avoided being caught by Moriarty. Holmes is now discussing the plan with Watson.

— read by N —

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The Secret Garden pt. 27 Jan 27, 2023

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, Mary and Colin explore the many empty rooms of their manor on rainy days. Colin expresses his desire for his father to finally come home so he can give up the secret and reveal his newfound vitality. Colin has become so well that he starts to believe that the magic he has been espousing may be another word for God. Mrs. Susan Sowerby, Dickon’s mother, also makes a surprise visit to their garden. They find her to be instantly trustworthy and charming.

— read by V —

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New Amazonia Jan 25, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening chapters of “New Amazonia: A Foretaste of the Future”, written by Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett under the pen name “Mrs. James Corbett” and first published in 1889.

Categorized as “feminist utopian”, it was one element in the wave of utopian and dystopian literature that marked the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In her novel, Corbett envisions a successful suffragette movement eventually giving rise to a breed of highly evolved "Amazonians" who turn Ireland into a utopian society.

— read by V —

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The Final Problem pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Jan 23, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Final Problem”, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The second half will air next week. It is one of 12 stories in the cycle collected as “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes”. As with all of our Sherlock series, this story contains some darker elements and themes that may not be appropriate for all listeners.

The story, set in 1891, introduces the criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty. It was intended to be the final Holmes story. Conan Doyle felt the stories were distracting him from more serious literary efforts and that this was the only way of getting his career back on track.

"I must save my mind for better things," he wrote to his mother, "even if it means I must bury my pocketbook with him."

Conan Doyle later ranked "The Final Problem" fourth on his personal list of the twelve best Holmes stories.

— read by N —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 7 Jan 20, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

In the previous episode, we read the second half of chapter seven, in which Kanga and Roo came to the forest, and Piglet had a bath. Then we started chapter eight, in which Christopher Robin plans to lead an expotition to the north pole.

— read by V —

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The Trees of Paradise Jan 18, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read The Trees of Paradise, an excerpt from “Plant Lore, Legends and Lyrics” by Richard Folkard.

— read by V —

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The Palace Under the Waves Jan 16, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read “The Palace Under the Waves” found in the book “Swiss Tales” published in 1920. We will also read a story called “The Fairy in the Cuckoo Clock.”

The first story features undines, a category of elemental beings associated with water, stemming from the alchemical writings of Paracelsus. Later writers developed the undine into a water nymph in its own right, and it continues to live in modern literature and art through such adaptations as Danish Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid".

Paracelsus believed that each of the four classical elements – earth, water, air and fire – is inhabited by different categories of elemental spirits, liminal creatures that share our world: gnomes, undines, sylphs and salamanders respectively. He describes these elementals as the "invisible, spiritual counterparts of visible Nature ... many resembling human beings in shape, and inhabiting worlds of their own, unknown to man because his undeveloped senses were incapable of functioning beyond the limitations of the grosser elements.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 30 Jan 13, 2023

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Darcy suddenly appears while Elizabeth and the Gardiners continue to explore the grounds of his home Pemberley. He joins them in their walk, proving remarkably polite. Elizabeth is immediately embarrassed but Darcy tells her that he has just arrived to prepare his home for a group of guests that includes the Bingleys and his own sister, Georgiana. He asks Elizabeth if she would like to meet Georgiana, and Elizabeth replies that she would. After Darcy leaves them, the Gardiners comment on his good looks and manners, so different from the account of his character given by Elizabeth.

— read by V —

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Across Asia on a Bicycle Jan 11, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Across Asia on a Bicycle,” published in 1894 and written by Thomas Allen and William Sachtleben. This episode first aired on January 13, 2021.

This book is made up of a series of sketches describing a bicycle journey around the world and specifically across Asia. Allen and Sachtleben set a record for the longest continuous land journey ever made around the world.

The day after they graduated college in St. Louis, Missouri, the two friends set out on their journey. Almost three years later, they rolled back into New York on their wheels, having, as they write, “put a girdle round the earth.”

— read by V —

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The Island of Dr. Vermont Jan 09, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Dr. Vermont’s Fantasy”, written by Hannah Lynch and published in 1896.

Lynch was an Irish feminist, novelist, journalist and translator. She spent much of her working life in Paris, having also lived in both Spain and Greece. Lynch then returned to lecture in Ireland and was a part of the Paris salons of the Belle Epoque as well as the Irish Literary Revival in Dublin.

read by 'N'

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 10 Jan 07, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Aronnax receives an invitation to go hunting in Nemo's "forests of Crespo Island" the next morning. Conseil and Ned are invited too. At breakfast, Nemo explains to Aronnax that these forests are underwater and that he has designed special suits for them to walk around down there freely. We will pick up with them getting changed and prepared for their expedition.

read by 'N'

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First Steps | A Scottish Tour Jan 04, 2023

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland A.D. 1803”, a travel memoir by Dorothy Wordsworth. This episode originally aired in 2020. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Wordsworth’s six-week, 663-mile journey through the Scottish Highlands with her brother William Wordsworth and mutual friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge has been called a masterpiece and one of the best Scottish travel writings during a century which saw hundreds of such examples.

Dorothy wrote Recollections for family and friends and never saw it published in her lifetime. The three travelers were important authors in the burgeoning Romanticism movement and thus the trip itinerary was in part a literary pilgrimage to the places associated with Scottish figures significant to Romanticists.

Dorothy's descriptions and judgments of the countryside and landscapes were a mixture of her own personal aesthetics and the in-fashion aesthetics of the sublime, beautiful and picturesque—in fact, Recollections is considered today a classic of picturesque travel writing. Venturing to Scotland in 1803 was not an easy trip and the thirty-year-old Dorothy would experience much of the rougher nature of Scottish life: a depopulated rural land due to industrialization and emigration, along with rough roads, coarse lodgings and sometimes meager food.

— read by V —

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Popcorn Recipes Jan 02, 2023

Tonight, we’ll read “Pop Corn Recipes” by Mary Hamilton Talbott, published in 1916.

Corn was domesticated about 10,000 years ago, in what is now Mexico. Archaeologists discovered that people have known about popcorn for thousands of years. Fossil evidence from Peru suggests that corn was popped as early as 4,700 BC.

Through the 19th century, popping of the kernels was achieved by hand, on stove tops.

During the Great Depression, popcorn was fairly inexpensive at 5–10 cents a bag and became popular. Thus, while other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for many struggling farmers, including the Redenbacher family. The snack was popular at theaters, much to the initial displeasure of many of the theater owners, who thought it distracted from the films. Their minds eventually changed, however, and Popcorn became more profitable than theater tickets.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 26 Dec 30, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

In the last episode, Dickon teaches Colin strengthening exercises. We get to see the happenings at the Secret Garden through the eyes of the Robins on their nest. And the staff at the Manor grow increasingly perplexed by Colin and Mary’s healthy transformation.

— read by V —

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Treasure Island Dec 28, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “Treasure Island”, by listener suggestion, an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. We first aired this on December 28, 2020.

“Treasure Island” is a tale of "buccaneers and buried gold." Its influence is enormous on popular perceptions of pirates, including such elements as treasure maps marked with an "X", schooners, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders.

— read by M —

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North of Boston | Robert Frost Dec 27, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read poems from “North of Boston” a collection from Robert Frost first published in 1914. Most of the poems resemble short dramas or dialogues. It is also called a book of people because most of the poems deal with New England themes and Yankee farmers.

Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech, Robert Frost frequently wrote about settings from rural life in New England in the early 20th century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. Frequently honored during his lifetime, Frost is the only poet to receive four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.

Read by 'N'

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 6 Dec 23, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

In the previous episode, we read the second half of chapter six, in which eeyore had a birthday and got two presents. Then we read the first half of chapter seven, in which Kanga and Roo came to the forest, and Piglet will, apparently, have a bath.

— read by V —

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Balsam Fir Dec 21, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “Balsam Fir”, a Snoozecast original. This episode originally aired on December 23, 2019. Experience tromping through an evergreen tree farm to pick the perfect tree to bring home.

— read by N —

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A Christmas Carol | Stave One Dec 19, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “A Christmas Carol” a novella by Charles Dickens originally published in 1843. The story recounts how Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser, is visited by the spirits of Christmas and is in the process, transformed.

Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” during a period when the British were exploring and re-evaluating past Christmas traditions, including carols, and newer customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas trees. It captured the zeitgeist of the mid-Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday. Dickens had acknowledged the influence of the modern Western observance of Christmas and later inspired several aspects of Christmas, including family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games and a festive generosity of spirit.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 29 Dec 16, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Elizabeth leaves on her summer holiday with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Their tour of Derbyshire takes them near Pemberley. Mrs. Gardiner suggests they visit the estate. Elizabeth consents to go only when she learns that Darcy will not be there.

— read by V —

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The Gift of the Magi Dec 14, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Gift of the Magi” a short story by O. Henry, followed by the poem “The Night Before Christmas.”

Published in 1905, this O.Henry story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money.

“The Night Before Christmas” is formally titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and written by Clement Clarke Moore, anonymously published in 1844.

— read by V —

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Geographic Map Drawing Dec 13, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read from “Lessons in Chalk Modeling, the New Method of Map Drawing” written by Ida Cassa Heffron and published in 1900.

Geography is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. It is an all-encompassing discipline that seeks an understanding of Earth and its human and natural complexities—not merely where objects are, but also how they have changed and come to be. While geography is specific to Earth, many concepts can be applied more broadly to other celestial bodies in the field of planetary science.

One such concept, the first law of geography, is "everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." Geography has been called "the world discipline" and "the bridge between the human and the physical sciences."

read by -V-

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 9 Dec 09, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Captain Nemo and Professor Arronax smoke seaweed cigars together as they chat in the saloon. Nemo explains that the Nautilus is the perfect ship both due to its electrical power and the fact that, travelling below the surface of the water, it is unimpeded by things like storms, just as he is rich enough to be unimpeded from financial constraints. As “captain, builder, and engineer” of the vessel, Nemo has utmost faith in it.

— read by N —

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The Influence of the Stars Dec 07, 2022

This episode is brought to you by our Patreon Supporters and by heavenly bodies.

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to The Influence of the Stars published in 1904. It was written by Rosa Baughan, the eldest daughter of an eminent London newspaper man. She soon established a reputation of her own - as one of the most intriguing spiritualists in Victorian Britain. In her short life, she published more than twenty titles devoted to graphology, divination and astrology.

This episode first aired on November 20, 2020.

— read by V —

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Behind the Green Door | Penny Parker Dec 06, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the 1940 mystery “Behind the Green Door”, part of the “Penny Parker” series written by Mildred Wirt, also known by Mildred Benson. Benson was a journalist and prolific writer, under many pseudonyms, who is best known for creating the Nancy Drew series.

Along with being the heroine of the series, Penny Parker was a high school student turned sleuth who also sporadically worked as a reporter for her father's newspaper.

The author Benson favored Penny Parker over all the other books she wrote, including Nancy Drew. Her obituary quoted her as saying, " 'I always thought Penny Parker was a better Nancy Drew than Nancy is."

read by -V-

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The Secret Garden pt. 25 Dec 03, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

In the last episode, Dickon tends the vegetable garden he keeps at home in the evenings, after working on the flowery Secret Garden in the daytime. Sometimes his mother, Mrs. Sowerby, keeps him company. Dickon shares the secret with her, and she bakes rolls for the children to satiate their voracious appetites while they are gardening.

— read by V —

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The Opal Nov 30, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast “The Opal”, a fairy tale about how the gemstone was formed. This story originally aired on December 7th, 2020.

Depending on the conditions in which it formed, precious opal may be iridescent with white, black, or nearly any color of the visual spectrum as a background color. Black opal is considered to be the rarest, whereas white, gray, and green are the most common.

Opal was rare and very valuable in antiquity. In Europe, it was a gem prized by royalty. Until the opening of vast deposits in Australia in the 19th century the only known source was beyond the Roman frontier in Slovakia.

Opal was also said to grant invisibility- if wrapped in a fresh bay leaf and held in the hand- and thus it was considered the gemstone of thieves.

— read by V —

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The Million Dollar Bond Robbery | Poirot Nov 29, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery”, a short story written by Agatha Christie and published in 1924 as part of her “Poirot Investigates” series.

In this story, a million dollars of bonds disappear from under a young man’s nose and he is being held accountable.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our first Poirot story, “The Western Star” which aired in June of 2022 and “The Cheap Flat” which aired in August .

By the way, a “portmanteau” has two meanings. One is the way it is used in this story- a large suitcase or trunk that opens into two equal parts. The other way is as a word that blends the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example motel which combines ‘motor’ and ‘hotel’, podcast which combines ‘iPod’ with ‘broadcast’ or of course, Snoozecast which contains ‘getting cozy’ with bedtime.

— read by N —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 5 Nov 25, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

In the previous episode, we read the second half of chapter five, in which Piglet met a Heffalump, and also the first half of chapter six, in which eeyore had a birthday and if he is lucky, he may get two presents.

— read by V —

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An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving pt. 2 Nov 23, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast the second and final part of “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving”, a short story written by Louisa May Alcott. This story originally aired on November 23rd, 2020. Please find the first part of this story that aired on Monday.

In part one, the Bassett parents rush off when they hear that the grandmother was very ill, just as a snowstorm was starting. This left all the children to manage the farmhouse on their own. Luckily, they are a resourceful and industrious group.

We’ll pick up with oldest sister Tilly and Prue in the kitchen, as they are starting their first attempt at a Thanksgiving feast on their own.

— read by V —

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An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Nov 21, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast the opening half from “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving”, a short story written by Louisa May Alcott. This story originally aired on November 16th, 2020. The second half will air in our next episode.

“An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” is a simple story set in the early 1800s, featuring a country family in New Hampshire. It’s full of idyllic and peaceful descriptions from an earlier time.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 28 Nov 18, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

In the last episode, Lydia is overjoyed when the wife of Colonel Forster invites her to Brighton. Kitty is peevish not to be included. Elizabeth secretly advises her father not to allow Lydia to go, but he does not take her concern seriously.

Before the departure of the regiment, Elizabeth meets Wickham. She sees a new side of him she is less impressed with. He seems concerned to learn that she doesn’t think that Darcy is so bad after all.

— read by V —

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The Devoted Friend Nov 16, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast the story of “The Devoted Friend,” written by Oscar Wilde and published in 1910. This episode originally aired on November 9, 2020.

Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the circumstances of his criminal conviction for his homosexuality.

In this fable, told by a linnet, or songbird in the finch family, to teach a water rat some life skills, Hans is an innocent gardener and the devoted friend of a wealthy but manipulative Miller. In this story, Wilde pokes fun at a society where charity is less about love and more about ensuring that the wealthy benefit.

— read by V —

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The Story of Jewels Nov 14, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about the history of jewelry around the world, from “Jewels and the Woman” written by Marianne Ostier and published in 1958.

Ostier was the principal designer and artistic driving force behind Ostier Inc., the New York jewelry firm she founded in 1941 with her husband Oliver. Marianne was an accomplished artist of painting and sculpture when she married Oliver, a third-generation Austrian court jeweler. The couple emigrated to the United States following the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938.

The majority of the firm’s output was bespoke jewelry for private clients with few pieces ever produced in quantity. As a result, Ostier’s work may be less well known today than some of their contemporaries, but at the time they were considered one of the finest jewelry houses in New York.

— read by N —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 8 Nov 11, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Captain Nemo takes Aronnax on a tour of his private natural history museum. Nemo's cases are filled with rare specimens drawn from the seas of the world: corals, shells, starfish and lots of pearls. His collection is priceless.

As much as Aronnax enjoys all of this, he's keen to learn how the Nautilus itself is powered.

So Nemo sits him down to explain, seated from within his sparsely furnished captain’s quarters.

— read by N —

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Washington Square Nov 09, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast the opening to “Washington Square”, written by Henry James and published in 1880. This episode originally aired on November 18, 2020.

The novel recounts the conflict between a dull but sweet daughter and her brilliant, unemotional father. The plot of the novel is based upon a true story told to James by his close friend, a British actress.

The book is often compared with Jane Austen's work (who of course, wrote “Pride and Prejudice”) for the clarity and grace of its prose and its intense focus on family relationships.

This is the second time Henry James is featured on Snoozecast. You can find “The Turn of the Screw” back in October 2019.

— read by V —

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The Fairy City | Australian Fairy Tales Nov 07, 2022

Tonight we’ll read another Australian fairy tale called “The Fairy City” written by Hume Cook and published in 1925.

You can certainly pick up straight away on this episode, however if you’d like to listen to the first chapter of “Australian Fairy Tales” please find “The Magic Well” which aired on October 19th, 2022.

James Newton Haxton Hume Cook, the author, was an Australian politician who served in Parliament for almost a decade.

This story features aspects of urban planning and civil engineering- a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports and more. It is considered the second-oldest engineering discipline after military engineering,[3] and it is defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 24 Nov 04, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

In the last episode, Colin claims the secret garden as his own, and in doing so Colin chooses to follow in his mother's footsteps and dedicate himself to nature and happiness. He is inspired by Mary and Dickon, and decides to become a scientist who devotes his life to the study of Magic.

We will resume our story with a gathering of Ben, Dickon and Mary, lead by Colin. It is part lecture, part ministry, part mystical rite held in the secret garden.

— read by V —

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North Dakotan Biscuits and Gems Nov 02, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about baking biscuits and gems from the “Civic League Cookbook” from North Dakota in 1913.

Gems are little muffin-like cakes that were popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They were most often made using graham flour, and had very few other ingredients – some just required graham flour, water and salt.

Graham flour is named after Sylvester Graham , a minister who is considered one of America’s earliest and most vocal advocates of dietary reform. Foreshadowing the modern health food movement, he believed that natural foods in the purest form – whole grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts – were the pathway to a healthy life. Graham recommended using coarsely ground, whole-wheat flour to make bread, rather than white flour, which often contained chemical additives.

— read by N —

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The Haunted Orchard Oct 31, 2022

Tonight, for our final episode of this year’s spooky sleep story series, we’ll read “The Haunted Orchard” written by British author Richard Le Gallienne and published in 1912.

Born Richard Thomas Gallienne, the author changed his last name to “Le Gallienne” after college when he began working in an accountant’s office. Soon after he attended a lecture by Oscar Wilde, Le Gallienne abandoned his job to become a professional writer and poet. Five years later, he met Wilde, they had a brief affair and a longer friendship.

Le Gallienne married three times and had two children including famous and successful stage actress and director Eva Le Gallienne. After becoming a resident of the United States, he eventually settled in the French Riviera in the 1940s. During the war he refused to write propaganda for the local German and Italian authorities and, with no income, once collapsed in the street owing to hunger. He persevered, however, and continued to write into his 70s.

— read by V —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 4 Oct 28, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

In the previous episode, we read chapter four and the first half of chapter five, in which we are introduced to Eeyore, who has lost his tail, and Pooh finds one. Also, Piglet meets a Heffalump.

— read by V —

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Madeleines | Proust Oct 26, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from French writer Marcel Proust’s monumental “In Search of Lost Time” which is seven volumes long, and first published in 1913.

“In Search of Lost Time” follows the narrator's recollections and experiences in the late 19th-century and early 20th-century high-society France, while reflecting on the loss of time and lack of meaning in the world.

This series does not necessarily need to be followed in order. Rather than being plot driven, it is more of a meditation on memories, consciousness and ambiance. The first episode aired on May 9th, 2022, and is titled “Overture.” The second episode, “The Magic Lantern” aired on July 11, 2022. The third episode, “M. Swann” aired on September 12, 2022.

A madeleine de Proust is an expression used to describe smells, tastes, sounds or any sensations reminding you of your childhood or simply bringing back emotional memories from a long time ago.

— read by V —

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The Castle of Otranto Oct 24, 2022

Tonight, for our 600th episode, and the next in our October spooky sleep story series, we’ll read an excerpt from “The Castle of Otranto”, a novel by Horace Walpole. First published in 1764, it is generally regarded as the first gothic novel. Set in a haunted castle, the novel produced a new style that has endured ever since, and has shaped the modern-day aesthetic of the goth subculture.

Although in later editions of this novel’s publication the author acknowledged his authorship, in the first publication the story was purported to be a recently discovered ancient manuscript from the time of the Crusades.

Many years later it was discovered that the main character, Manfred, was inspired by the real medieval King of Sicily by that name. This historic Manfred is remembered for being noble, handsome and intellectual, along with being ex-communicated by three different popes.

This excerpt opens on a scene where Princess Isabella is fleeing through the castle from the wicked Manfred. He had recently asked her to marry him on the same evening her own fiance, Manfred’s own son, died by a giant helmet falling from the sky upon him.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 27 Oct 21, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

Our Friday rotation is capped at four series now, so that each episode will only be one month out from the next of a particular story. If you’d like to listen to this series or some of our others in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, younger sisters Lydia and Kitty share some capital news about Wickham- that he is still an eligible bachelor. When they arrive home, Mr. Bennet is glad to see Elizabeth and Jane, Mrs. Bennet wants to hear about the latest fashions, and Kitty and Lydia want to walk to Meryton to see the officers. To avoid seeing Wickham, Elizabeth chooses not to accompany them.

Later, Elizabeth tells Jane how Darcy proposed to her and also shares the part of Darcy's letter about Wickham. Elizabeth and Jane agree not to publicize Wickham’s misdeeds, for the sake of Darcy and his sister. They agree, Wickham will soon leave along with the regiment with no harm done.

— read by V —

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The Magic Well Oct 19, 2022

Tonight we’ll read an Australian fairy tale called “The Magic Well” written by Hume Cook and published in 1925.

The author wrote this preface:

“The Stories in this little book have been set down almost in the same words in which they were told. How the telling of them came about is a very simple matter. Having three children, each of whom loved a Fairy Tale, it somehow became the fashion, on Sunday evenings, to tell them a story.

On one occasion, when the youngest member was just about to be taken to bed, his sister said; “None of the books about Fairies ever say a word about Australia! Are there any Australian Fairies, Father?”

Somewhat hastily, perhaps, I answered: “Why, yes, of course! Whole tribes of them!”

Instantly the order went forth: “Then you will please tell us about them the very next time you tell us a story!”

— read by V —

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Mysterious Psychic Forces Oct 17, 2022

Tonight, as part of this month’s spooky sleep story series, we’ll read from “Mysterious Psychic Forces” written by Camille Flammarion and published in 1907.

Nicolas Camille Flammarion was a French astronomer, mystic and prolific author, including popular science works about astronomy, several notable early science fiction novels, and works on psychical research. He has been described as being obsessed by life after death, and also with life other worlds, like that on Mars, and he seemed to see no distinction between the two.

— read by N —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 7 Oct 14, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Captain Nemo gives Dr. Aronnax a tour of the Nautilus after a seafood lunch. First they visit the ship's library, an incredible vault of books comparable in size to anything similar on land. The captain offers Dr. Aronnax a cigar made of materials from the sea, which he thoroughly enjoys. They move on to the salon. It contains a remarkable collection of reproductions of classic artwork and sculptures, and sheet music of the world's best composers.

— read by N —

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Arthur Drives the Saxons from his Realm | King Arthur Oct 12, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another story from our King Arthur series. This one, “Arthur Drives the Saxons from His Realm” comes from a book edited by Rupert S. Holland and published in 1919.

The Saxons were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large former country in what is now Germany. In the late Roman Empire, the name was used to refer to Germanic coastal raiders, and as a name similar to the later "Viking".

In contrast, the British "Saxons", today referred to in English as Anglo-Saxons, became a single nation bringing together migrant Germanic peoples and assimilated Celtic Britons populations. The term "Anglo-Saxon", combining the names of the Angles and the Saxons, came into use by the eighth century to distinguish the Germanic inhabitants of Britain from continental Saxons.

— read by V —

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Carmilla Oct 10, 2022

Tonight, as part of our fourth annual spooky sleep story series, we’ll read the opening to “Carmilla”, an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu. Our series will run every Monday of October.

This is one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker's Dracula by 26 years

Le Fanu presents the story as part of the casebook of Dr. Hesselius, whose departures from medical orthodoxy rank him as the first occult detective in literature.

Occult detective fiction is a subgenre of detective fiction that combines the tropes of the main genre with those of supernatural, fantasy and/or horror fiction. The occult detective is employed in cases involving ghosts, demons and other supernatural elements, and the detectives are sometimes portrayed as having psychic or other magical powers.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to “The Hound of the Baskervilles” episode from last October, which would also be considered occult detective fiction, if only Sherlock was not so good at solving mysteries at the end. Also, you can find our reading of “Dracula” from October 2020.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 23 Oct 07, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

In the last episode, the children are confronted by the cantankerous gardener, Ben Weatherstaff, who is angry to find them in the garden he has kept shut up for so long. He had never seen Colin in person, but had only heard fanciful tales about the boy. They have a reckoning, and Ben is commanded to keep their secret as well.

— read by V —

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Wheat to Win the War Oct 05, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about cooking alternatives to wheat, from the 1918 pamphlet “Foods That Will Win the War”.

Although the United States did not have food rationing in World War I as it did in World War II, it did rely heavily on propaganda campaigns at the time to persuade people to curb their food consumption.

Through slogans such as "Food Will Win the War", "Meatless Meals", and "Wheatless Wednesdays", the United States Food Administration under Herbert Hoover reduced national consumption by 15%.

— read by N —

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The Willows Oct 03, 2022

Tonight, to kick off our fourth annual Spooky Sleep Stories series, we’ll read the opening to the novella “The Willows” written by Algernon Blackwood and first published in 1907. This year’s series of classic horror stories will air every Monday this October.

In this story, two friends are midway on a canoe trip down the River Danube. The natural environment, for example the river, sun and wind— is personified with powerful and ultimately threatening characteristics. Most ominous are the masses of dense willows along the river banks, which "moved of their own will as though alive."

This is one of Blackwood's best known works and has been influential on a number of later writers. Horror author H.P. Lovecraft considered it to be the finest supernatural tale in English literature. "The Willows" is an example of early modern horror and is connected within the literary tradition of weird fiction.

— read by 'V' —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 3 Sep 30, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

In the previous episode, we read chapters two and three, in which Pooh west visited and got into a tight place. And also where he and Piglet went hunting, and nearly caught a Woozle.

As Pooh says about Woozles, "It is either Two Woozles and one, as it might be, Wizzle, or Two, as it might be, Wizzles and one, if so it is, Woozle. Let us continue to follow them."

— read by V —

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The Greek Interpreter pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Sep 28, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The first half aired last week.

In the opening to this story, we learn that Holmes has an older brother named Mycroft. This brother sometimes has even more uncanny deductive skills, and yet does not pursue detective work because he doesn’t have the energetic ambition of Sherlock.

Sometimes, Sherlock will turn to Mycroft for help solving a case. In this instance, Mycroft asks Sherlock to look into a situation that occurred to Mycroft’s neighbor, a Greek interpreter named Melas.

Melas was not allowed to see where he was taken, and was threatened by a thug named Latimer if he should talk.

We will pick up the story as Melas describes to Holmes the interior of the home he has been taken to.

— read by N —

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The Story of the Herons pt. 2 Sep 26, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the second half of “The Story of the Herons,” from a collection titled “Moonshine and Clover” written by Laurence Housman and published in 1922. The first half aired last week.

In the previous episode, a princess was cursed to fall in love at first sight to whatever creature she saw. She was kept safely away, blind to the world, except for occasional walks in the forest with a blindfold on. A wicked fairy takes her blindfold off, and she falls in love with a heron that happens to be fishing in front of her.

The loving parents of the princess choose to allow the princess to be turned into a heron to be with her mate. The good fairy explains that if the heron falls in love with her on a level deeper than a heron typically could, like on a human level, they could both be transformed into humans instead of birds.

Soon after, it is learned that the heron princess has laid two eggs in her nest.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 26 Sep 23, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

Our Friday rotation is capped at four series now, so that each episode will only be one month out from the next of a particular story. If you’d like to listen to this series or any of our others in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Elizabeth bids her friends at the parsonage at Rosings goodbye, and on her way home from her vacation, picks up her sister Jane who was staying in London with the Gardiners.

Elizabeth wants to share the news with Jane about Darcy, but is hesitant to do so in that it also means sharing disappointing news about Bingley as well.

— read by V —

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The Greek Interpreter pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Sep 21, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter", written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is one of 12 stories in the cycle collected as “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes”.

Out of all 56 Sherlock stories, Doyle ranked "The Greek Interpreter" seventeenth in a list of his nineteen favorites.

— read by N —

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The Story of the Herons pt. 1 Sep 19, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Story of the Herons,” from a collection titled “Moonshine and Clover” written by Laurence Housman and published in 1922.

Housman was an openly gay man during the Victorian era when homosexuality was severely stigmatized. He was an activist for both the women's right to vote and for the acceptance of gay people in society.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to “The First Voyage | Sinbad the Sailor” which aired on July 18, 2022.

Herons are long-legged, long-necked, long-billed freshwater and coastal birds. They include egrets, which are differentiated simply by their typical white feathers instead of grey. Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks and cranes, herons differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched.

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 6 Sep 16, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Professor Arronax panics about the oxygen levels in the cell, which must be diminishing. To his relief, he realizes that there is a novel system of ventilation on the vessel. Painfully hungry, the men await their next meal impatiently. They shout, but nobody answers. When, after two hours, the door finally opens, Ned attacks the person who comes inside. Arronax is shocked to hear the stranger addressing him politely in perfect French, and yet clearly not as a native speaker.

— read by N —

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Numeration Sep 14, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read from “Elements of Arithmetic” written by Augustus De Morgan and published in 1846.

De Morgan was a British mathematician and logician. He was also known as a brilliant and witty writer. Personally, he was an atheist at a time when his expression of belief limited his academic career early. The prejudice didn’t last forever and because of his mathematical legacy, there is a crater on the moon named after him.

The history of arithmetic includes the period from the emergence of counting before the formal definition of numbers and arithmetic operations over them by means of a system of axioms. Arithmetic — the science of numbers, their properties and their relations — is one of the main mathematical sciences. It is closely connected with algebra and the theory of numbers.

— read by N —

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M. Swann | Proust Sep 12, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “M. Swann” the next part in our series from French writer Marcel Proust’s monumental “In Search of Lost Time” which is seven volumes long, and first published in 1913.

“In Search of Lost Time” follows the narrator's recollections and experiences in the late 19th-century and early 20th-century high-society France, while reflecting on the loss of time and lack of meaning in the world.

This series does not necessarily need to be followed in order as rather than being plot driven, it is more of a meditation on memories, consciousness and ambiance. The first episode aired on May 9th, 2022, and is titled “Overture.” The second episode, “The Magic Lantern” aired on July 11, 2022.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 22 Sep 09, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the children spend an absolutely glorious spring day together in the secret garden. Mary and Dickon learn that Colin always uses a wheelchair simply because he feels so tired and weak, but not because he cannot walk.

— read by V —

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Terra Nova [rebroadcast] Sep 07, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast Terra Nova, a Snoozecast original, which originally aired on May 15, 2020. In this short story, a young man meets a trio of travellers who provide a new perspective on the isolated village he wants to leave. Set in Canada’s Gros Morne National Park, a World Heritage Site, this tale draws inspiration from The Tablelands.

The striking, desert-esque landscape is notable for illustrating the theory of plate tectonics.

— read by V —

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Sleeping Beauty [rebroadcast] Sep 05, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast the story of "Sleeping Beauty", which originally aired in 2019. It is a classic fairy tale about a princess who is cursed to sleep for a hundred years by an evil fairy, where she would be awakened by a handsome prince.

The earliest known version of the story is found in the narrative “Perceforest”, composed in the 14th century. "Perceforest" provides an original Genesis of the Arthurian World.

— read by M —

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Rocky Mountain Lady [rebroadcast] Sep 02, 2022

Tonight, we shall rebroadcast "A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains", a travel book, by Isabella Bird, describing her 1873 trip to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This episode originally aired in 2020.

The book is a compilation of letters, that Isabella Bird wrote to her sister, Henrietta. Women were scarce enough in the Western United States of the late nineteenth century, and a middle-aged English lady traveling alone, by horseback, was quite a phenomenon.

Bird was a nineteenth-century British explorer, writer,photographer,and naturalist. From early on, Bird was frail and suffered from headaches and insomnia. Doctors recommended open air and exercise, so Bird learned to ride horseback.

— read by V —

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Breadtime [rebroadcast] Aug 31, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast an episode about the basics of bread making, which originally aired in 2020. The text is from 1925’s Woman’s Institute Library of Cookery, written by The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences. This institute was founded by Mary Brooks Picken in Scranton, PA. An expert on fashion, Picken also wrote the first dictionary to be published by a woman in the English language.

— read by V —

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Maggie's Start Date [rebroadcast] Aug 29, 2022

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast a Snoozecast original titled “Maggie’s Start Date” which originally aired in 2020. Maggie is the Green family’s loyal dog, however she may have ambitions beyond being household pet..

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 25 Aug 26, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

Our Friday rotation is capped at four series now, so that each episode will only be one month out from the next of a particular story. If you’d like to listen to this series or any of our others in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Elizabeth has finished reading Darcy’s letter, and is considering it over and over again in her mind. As she considers, she starts to have a very different view of what had taken place over the last year.

— read by V —

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Sunset | Tales of the Setting Sun Aug 24, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening fairy tale from “The Descent of the Sun: A Cycle of Birth” published in 1903. This book was purportedly translated from unidentified Sanskrit manuscripts by F. W. Bain. More likely, the stories were only inspired by ancient Hindu myths.

While the stories may have been a literary hoax, they are still charming fantasy tales in their own right. They help us to consider the nature of existence -- the concepts of creation, reincarnation, the power of attraction and the triumph of love.

— read by V —

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The Only Crab in the Sea Aug 22, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read a story from “Just So Stories” by British author Rudyard Kipling published in 1902 titled “The Crab That Played with the Sea”.

The book is a collection of origin stories. Kipling began working on the book by telling the first three chapters as bedtime stories to his daughter Josephine. These had to be told "just so" (exactly in the words she was used to) or she would complain. The stories illustrate how animals obtained their distinctive features, such as how the leopard got his spots.

This particular story explains the ebb and flow of the tides, as well as how the crab changed from a huge animal into a small one.

— read by N —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 5 Aug 19, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, professor Aronnax, his devoted servant Conseil and the harpooner Ned Land are cast overboard and lost at sea after their confrontation with the giant mechanical narwhal.

They find themselves on a floating metal island that turns out to be the beast they imagined they were hunting. Eventually, the vessel begins to sink and, just in the nick of time, the men are snatched and dragged into the belly of the craft by masked men.

— read by N —

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Violin Making Aug 17, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about selecting wood from “Violin Making” written by Walter H. Mayson and published in 1909.

The modern violin was first known in 16th-century Italy. The name fiddle is often used regardless of the type of music played on it, and the genres are not limited to western classical music, folk, country and jazz music along with plenty of non-Western music as well.

Violinists and collectors particularly prize the fine historical instruments made by certain well known families and makers, like Stradivari for example. The quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or equal it, though this belief is disputed. The current record amount paid for a Stradivari violin is £9.8 million or $15.9 million US in 2011.

This book was published posthumously by the English violin maker, who started his fiddle making career at the age of 39.

— read by V —

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At The Bay Aug 16, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the short story “At the Bay” written by Katherine Mansfield, published in 1922.

Mansfield was a New Zealand writer, widely considered one of the most influential and important authors of the modernist movement. Her works are celebrated across the world, and have been published in 25 languages.

This story, based on her childhood growing up in the suburbs of New Zealand, represents Mansfield’s best mature work, a luminous example of her literary impressionism.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 21 Aug 12, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Dickon comes to Misselthwaite Manor to meet Colin with Mary. The three children start devising their plan to covertly bring Colin into the secret garden. Mr. Roach, the head gardener, is ordered by Colin to be sure that all servants and groundskeepers are away at the times he decides to be pushed in his wheelchair outdoors with the children.

— read by V —

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The Cheap Flat | Poirot Aug 10, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Cheap Flat”, a short story written by Agatha Christie and published in 1924 as part of her “Poirot Investigates” series.

In this story, Captain Hastings meets a couple at a party who have just rented a flat in a fashionable district for an implausibly cheap price. Poirot becomes intrigued and sets out to investigate.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our first Poirot story, “The Western Star” which aired on June 8, 2022. We have also read from two of her novels as well- “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” in 2019 and “The Man in the Brown Suit” in 2021.

— read by N —

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Sleep and Poetry | Keats Aug 08, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read poems by John Keats starting with one titled “Sleep and Poetry.”

John Keats’ poems are a major part of English Romantic poetry. They portray settings loaded with symbolism and sensuality, and draw heavily on Greek and Roman myth along with romanticised tales of chivalry.

Keats died in 1821 at the young age of 25, having written the majority of his work in less than four years. In his lifetime, sales of Keats's three volumes of poetry probably amounted to only 200 copies. The compression of his poetic apprenticeship and maturity into so short a time is just one remarkable aspect of Keats's work.

Keats was convinced that he had made no mark in his lifetime. Aware that he was dying, he wrote "I have left no immortal work behind me – nothing to make my friends proud of my memory – but I have lov'd the principle of beauty in all things, and if I had had time I would have made myself remember'd."

Keats's ability and talent was acknowledged by several influential contemporary allies. His admirers praised him for having developed a style which was more heavily loaded with sensualities, more gorgeous in its effects, more voluptuously alive than any poet who had come before him. While not appreciated during his lifetime, he has gone on to become one of the most loved of the Romantic poets, and has provided inspiration to many authors after him.

— read by V —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 2 Aug 05, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

In the previous episode, we read chapter one, in which we were introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and some bees, and the stories began. Pooh is all out of honey and thinks of the idea to steal some from the bees. To paraphrase Pooh: "That buzzing-noise means something…If there's a buzzing-noise, somebody's making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you're a bee."

— read by V —

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Life of Liszt Aug 03, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about the musical genius Franz Liszt as a child piano prodigy from the book “Life of Liszt” written by Ludwig Nohl.

Liszt was a Hungarian composer, pianist and teacher of the Romantic era. He gained renown during the early nineteenth century for his virtuoso skill as a pianist.

Since he often appeared three or four times a week in concert, it could be safe to assume that he appeared in public well over a thousand times during one eight year period.

During his virtuoso heyday, Liszt was described by the writer Hans Christian Andersen (who has written many fairy tales featured by Snoozecast) as a "slim young man...[with] dark hair hung around his pale face". He was seen as handsome by many, with a German poet writing concerning his showmanship during concerts: "How powerful, how shattering was his mere physical appearance".

— read by N —

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Felicia and the Pot of Pinks Aug 01, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the fairy tale “Felicia and the Pot of Pinks” written by Madame d’Aulnoy and found in the Blue Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang.

The “pot of pinks” in this story refers to a type of dianthus flower know as “garden pinks.” Its name is not due to the color pink but rather to the serrated edges of the petals, which look like they were cut with pinking shears. In fact, the color pink may be derived from this particular flower.

If you enjoy this story, be sure to listen to our many other fairy tales written by Madame d’Aulnoy including The Yellow Dwarf, Princess Belle-Etoile, The White Cat and The White Doe.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 24 Jul 29, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

If you’d like to listen to this series in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Darcy waits to find Elizabeth on a walk and gives her a letter of explanation. He answers Elizabeth's charges of misconduct toward both Jane and Wickham. He knew that Bingley was in love with Jane, but he detected no affection on her part and, given that, thought it unwise for Bingley to become attached to Elizabeth's family, with its improprieties and lack of wealth. In London, he joined with Caroline in convincing Bingley to give up the attachment. Darcy also confesses, with regret, to keeping Bingley from finding out that Jane was in London, too.

We will pick up in the letter where Darcy starts addressing Mr. Wickham to Elizabeth.

— read by V —

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The Moon Maid Jul 27, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Moon Maid”, a fantasy novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and published in 1926.

This novel constitutes a future history, and in it Burroughs' vision of what the 20th century held in store for humanity, which could be considered a kind of retroactive alternate history. In Burroughs's vision, in 1967 the planetary rulers send a first manned spacecraft to the Moon—coinciding very near to the actual 1969 date of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Of course, in Burrough’s version, the moon turns out to be teeming with life.

This is the second time Snoozecast has featured early science fiction from Burroughs. You can also listen to “A Princess of Mars” that aired on June 14, 2019.

— read by N —

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The Crowning of Arthur | King Arthur Jul 25, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another story from our King Arthur series. This one, “The Crowning of Arthur and the Sword Excalibur” comes from a book edited by Rupert S. Holland and published in 1919.

If you’d like to listen to this whole anthology easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes also attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone (the proof of Arthur's lineage) are in some versions said to be different, though in other incarnations they are either the same or at least share their name. Several similar swords and other weapons also appear in this and other legends.

Historically, a sword identified as Excalibur (or rather, Caliburn, at the time) was supposedly discovered during the purported exhumation of Arthur's grave at Glastonbury Abbey in the year 1191. That same year, either this or another sword claimed as Excalibur was given as a gift of goodwill by the English king Richard I of England to his ally the King of Sicily.

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 4 Jul 22, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, the sailors on The Abraham Lincoln keep a keen eye on the water, searching for the sea monster. Every time someone thinks they might see something, a great rush of excitement washes over the ship, only to subside into disappointment shortly after. The ship spends three months in the deep Pacific, scouring every inch of the ocean. Eventually, Farragut announces that if the monster is still not found after three days, they will have to abandon the mission. They are about to turn back on the final day, when Ned Land, the harpoon leader, spots the object of their search.

— read by N —

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The Crooked Man pt. 2 | Sherlock Holmes Jul 20, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to "The Adventure of the Crooked Man", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is one of 12 stories in the cycle collected as “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes”.

In the first episode, which aired last week, we learn about Colonel Barclay, a man who had risen up the ranks to become the leader of a squadron. He and his wife enjoyed the power and popularity stemming from such a position. Their standing in the community made the case all the more shocking when Barclay was found dead and Mrs. Barclay was the only one present. She was suspected of murdering him because they had been arguing when he died.

We will pick up with Holmes discussing with Watson how he would like to prove Mrs. Barclay’s innocence because he thinks there is more to the story.

— read by N —

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The First Voyage | Sinbad the Sailor Jul 18, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the first voyage from “Sinbad the Sailor” edited by Laurence Housman and published in 1900.

Housman was a prolific English writer and playwright, an activist and an illustrator during the Victorian era.

Turning from visual art to writing when his eyesight began to fail, he also advocated tirelessly for the women’s right to vote, and believed that men should be an active participant of the suffrage movement.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to find our episode titled “The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor” that aired on January 13, 2020.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 20 Jul 15, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary shares the full secret of the garden with Colin- that Dickon will come visit him tomorrow, that she has already been inside the garden itself, and that they will take him there as well.

— read by V —

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The Crooked Man pt. 1 | Sherlock Holmes Jul 13, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read "The Adventure of the Crooked Man", written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Out of 56 total stories, Doyle ranked "The Adventure of the Crooked Man" 15th in a list of his 19 favorite Sherlock Holmes stories.

Although "Elementary, my dear Watson" is known popularly as a catch-phrase of Sherlock Holmes, the character never says this in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. In The Adventure of the Crooked Man, though, he comes his closest to it in the following dialog:

"I have the advantage of knowing your habits, my dear Watson," said he.

"Excellent!" I cried.

"Elementary," said he.

— read by N —

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The Magic Lantern | Proust Jul 11, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Magic Lantern,” the next part in our series from French writer Marcel Proust’s monumental “In Search of Lost Time” which is seven volumes long, and first published in 1913.

“In Search of Lost Time” follows the narrator's recollections and experiences in the late 19th-century and early 20th-century high-society France, while reflecting on the loss of time and lack of meaning in the world.

This series does not necessarily need to be followed in sequential order as it is more about an ambiance than a plot. However, in the first episode, which aired on May 9th, 2022, the narrator recalls his childhood, bedtimes, bedrooms of his memories, and the peculiar states of consciousness related to sleep.

This episode features memories about the magic lantern the narrator’s family gives him as a child to help him with his insomnia. Magic lanterns were an early form of a slide projector.

— read by V —

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Winnie-the-Pooh pt. 1 Jul 08, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Winnie-the-Pooh” a children’s story written by A.A. Milne and published in 1926. This collection of short stories features an anthropomorphic teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, along with his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

The book was well received at release, a commercial success, and has been translated into over 50 languages, including Latin.

— read by V —

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Schoolroom Cakes Jul 06, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read recipes on schoolroom cakes along with tea cakes and biscuits from “The Cake and Biscuit Book” by Elizabeth Douglas, published in 1903.

When this cookbook was published, most American students attended a one-room schoolhouse. A single teacher would typically have students of all ages in one class. The youngest children sat in the front, while the oldest students sat in the back. Students memorized and recited their lessons, and when they were lucky, they ate home baked treats like the ones here.

— read by N —

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The Otter Opal pt. 2 Jul 04, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Otter Opal”, a Snoozecast original. The first half aired last week.

In the last episode, we met two sea otters named Tumma and Nutsmn as they floated above the kelp forest. Their days are spent sleeping, eating, napping, playing and racing. Tumma excels at all activities, except for the swim races. He has felt frustration at frequently coming in almost last.

We also learn that sea otters often have a favorite stone that they keep in a pocket of their fur, and Tumma finds himself an extraordinary one.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 23 Jul 01, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

If you’d like to listen to this series in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, alone at the parsonage, Elizabeth mulls over what Fitzwilliam has revealed to her that Darcy saved a friend from an imprudent marriage. She assumes that the friend is Bingley and the imprudent marriage is to her sister Jane. Suddenly, Darcy enters and abruptly declares his love for her. His marriage proposal focuses upon her social inferiority, and Elizabeth’s initial politeness transforms into an angry accusation.

— read by V —

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Dinner Party Etiquette Jun 29, 2022

Tonight, for our 550th episode, we’ll read about dinner party etiquette from the book “Our Deportment” written by John H. Young and published in 1881.

The word “deportment” has fallen out of usage starting in the twentieth century, but is defined simply as “a person’s behavior or manners.” It comes from the similar French word déportement.

— read by N —

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The Otter Opal pt. 1 Jun 27, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Otter Opal”, a Snoozecast original. The second half will air next week.

In this story, we shall meet two dreamy sea otters named Tumma and Nutsnm as they float above the kelp forest.

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 3 Jun 24, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, we learn that Captain Farragut and his crew on the Abraham Lincoln are led by their faith that the monster exists, and that they will find it. All believe in the monster except Ned Land, a French Canadian and the best harpooner around. A surly man, Land is drawn to Aronnax since they both share French culture.

Land says that he has never seen a narwhal puncture a ship. Aronnax tries to persuade Land with mathematical calculations that an infinitely powerful creature could inhabit the depth of the seas. Land is not fully swayed.

— read by N —

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Rock Temples Jun 22, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about hermit caves and rock temples from “The Subterranean World” written by G. Hartwig and published in 1871.

A hermit is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions although in modern colloquial usage, "hermit" denotes anyone living apart from the rest of society, for any reason.

— read by N —

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Frithiof the Bold Jun 20, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the tale of Frithiof the Bold, found in “Northland Heroes” written by Florence Holbrook and published in 1909.

The author was an educator, author and speaker involved in the peace movement during the early years of the 20th century. She was an ardent pacifist, a suffragist, and a believer in public education as the foundation for a democratic society.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 19 Jun 17, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary is the first to suggest to Colin that his illness is, perhaps, largely the work of his imagination. Colin offers that he will go out into the fresh air- if she and Dickon agree to accompany him. Mary does agree, and lulls him to sleep with another story of the secret garden.

— read by V —

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The Western Star pt. 2 | Poirot Jun 15, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Adventure of ‘The Western Star,’” a short story written by Agatha Christie, published in 1912 as part of her “Poirot Investigates” series. We read the opening half to this story last week.

In the first episode, Hercule Poirot receives a visit from Miss Mary Marvell, the famous American film star on her visit to London. She has received three letters, handed to her by a Chinese man, which warn her to return her fabulous diamond jewel, the "Western Star", to where it came from – the left eye of an idol – before the next full moon. Her husband, Gregory Rolf had bought the jewel from a Chinese man in San Francisco three years ago and had given it to her. Poirot asks Mary Marvell to leave the jewel with him but she declines. She is going to stay at Yardly Chase, the home of Lord and Lady Yardly next Friday to discuss the making of a film there and Mary is determined to wear her diamond there. Next Friday happens to be the next full moon.

— read by N —

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The Portrait of a Lady Jun 13, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the first chapter to “The Portrait of a Lady” written by Henry James and published in 1880. It is one of James's most popular novels and is regarded by critics as one of his finest.

This is the story of Isabel Archer, a spirited young American woman who inherits a large sum of money. The novel reflects James's continuing interest in the differences between the New World and the Old, often to the detriment of the former. It also treats in a profound way the themes of personal freedom, responsibility, and betrayal.

— read by V —

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Little Women Finale ch. 23 "Aunt March Settles the Question" Jun 10, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the final chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, titled “Aunt March Settles the Question.” The sequel book “Good Wives,” is often published as one combined book with “Little Women” as a parts one and two.

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the previous episode, Beth continues her slow recovery, and Mr. March surprises his family by coming home to visit on Christmas Day.

— read by V —

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The Western Star | Poirot pt. 1 Jun 08, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Adventure of ‘The Western Star,’” a short story written by Agatha Christie, published in 1912 as part of her “Poirot Investigates” series. We shall read the conclusion episode to this story next week.

In this story, a famous American film star consults Poirot about a series of letters threatening that her celebrated diamond called ‘The Western Star’ will be stolen on “the night of the full moon”.

— read by N —

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The White Doe Jun 06, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read a version of the French literary fairy tale called “The White Doe” originally written by Madame d'Aulnoy. This version was found in “My Book of Favourite Fairy Tales” edited by Captain Edric Vredenburg and published in 1921.

Snoozecast has featured several of Madame’s stories, including “The White Cat” parts one and two, “The Yellow Dwarf” and “Princess Belle-Etoile.”

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 22 Jun 03, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

If you’d like to listen to this series in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Elizabeth asks Darcy about his friend’s departing Netherfield. Darcy suggests that Bingley is not likely to return to Netherfield because he has a busy social life in London. After Darcy leaves, Charlotte tells Elizabeth that the only explanation for Darcy's odd behavior in calling on her is that he must be in love with her.

— read by V —

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Working Class Cookery Jun 01, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read recipes from “A Plain Cookery Book for the Working Classes,” written by Charles Elme Francatelli and published in 1852.

Born in London of British descent, Francatelli was French-trained cook who worked for Queen Victoria.

— read by V —

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The Great Carbuncle May 30, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read a short story titled “The Great Carbuncle” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1835.

Set in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a band of eight adventurers gathers together. They are each on a personal quest for the Great Carbuncle, a brilliant gem legendary in its elusiveness.

Hawthorne explores the importance of honesty, simplicity, and selflessness in "The Great Carbuncle." These positive characteristics are most often demonstrated by the newlywed couple during the search for the Carbuncle; they sacrifice personal gain, alter their goals, and pivot their actions to assist others for the good of the group.

— read by N —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea pt. 2 May 27, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, rumors of a mysterious sea creature in the ocean filter back to Europe and the United States in 1866. This unknown "monster" became very fashionable in the press and caught the public's imagination all over the world.

— read by N —

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The Finale | The Wind in the Willows May 25, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the final excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

To listen to this series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the gang is back together, and Badger, Rat and Mole devise a plan to reclaim Toad Hall for their friend, and take it back from the stoats and weasels that have overrun it.

— read by V —

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O Pioneers! May 23, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read O Pioneers! a 1913 novel by American author Willa Cather, written while she was living in New York. It was her second published novel. The title is a reference to a poem by Walt Whitman entitled "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" from “Leaves of Grass.”

If you enjoy this episode, you can find an episode with another poem from Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” titled “Song of Myself” and published March 13, 2019. You can also find another episode from Willa Cather titled “My Antonia,” published September 19, 2019.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 18 May 20, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Colin wakes up the manor in the middle of the night with his “hysterics.” The staff look to Mistress Mary as the only one bold enough and suitable enough to help in the situation, so Mary is brought in to Colin’s room.

— read by V —

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Igloos and Other Arctic Quarters May 18, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about igloos and other polar quarters, from the book “Secrets of Polar Travel” written by Robert E. Peary and published in 1917.

Although igloos, or snow shelters, are often associated with all Inuit, they were traditionally used only by the people of Canada's Central Arctic and a certain part of Greenland. Other Inuit tended to use snow to insulate their houses, which were constructed from whalebone and hides. Snow is used because the air pockets trapped in it make it an insulator. On the outside, temperatures may be as cold as −45 °C (−49 °F), but on the inside, the temperature may get as warm as 16 °C or 61 °F when warmed by body heat alone.

— read by V —

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The Invisible Prince May 16, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read a fairy tale called “The Invisible Prince,” found in “The Yellow Fairy Book” edited by Andrew Lang and published in 1894. This story is about The Prince of Air and how he overcame adversity and found his way to The Golden Isle.

— read by N —

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Little Women ch. 22 "Peaceful Meadows" May 13, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, titled “Pleasant Meadows.”

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Laurie feels slighted so he causes mischief, in penning fake love notes to Meg. Jo is concerned because she does not want Meg to fall in love and get married- as then she will move out of their home.

— read by V —

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The Stockbroker's Clerk | Sherlock Holmes May 11, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Stockbroker’s Clerk,” a story found in “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published in 1892.

This story's plot is reminiscent of that in "The Red-Headed League" which Snoozecast featured in September of 2019. It, too, involves an elaborate hoax designed to remove an inconvenient person from the scene for a while so that a crime can be committed.

— read by N —

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Overture | Proust May 09, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “Overture,” the opening to French writer Marcel Proust’s monumental “In Search of Lost Time” which is seven volumes long, and first published in 1913.

“In Search of Lost Time” follows the narrator's recollections and experiences in the late 19th-century and early 20th-century high-society France, while reflecting on the loss of time and lack of meaning in the world.

— read by V —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 21 May 06, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

If you’d like to listen to this series in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Lady Catherine de Burgh has arranged a visit from her nephews, the Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy. Darcy meets Elizabeth with his usual reserve. Elizabeth asks Darcy if he ever sees Jane in London, and he seems uncomfortable, but the moment passes.

— read by V —

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Whipt Sillabubs May 04, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read a selection of recipes from the book “English Housewifry” by Elizabeth Moxon published in 1764.

This book describes itself as being “confined to things useful, substantial and splendid, and calculated for the preservation of health, and upon the measures of frugality, being the result of thirty years practice and experience.

— read by V —

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Litill and Tritill May 02, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read an Icelandic fairy tale called “Litill, Tritill, the Birds, and the Peasant Lad” translated and edited by Mrs. A. W. Hall and published in 1897.

Like many folk and fairy tales, the exact origins are complicated and sometimes unclear. The more well-known “Crimson Fairy Book” edited by Andrew Lang cites this story as having Hungarian origin. However, there are at least two earlier publications that are specifically Icelandic compilations that include this story.

— read by N —

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The Princess and the Goblin Finale Apr 29, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the final part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel by George MacDonald.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, Curdie had remembered the devious goblin back-up plan if carrying off Princess Irene didn't work- they would flood the mines. Curdie's father and Curdie rush to seal up the mine’s passageway that connects the goblin and human portions. Working as a team, the miners successfully build a huge buttress to fill the hole which they are confident will hold back the waters that the goblins unleash.

We will pick up as the miners leave to go home, as a torrential storm rages outside.

— read by V —

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Like Summer Tempests | The Wind in the Willows Apr 27, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

To listen to this series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Toad is a washer woman on the run, boldly stealing his way across the countryside, until . Now, he is on the run. The strong arm of the law almost catches him when he lands in a river and is saved by his old friend, Ratty.

— read by V —

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The Door in the Wall Apr 25, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Door in the Wall,” a short story written in 1911 by H.G. Wells. Considered to be one of his finest short stories, it explores the tension between the rational and the fanciful experiences in life.

— read by N —

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The Secret Garden pt. 17 Apr 22, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the robin is building a nest in the garden, and Mary and Dickon must keep very still, as though they themselves were trees, to avoid frightening him. Mary tells Dickon about her new friendship with Colin. Dickon is glad that he will no longer have to hide the fact of Colin from Mary, since he abhors keeping secrets.

— read by V —

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Peaks of Shala Apr 20, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read from the opening to the 1923 travel memoir “Peaks of Shala” by Rose Wilder Lane. It is about a walking tour of mountainous Albania.

The daughter of writer Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lane was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, and political theorist.

— read by N —

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The Mirror of Matsuyama Apr 18, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Mirror of Matsuyama” a story found in “Japanese Fairy Tales” by Yei Theodora Ozaki in 1908.

— read by V —

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Little Women ch. 21 "Laurie Makes Mischief and Jo Makes Peace" Apr 15, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, titled “Laurie Makes Mischief, and Jo Makes Peace.”

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mrs. March returns home and Jo asks her mother to stop the budding romance of Mr. Brook with her sister Meg.

— read by V —

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Merlin Fortells the Birth of Arthur | King Arthur Apr 13, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another story from our King Arthur series. This one, “Merlin Fortells the Birth of Arthur” comes from a book edited by Rupert S. Holland and published in 1919.

If you’d like to listen to this whole anthology easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

Merlin is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a wizard. He became one of the most important figures in the imagination and literature of the Middle Ages.

Most notable among his superpowers being that of prophecy and shapeshifting, Merlin engineers the birth of Arthur through magic and intrigue.

— read by V —

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Apr 11, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

The book is regarded as one of the premier adventure novels and one of Verne's greatest works. Its depiction of Captain Nemo's underwater ship, the Nautilus, is regarded as ahead of its time, since it accurately describes many features of today's submarines, which in the 1860s were comparatively primitive vessels.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 20 Apr 08, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.

If you’d like to listen to this series easily in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series

In the last episode, Elizabeth, along with her friend Charlotte’s father and sister, visits the parsonage home of Mr. Collins and Charlotte. There Mr. Collins is as pompous as ever, but Charlotte seems content. They are all invited to dinner at Rosings from Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Elizabeth notices that Lady Catherine’s daughter, Miss de Bourgh, who is expected to marry Darcy, is sickly, dull and uncommunicative.

We will pick up at the beginning of their visit to Rosings.

— read by V —

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Hickorynuts and Sunshine Apr 06, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read selections about baking breads and cakes from “The Charlotte Sunshine Cook Book” published in 1906.

This episode starts with a long-form poem about baking bread, then into bread recipes. If you stay awake for the second half, you will hear cake recipes including several using hickory nuts.

A relative of walnuts and pecans, there are many varieties of hickory tree nuts, and not all of them are edible or palatable to humans. But if you forage for wild hickory nuts of the right type, they are supposed to be one of the most delicious nuts, and can be eaten raw.

— read by N —

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East of the Sun, West of the Moon | Redux Apr 04, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the complete story of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”, a Norwegian fairy tale, collected by Asbjørnsen and Moe.

In this story, a talking bear approaches a poor peasant and asks if he will give him his daughter as a wife in return for making the family rich.

Many listeners have asked us to complete this story, as when it originally aired on March 11th, 2019, we didn’t include the ending. So here it is, rerecorded. Enjoy!

— read by V —

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 18 Apr 01, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel by George MacDonald.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, the old lady came to Curdie in his feverish dreams and restores him to health. He awakens knowing that the goblins have invaded the royal house. He rushes to the rescue, sings rhymes, stomps on goblin feet and frees the gentlemen-at-arms. Together, they rout the goblins in their midst along with their goblin queen.

— read by V —

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Let's Have a Ball Mar 30, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about the etiquette of throwing balls from “Manners and Rules of Good Society” by “A Member of the Aristocracy” published in London in 1916.

A ball is a formal dance party characterized by a banquet followed by social dance that includes ballroom dancing.

— read by N —

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Celephaïs Mar 28, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the fantasy story “Celephaïs” written by H.P. Lovecraft and written in 1920. In it, Kuranes, the child of landed English gentry, travels to the magical city of his childhood dreams after finding himself dispossessed in the contemporary city of London.

Like many of Lovecraft's stories, "Celephaïs" was inspired by a dream.

— read by V —

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The Secret Garden pt. 16 Mar 25, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary likens Colin to a young Rajah, a boy king she had encountered while in India, and nothing at all like Dickon. While they sit together Mrs. Medlock and Colin’s doctor, Dr. Craven comes in. Dr. Craven does not approve of Mary cheering Colin up. He seems to think Colin should stay ill and miserable.

— read by V —

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Toad's Freedom | The Wind in the Willows Mar 23, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

To listen to this series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Toad can’t help himself but steal automobiles to race through the English countryside. This lands him in jail, but a kindly maiden takes pity on him and helps him break free. Now, he is on the run.

— read by V —

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The Caliph Stork Mar 21, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “The Story of Caliph Stork” taken from “The Caravan,” a book of original fairy tales by nineteenth-century German writer Wilhelm Hauff.

This German stories, inspired by “The 1,001 Nights” stories, has since become part of Middle Eastern folklore.

— read by N —

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Little Women ch. 20 "Confidential" Mar 18, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, titled “Amy’s Will.”

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Amy struggles living with Aunt March during Beth’s illness. For consolation, Amy turns to the servant, Esther, who guides her to find solace in prayer. Amy also decides to make a will, just in case.

— read by V —

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Silver Blaze Conclusion | Sherlock Holmes Mar 16, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to “The Adventure of Silver Blaze,” a story found in “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published in 1892. If you haven’t listened to the first half of this story yet, it was the episode that aired right before this one.

One of the most popular Sherlock Holmes short stories, "Silver Blaze" focuses on the disappearance of the winning race horse on the eve of an important race and on the apparent murder of its trainer.

In the first episode, Sherlock and Watson travel to Dartmoor to investigate the disappearance of the great race horse Silver Blaze and the murder of the horse's trainer, John Straker. Bookmaker Fitzroy Simpson had come to Dartmoor to gather information about Silver Blaze and his stablemate Bayard. He had approached both Straker's maid and a stable boy the night of the horse's disappearance and has been arrested for the murder.

— read by N —

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Silver Blaze Opening | Sherlock Holmes Mar 14, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Adventure of Silver Blaze,” a story found in “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published in 1892. The conclusion episode will air next.

One of the most popular Sherlock Holmes short stories, "Silver Blaze" focuses on the disappearance of the winning race horse on the eve of an important race and on the apparent murder of its trainer. The tale is distinguished by its atmospheric setting and Victorian sporting milieu.

— read by N —

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 19 Mar 11, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen to this series easily in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Aunt Gardiner warns Elizabeth not to fall for Wickham. Jane writes to Elizabeth that she realizes now that the Bingley sister is not a trustworthy friend. And Elizabeth reluctantly agrees to visit Charlotte in her new marital home.

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Pike's Peak Mar 09, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt about the mountains of Colorado from “The Land of Enchantment” written by Lilian Whiting and published in 1909.

Pikes Peak is an ultra-prominent summit of the Rocky Mountains, in North America, and inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write the song “America, the Beautiful” after she visited the summit.

— read by 'N' —

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Apollo and Marpessa Mar 07, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read a myth about a love triangle between a couple of mortals, and the ancient Greek god Apollo. It is taken from “A Book of Myths” written by Jean Lang and published in 1914.

The favorite son of Zeus, who was king of gods, Apollo had direct access to the mind of his father and was willing to reveal this knowledge to humans. A divinity beyond human comprehension, he appears both as a beneficial and a wrathful god.

— read by V —

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 17 Mar 04, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel by George MacDonald.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, Curdie comes to regret his rudeness in not believing the princess, as his parent’s have helped him to understand. He sets about to protect her by figuring out the goblin’s devious plans.

— read by V —

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Punches and other Beverages Mar 02, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about Punches and other Beverages from “The Settlement Cook Book,” published in 1901. This compendium of recipes and other useful information was intended to support new immigrants raising their families in America.

— read by 'N' —

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Conversation | Etiquette by Emily Post Feb 28, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read advice about being a good conversationalist, and why you should never say “bovine continuation” when you mean “cow’s tail”, from the book “Etiquette in Society, In Business, In Politics and at Home” written by Emily Post and published in 1922.

— read by 'V' —

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The Secret Garden pt. 15 Feb 25, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary continues her rainy midnight encounter with the mysterious boy Colin. Then she has an in-depth conversation with Martha about him as well. We will pick up during that discussion.

— read by 'V' —

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The Incorrigible Toad | The Wind in the Willows Feb 23, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

To listen to this series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In this episode, we learn of the downfall and comeback for the exuberant and foolish toad.

— read by 'V' —

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Window Box Blooms Feb 21, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read about gardening in window boxes, and also planning the arrangement of outdoor flower gardens, from the 1903 book “The Flower Garden” by Ida D. Bennett.

A window box is usually placed on a window sill, or fixed to the wall immediately below it, so the owner(s) can easily access the plants in it. Window boxes are usually accessed from indoors, and are often used by people who live on upper floors without access to gardens or other plantable areas.

— read by 'N' —

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Little Women ch. 19 "Amy's Will" Feb 18, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, titled “Amy’s Will.”

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Beth falls ill with scarlet fever while her mother is away in Washington DC. The two older sisters and Hannah keep watch over her. Amy is sent away to stay with crotchety old Aunt March. Laurie sends a secret message to Mrs. March to alert her that she needs to come home to Beth. At the very end of the last episode, she arrives.

— read by ' V' —

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The Little Mermaid pt. 2 Feb 16, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the second half to “The Little Mermaid” written by Hans Christian Andersen and adapted by Snoozecast.

In the first half, we learn about the little mermaid and her family. The little mermaid saves a handsome prince from drowning at sea and falls in love with him from afar.

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The Little Mermaid pt. 1 Feb 14, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Little Mermaid” written by Hans Christian Andersen and adapted by Snoozecast. The story follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid in order to marry a prince and become human.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 18 Feb 11, 2022

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen to this series easily in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mr. Collins finally leaves the Longbourne house, and Mrs. Bennet’s brother Mr. Gardiner and his wife come to visit from London in his place. We will pick up after Aunt Gardiner suggests to Lizzy that Jane should come stay with them in the city to get a change of scenery.

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Pelleas and Ettarde | King Arthur Feb 09, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another story from our King Arthur series. This one, “Pelleas and Ettarde” comes from a book written by Mary MacGregor.

If you’d like to listen to this whole anthology easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

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St. Valentine's Day Feb 07, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read “St. Valentine’s Day” or “The Fair Maid of Perth” written by Sir Walter Scott and published in 1828 as part of the Waverly novels. Inspired by the strange, but historically true, story of the Battle of the North Inch, it is set in Scotland around 1400.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our other story taken from the Waverly series titled “The Maiden of the Mist” that aired on January 11, 2021.

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Peter Pan pt. 17 Finale Feb 04, 2022

Tonight we shall read the next part to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by Scottish novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie.

An easy way to listen to this continuing story in order is at snoozecast.com/series.

Peter Pan is a free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up. He spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, interacting with fairies, pirates, mermaids, Native Americans, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside Neverland.

Peter Pan has become a cultural icon symbolizing youthful innocence and escapism. He must forget his own adventures and what he learns about the world in order to stay childlike. His name and playing the flute or pipes suggest the Greek god and mythological character Pan.

When we left off, Mrs. Darling waits patiently and sorrowfully for her children to return home, keeping the nursery window unlocked and opened just in case. Peter and Tinkerbell arrive with a devious plan to secretly close and lock the window, but at the last minute, Peter has a change of heart. The Darling children then fly home to their parents. Afterwards, the 6 lost boys make their appearance and ask if they can be adopted as well.

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Marmalades and Other Sweetmeats Feb 02, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read a selection of sweetmeat recipes from “Miss Leslie’s New Cookery Book” published in 1857. A type of sugar confectionery, it is where the term ‘sweets’ comes from nowadays. It has nothing to do with animal flesh, as the Old English word ‘mete’ meant ‘food’ in general. In other words, we are talking about candy.

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Miss Havisham Jan 31, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “Great Expectations” that features the iconic character “Miss Havisham.”

A wealthy spinster, once jilted at the altar, who insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life, she is one of Dickens’s most Gothic characters. Miss Havisham lives in a ruined mansion with her adopted daughter, Estella. Dickens describes her as looking like "the witch of the place".

Although she has often been portrayed in film versions as elderly, Dickens's own notes indicate that she is not quite 40 years old at the start of the novel, and that her reclusive lifestyle without sunlight aged her.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 15 Finale Jan 28, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the final part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Queen Zixi, King Bud, Princess Fluff and Aunt Rivette search the countryside for the missing cloak. They have to piece and sew the cloak together for it was cut up by a group of enthusiastic quilters, and are still missing one little piece. The group decides to regroup at Zixi’s palace and figure out what to do next.

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Wayfarers All | The Wind in the Willows Jan 26, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

This series does not require you to follow a plot between episodes, however if you would like to start from the beginning and listen easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In this episode, Rat encounters a wayfarer, the Sea Rat, and invites him to lunch. The Sea Rat regails him with tales of maritime adventures and invites Rat to join him.

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Cat Tales II Jan 24, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read more stories about cats written by English author and poet Edith Nesbit, published in 1899. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out the other “Cat Tales” episode that aired in September 2021, and also the fairy tale “The White Cat” that aired in July of 2020.

Nesbit wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature under the name E. Nesbit, along with being a political activist.

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Heidi pt. 18 Finale Jan 21, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the final part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the previous episode, Peter pushes Clara’s wheelchair down the mountainside and then has trouble with his guilty conscience. Enraptured with life on the mountainside, but without her chair, Clara finds the will to live a bigger life, and also the potential to walk towards it on her own.

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Tom Sawyer Jan 19, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” written by Mark Twain in 1876. It is a story about a boy growing up along the Mississippi River, often with his friend Huckleberry Finn.

Originally a commercial failure, the book ended up being the best selling of any of Twain's works during his lifetime, and is considered to be a masterpiece of American literature. It was also one of the first novels to be written on a typewriter.

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A Dinner of Herbs Jan 17, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read from “Culinary Herbs” by M.G. Kains, published in 1912.

Herbs are a widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Herbs generally refer to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 16 Jan 14, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel by George MacDonald.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, Princess Irene receives a magical, refreshing and healing bath from her mysterious grandmother, after her long ordeal saving Curdie from the goblins. Curdie goes home to discuss everything that happened with his parents. They can tell that he is angry at how the princess seemed to be making up fanciful stories about serious matters.

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The Speckled Band Conclusion | Sherlock Holmes Jan 12, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to “The Adventure of The Speckled Band” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” published in 1891 and written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The first part of this story originally aired on November 4th, 2020, and we rebroadcast it yesterday for easy access.

In the first part, Watson tells a strange story that starts when a young woman, Helen Stoner, pays them a visit one morning, in desperate need of their help. Helen’s mother had left an inheritance to Helen’s stepfather Dr. Roylott when she died, with a stipulation that should either of her daughters get married, they would receive an annual income from this fund. Helen’s sister died shortly before her wedding and Helen suspects that their stepfather, Roylott, is the culprit. Helen now worries for her own safety, and Holmes agrees to take the case.

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The Speckled Band [Rebroadcast] | Sherlock Holmes Jan 10, 2022

Tonight, we’ll re-broadcast the opening to “The Adventure of The Speckled Band” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” published in 1891 and written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The conclusion episode will air next.

The story tells of Helen Stoner, a soon-to-be married young woman who suspects her stepfather may be trying to kill her in order to retain control of her inheritance. Convinced of her stepfather's intentions, she turns to Holmes for help.

"The Speckled Band" is a classic locked room mystery that deals with the themes of parental greed, inheritance and freedom. Tinged with Gothic elements, it is considered by many to be one of Doyle's finest works, with the author himself calling it his best story.

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The Secret Garden pt. 14 Jan 07, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary discovers her cousin Colin, who is Mr. Craven’s secret son. He is the same age as Mary, often in pain and miserable from it. We will pick up during their first middle of the night conversation, in his dimly firelit bedroom.

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The Fairy of the Dawn pt. 2 Jan 05, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the final part to the Romanian fairy tale “The Fairy of the Dawn.” The first part aired last night.

In the first part, we learn of a king who has 3 sons- Florea, Costan, and the youngest was Petru. Petru is an unlikely hero, since he is more feminine and playful than his brothers. Yet when his father asks for his help in seeking the spring of the Fairy of the Dawn, it is Petru that eventually sets out on the adventure.

Luckily, Petru rides a valiant and wise horse that gives him excellent advice in dealing with the fairy world.

He ends up battling dragons and goblins, and making the kingdom a better place than he left it, as he continues onward.

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The Fairy of the Dawn pt. 1 Jan 03, 2022

Tonight, we’ll read the first part to “The Fairy of the Dawn,” a Romanian fairy tale by German author Mite Kremnitz. The other half of this story will air this Wednesday.

This story features a prince who doesn’t seem likely at first to be as heroic as he turns out to be. He is more interested in singing and laughing than seeking adventure, fortune or battles as his brother’s do.

The author, Kremnitz, was born Marie von Bardeleben, and moved with her husband and children to Romania from Germany. There she became the maid of honor to the Romanian queen and fellow writer, Queen Elisabeth. Queen Elisabeth herself had a reputation for being an eccentric dreamer. They wrote several books together under pen names, and Kremnitz went on to publish many books of her own.

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Armadale Dec 31, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from Wilkie Collin’s 1864 novel “Armadale.” It is the third of his four 'great novels' of the decade: after “The Woman in White” and “No Name”, and before “The Moonstone.” To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This is Snoozecast’s third-and-a-half time featuring Collins’ work. If you enjoy this episode, you can also find our “Moonstone” episode from March 2019, our “Woman in White” episode from December 2019, and the “Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices” from July 2020, which Collins co-wrote with his friend Charles Dickens.

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Calling Cards | Etiquette by Emily Post Dec 29, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read about calling cards, also known as visiting cards, from the book “Etiquette in Society, In Business, In Politics and at Home” written by Emily Post and published in 1922. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Post was an American writer and socialite who became the most famous authority on how to behave graciously in society and business.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our original episode from this book called “Introductions” that aired on August 30, 2021.

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Little Women ch. 17-18 "Little Faithful" Dec 27, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next two chapters of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, titled “Little Faithful” and “Dark Days”.

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the March sisters’ mother leaves to visit their ailing father in Washington DC. They do their best to stay cheerful and brave, and write letters to their mother in the meantime.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 17 Dec 24, 2021

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen to this series easily in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Elizabeth’s dear friend Charlotte Lucas schemes to and succeeds in winning Mr. Collins as a husband, much to the shock of the Bennett family.

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The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | The Wind in the Willows Dec 22, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

If you’d like to start with the first episode, it aired on March 22, 2021. To follow along easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, a crowd of chilly field mice sing a Christmas Carol at the mole’s front door, and Mole and Rat invite them in for some mulled ale and a delicious meal.

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Enchanted Caverns | Birdwatching Dec 20, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read selections from “The Bird Watcher in the Shetlands” by Edmund Selous, written in 1905.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our others from this birdwatching series at snoozecast.com/series.

The author started as a conventional naturalist of his time, but Selous developed a disdain of the common practice of killing animals for scientific study. He was a pioneer of peaceful bird-watching as a method of scientific study. The author was a solitary man and was not well known in ornithological circles. He avoided both the company of ornithologists and reading their observations so as to base his conclusions entirely on his own observations. He has gifted future generations with his beautiful and intuitive writing on birds.

The island of Shetland is the northernmost part of Scotland. It has a complex geology, a rugged coastline, and many low, rolling hills. The islands have produced a variety of prose writers and poets, who have often written in the distinctive Shetland dialect of the Scots language.

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The Manor at Birlstone | Sherlock Holmes Dec 17, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast-adapted excerpt titled “The Manor at Birlstone” taken from “The Valley of Fear” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The novel was the fourth and final in a series we have read from during the second half of this year. It started with “A Study in Scarlet” which aired on June 9th, 2021. You can listen to all episodes from our Sherlock sleep story series at snoozecast.com/series.

In this story, Holmes deciphers an encrypted message that warns of a nefarious plot against a country gentleman named Douglas who lived at Birlstone House, an ancient moated manor.

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Peter Pan pt. 16 Dec 15, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we shall read the next part to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

An easy way to listen to this continuing story in order is at snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, Peter and the boys vanquish the pirates, and take over the ship. They set sail for the mainland to take Wendy and her brothers home. Then we catch up on what has been transpiring in the Darling household during their absence.

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King Awkward and the Fairies Dec 13, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “King Awkward and Princess Sweetheart” an adaptation by Snoozecast of “Princess Sweetheart” from “The Pink Fairy Book” edited by Andrew Lang. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story was originally found in the “Library of Genius and Fairies” written by Madame de Murat, a French aristocrat and writer of the late 1600s. She published many stories that she first debuted at the fashionable literary salons of her time, and was considered one of the leaders of the “fairy-tale vogue.”

After several years of success and recognition, Madame de Murat was imprisoned and then exiled, being accused of debauchery and “shocking practices and beliefs”. Although she failed at an attempt to escape wearing the disguise of men’s clothing, she did continue to write her body of works for several years after that.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 14 Dec 10, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Aunt Rivette flies King Bud and Princess Fluff to the land of Ix, in hopes of receiving help from Queen Zixi in overcoming the Roly-Rogue invaders. Zixi, now reformed into a truly good witch, reveals that she stole the real magic cloak, and left it behind in the lilac grove. She offers to help the children retrieve it and take back their kingdom. In return, Fluff happily offers to help Zixi use the cloak to grant her wish of looking young and beautiful in mirror reflections. But first, they must stay for a royal feast.

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The Nutcracker Dec 08, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ “The Nutcracker of Nuremberg” story, originally published in 1844. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Dumas’ version of The Nutcracker was itself adapted from the original, written by E.T.A. Hoffman. However it was Dumas adaptation that gave inspiration to the famous “Nutcracker” ballet composed by Tchaikovsky.

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Get Rich Quick in 1922 Dec 06, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “How to Make Money” by John V. Dunlap, published in 1922. This guide to making money may have served up inspiration to the entrepreneurial-minded of the day. The schemes include starting a neighborhood pantry, along with candy making, doughnut making, starting a kindergarten, and editing an interesting column in a newspaper. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Heidi pt. 17 Dec 03, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the previous episode, the Grandmama agrees to allow Clara to stay up on the alp with Heidi and Grandfather. She has a splendid time, and starts to grow stronger by the day. Peter, the young goatherd, seems to be growing angrier by the day but does not explain why. Plans are made to take the girls higher up the alp the next day to experience sitting amongst the wildflowers and grazing goats with Peter.

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Plum and Other Puddings Dec 01, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read all about old-fashioned puddings from “The White House Cook Book” written by the house stewards in Washington DC, and published in 1887.

The original “pudding” was formed by mixing various ingredients with a grain product or other binder such as butter, flour, cereal, eggs, and/or suet, resulting in a solid mass. These puddings are baked, steamed, or boiled. Depending on its ingredients, such a pudding may be served as a part of the main course or as a dessert.

Christmas pudding is a type of pudding traditionally served as part of the Christmas dinner in Britain and British-influenced cultures.

Despite the name of "plum pudding", that particular pudding contains no actual plums due to the pre-Victorian use of the word "plums" as a term for raisins.

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The Precious Fishing Hook Nov 29, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a Japanese tale adapted by Snoozecast called “The Precious Fishing Hook” or “The Happy Hunter and the Skillful Fisher.” It was originally found in “Japanese Fairy Tales” compiled by Yei Theodora Ozaki. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you enjoy this sleep story, be sure to check out our other ones that come from the same book. “The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon Child” is a two-parter that first aired in April of 2019. “Momotaro” also aired in April 2019. “The Fisher-Boy Urashima” aired in May of 2020.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 15 Nov 26, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel by George MacDonald. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, Princess Irene uses her grandmother’s gossamer thread to rescue Curdie from the Goblin’s cave labyrinth, and bring them both back to the safety of Irene’s royal home. Curdie is grateful to Irene for saving his life, but does not believe her explanation of her grandmother’s ring and the thread.

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The Carolers | The Wind in the Willows Nov 24, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

If you’d like to start with the first episode, it aired on March 22, 2021. To follow along easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the two little friends Water Rat and Mole are headed back after a long day to their home on the river, which is really the Rat’s home. Suddenly the Mole remembers his original mole den home, and the urge to visit becomes to strong to ignore.

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Entertaining Luncheons Nov 22, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “For Luncheon and Supper Guests” written by Alice Bradley published in 1923. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“Luncheon” is the formal word for lunch, a light mid-day meal.

In the Middle Ages, before electric lighting and industrialization, the mid-day meal was large and considered dinner. There was no lunch, so later in the evening a lighter meal was had called “supper”.

But by the 1800s, the large meal of dinner was pushed into the evening and thus, not only was supper squeezed out, but there was a need for something to eat in between breakfast and dinner.

Up until the early 1800s, luncheon was generally reserved for ladies, who would often have lunch with one another when their husbands were out. The meal was often made up of left-overs from the previous night's plentiful dinner. Beginning in the Victorian era, afternoon tea supplemented this luncheon at four o'clock.

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The Secret Garden pt. 13 Nov 19, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary decides that she has 5 people in the world she actually likes, now that she knows Dickon. She also counts 2 people that like her back, if she includes the robin. We will pick up at the tail end of her first meeting with Mr. Craven. He is the master of Misselthwaite Manor and Mary’s assigned guardian as he is her uncle.

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The Treasure Seeker | Conclusion Nov 17, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to the fairy tale “The Treasure Seeker.” You can find our rebroadcast that aired yesterday of the first part to this story, which we originally aired in January 2020. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In yesterday’s story, we learn of Peter Bloch, who was once a prosperous inn-keeper and master cook, but is now a poor man. He hears of a mysterious dark spirit, The Treasure Seeker of the Mountain, and directions on how to find an amazing treasure trove of hidden wealth.

Although he has an unhappy marriage with the Dame Ilse, Peter also has a sweet daughter named Lucia. His love for Lucia motivates him to seek the treasure in order to change their fortunes in life for the better.

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The Treasure Seeker [rebroadcast] Nov 16, 2021

Tonight, we’re airing a re-broadcast of the opening to “The Treasure Seeker,” an adventurous fairy tale found in “The Crimson Fairy Book” compiled by Andrew Lang and published in 1903. The conclusion episode will air tomorrow.

In the opening of this story, some shepherds sit around one night telling of the strange things that happened to them in their youth. One of their stories is more exciting than expected- regarding a mysterious dark spirit, The Treasure Seeker of the mountain.

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The Wild Garden Nov 15, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “The Wild Garden” by William Robinson, published in 1870. Robinson was an Irish gardener and journalist whose ideas about wild gardening spurred the movement that led to the popularising of the English cottage garden. He was a champion of the "wild garden", who vanquished the high Victorian pattern garden of planted-out bedding schemes, which used tropical plants grown in greenhouses. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Modern gardening practices first introduced by Robinson include: using alpine plants in rock gardens; dense plantings of perennials and groundcovers that expose no bare soil; use of hardy perennials and native plants; and large plantings of perennials in natural-looking drifts.

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Little Women ch. 16 "Letters" Nov 12, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Letters”.

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

The novel has been said to address three major themes: domesticity, work, and true love, all of them interdependent and each necessary to the achievement of its heroine's individual identity. According to many critics, Alcott created a whole new genre, one that took elements from romantic children's fiction and combined it with others from sentimental novels. Within the four different March sisters can be found the first vision of the "All-American girl.”

In the last episode, a chapter called “A Telegram,” Marmee receives news that her husband has fallen ill in an army hospital. Her daughters, along with Laurie, Mr. Laurence and Mr. Brooks all rally to help in different ways. Jo cuts her long hair short at the barbers to earn some quick money, and Mr. Brooks plans to accompany Mrs. March to Washington DC.

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The Blue Carbuncle Conclusion | Sherlock Holmes Nov 10, 2021

Tonight, we’ll re-broadcast the opening to “The Blue Carbuncle” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The conclusion episode will air tomorrow.

The dermatological term “Carbuncle” refers to a painful cluster of boils on the skin. In this case, however, The Blue Carbuncle is a missing and near-priceless gemstone.

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The Blue Carbuncle [rebroadcast] | Sherlock Holmes Nov 09, 2021

Tonight, we’ll re-broadcast the opening to “The Blue Carbuncle” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The conclusion episode will air tomorrow.

The dermatological term “Carbuncle” refers to a painful cluster of boils on the skin. In this case, however, The Blue Carbuncle is a missing and near-priceless gemstone.

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Aunt Susanna's Thanksgiving Dinner Nov 08, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Editor's Note: We apologize if you had trouble playing this episode earlier, please refresh and try now. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Tonight, we’ll read the short story “Aunt Susanna’s Thanksgiving Dinner” written by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1907.

This is a heart-warming holiday tale from the author of “Anne of Green Gables.” If you enjoy this author, you can find a Snoozecast excerpt from “Anne” that aired in April 2019, and our “Emily of New Moon” episode that aired this July, 2021.

Maud was a prolific writer, with over 500 short stories and poems to her name, along with some 20 novels.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 16 Nov 05, 2021

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen to this series easily in order, please go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mr. Collins finally moves on from asking for Lizzy’s hand in marriage, but he hasn’t moved on from his visit at the Bennet’s home. Jane receives a disturbing letter from Caroline Bingley and reads it to Lizzy. The sisters have opposite interpretations. Jane believes Caroline that her brother Charles has moved on to a new love interest in Georgiana Darcy. Lizzy guesses that Caroline is scheming to marry Mr. Darcy, and as part of her devious plan, that she is trying to break up the love between Jane and Charles.

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In the Mist of the Mountains Nov 03, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “In the Mist of the Mountains,” by Australian novelist and children’s writer Ethel Turner, published in 1906. Her best-known work is her first novel, Seven Little Australians (1894), which is widely considered as a classic of Australian children's literature. Turner was awarded a number of prestigious literary awards and could be considered one of Australia's best-loved authors. This story is set in a tiny mountain vacation town during tourist season. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Cinderella Nov 01, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the fairy tale “Cinderella” taken from the old French tale by Charles Perrault originally published in 1697. This version has also been lightly adapted by Snoozecast. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"Cinderella", also known as "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale about the triumphant reward of a persecuted heroine. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world, since ancient times.

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Peter Pan pt. 15 Oct 29, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we shall read the next chapter to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

An easy way to listen to this continuing story in order is at snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, Peter stealthily boards the pirate ship to save his friends. Mayhem ensues, as he starts to attack the pirates one by one, without Hook understanding what was happening.

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Ligeia | Edgar Allan Poe Oct 27, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, for the final episode of our third annual Classic Horror Sleep Story Series this October, we will read the Edgar Allan Poe tale “Ligeia”. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The story follows an unnamed narrator and his wife Ligeia, a beautiful and intelligent raven-haired woman. She falls ill and dies- but not for long.

It may or may not have all been a hallucination of the narrator, and the story may or may not have been a satire by Poe of the Gothic genre itself.

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Home Sweet Home | The Wind in the Willows Oct 25, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

If you’d like to start with the first episode, it aired on March 22, 2021. To follow along easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the two little friends Water Rat and Mole spend more time in Mr. Badger’s cozy underground dwelling with Mr. Otter before returning safely home.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 13 Oct 22, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905.. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the quarrelsome Roly-Rogues bounce down from the mountaintop above the clouds to take over the peaceful kingdom of Noland. Luckily, King Bud and Princess Fluff were far away at the time, having a picnic.

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Frankenstein | An Excerpt Oct 20, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, as part of our third annual October classic horror sleep story series, we’ll read an excerpt from “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. . To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“Frankenstein” tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, and this excerpt is from his point of view. He is a young scientist who creates a human-like creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment.

Shelley was only 20 years old when her book was anonymously published. Today, the novel is generally considered to be a landmark work of Romantic and Gothic literature, as well as science fiction.

This is the second time Snoozecast is featuring this book. During our first annual horror series in 2019, we aired the very opening to the novel, which consists of letters meant to cradle the ultimate narrative of Frankenstein. Tonight’s episode is meant to start at the heart of the story.

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The Three Golden Apples Oct 18, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the story “The Three Golden Apples” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and found in “A Wonder Book” originally published in 1851. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This is Hawthorne's retelling of Hercules’ search for three golden apples. Along the way he meets the Old Man of the Sea, a six-legged man creature and the mighty giant, Atlas.

This story also features the Hesperides. In Greek mythology, they are the nymphs of evening and golden light of sunsets. The Hesperides love to sing, and they spend their time tending to Queen Hera’s apple orchard.

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Heidi pt. 16 Oct 15, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the previous episode, Heidi teaches Peter how to read during the snowy winter. Then spring comes, and the Grandfather and Heidi move back up the mountain. Clara and her Grandmama come to visit. Clara is carried in a sedan as she is unable to walk, and Grandmama rides a horse. We will pick up our story with Heidi showing Clara around the grounds of their alpine home.

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The Hound of the Baskervilles | Sherlock Holmes Oct 13, 2021

***Dear Listeners, we regret this episode was not available at it's regularly scheduled time but are happy to announce that 'V' just welcomed the next little snoozer 'X' into this world on 10/13/21, please accept our apologies for the delay and we hope you enjoy this next episode in our October horror series***

Tonight, as part of our third annual October classic horror sleep story series, airing every Wednesday this October, we’ll read our adaptation of the opening to “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” It is the third full novel featuring Sherlock Holmes and was published in 1901, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyal.

“The Hound of the Baskervilles” is a mystery about an attempted murder inspired by the legend of a diabolical hound of supernatural origin. One of the most famous stories ever written, it is considered by Sherlockian scholars to be the most perfect novel.

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The Seaside Princess from Brazil Oct 11, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a Brazilian fairy tale called “The Seaside Princess” or “Why the Sea Moans” adapted by Snoozecast from “Fairy Tales from Brazil” published in 1917. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 14 Oct 08, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel by George MacDonald. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, Princess Irene follows her Grandmother’s instructions to follow the gossamer thread wherever it goes. It took Irene directly to Curdie’s cave prison cell deep within the mountain.

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The Phantom of the Opera Oct 06, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, for the start of our third annual Classic Horror sleep story series, we’ll read the opening to “The Phantom of the Opera” written by Gaston Leroux, published in 1909. Be sure to catch our other snoozy, and a bit creepy, sleep stories every Wednesday this October. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This novel is partly inspired by historical events at the Paris Opera during the nineteenth century, and partly by an apocryphal tale concerning the use of a former ballet pupil's skeleton, inspired by a German opera.

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Hosting a Halloween Party Oct 04, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “Games for Hallowe’en” written by Mary Blaine and published in 1912. It describes step by step how one would throw a Halloween themed party at this time. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Traditional Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins or turnips into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching horror films.

Join us every Wednesday this month for Snoozecast’s third annual classic horror sleep story series!

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The Secret Garden pt. 12 Oct 01, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary and Dickon get to know each other. She brings him to help her with the secret garden. Dickon not only has a way with wild creatures, but also with plants. He teaches her how to learn if plants are “wick,” which means “alive” in his dialect. They both wonder at how the garden has been shut up for ten years, when it seems as if there has been some minimal maintenance done since then, according to Dickon.

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Bicycle Etiquette for Ladies and Gentlemen Sep 29, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt about bicycle etiquette from “Twentieth Century Culture and Deportment for the Lady and Gentleman at Home and Abroad” by Maud C. Cook published in 1899.

Bicycles and horse buggies were the two mainstays of private transportation just prior to the advent of the automobile. The grading of smooth roads in the late 1800s was stimulated by the widespread advertising, production, and use of bicycles along with horse buggies.

By the turn of the century, when this book was written, cycling clubs flourished on both sides of the Atlantic, and touring and racing became widely popular.

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Cat Tales Sep 27, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read cat-themed stories written by English author and poet Edith Nesbit, published in 1899. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Nesbit wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature under the name E. Nesbit, along with being a political activist.

This particular collection of stories follows the lives of various cats and dogs and will appeal to all of our animal-loving listeners.

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Little Women ch.15 "A Telegram" Sep 24, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “A Telegram”.

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, a chapter called “Secrets” Jo secretly submits some of her stories to the local newspaper for publication. Laurie spies her and shares the secret with her until Jo sees her stories in print and joyously shares them with her family.

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Mr. Otter | The Wind in the Willows Sep 22, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

If you’d like to start with the first episode, it aired on March 22, 2021. To follow along easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the two little friends Water Rat and Mole pay a surprise visit to Mr. Badger during a snow storm. They are treated to the badgers warm hospitality, and meet other various guests that drop by, including Mr. Otter.

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The Man in the Brown Suit Sep 20, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from the 1924 detective novel “The Man in the Brown Suit” written by Agatha Christie and adapted by Snoozecast. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

We will open with a mysterious and glamorous prologue set in Paris, regarding a dancer and a count. Then we will learn about young Anne Beddingfield, who decides to live a life of freedom and adventure. She moves to London on her own and soon finds life to be more adventurous than she expected.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 15 Sep 17, 2021

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, please find and listen to all the previous episodes easily at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mr. Collins and Lizzy discuss their conflicting interests in the subject of their mutual matrimony.

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Stonehenge Sep 15, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “Stonehenge: Today and Yesterday” written by Frank Stevens and published in 1916. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. One of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom, Stonehenge is regarded as a British cultural icon. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The whole monument, now in ruins, is orientated towards the sunrise on the summer solstice.

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The Castle on the Lake Sep 13, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a Danish fairy tale called “The Green Knight” found in “The Olive Fairy Book” compiled by Andrew Lang. The story was originally found in a book written by Evald Tang Kristensen. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Working first as a schoolteacher and later solely as a collector of folklore, Tang Kristensen assembled and published a huge amount of detailed information as he visited country people throughout his native land.

His labors eventually were supported by his state government, allowing him to travel as the official folklore collector and resulted in a wealth of data. He himself recorded some 3,000 songs, 2,700 fairy tales, 2,500 jokes, 25,000 legends, numerous sayings, poems and riddles as well as tens of thousands of descriptions of traditions and everyday life.

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Peter Pan pt. 14 Sep 10, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we shall read the next chapter to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

An easy way to listen to this continuing story in order is at snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, the lost boys and Wendy find themselves captives on the pirate ship, while Peter takes off to save them with the oath “Hook or me this time.

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The Man with the Twisted Lip Conclusion | Sherlock Holmes Sep 08, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to “The Man with the Twisted Lip” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Arthur Conan Doyle. The first part of this story originally aired on July 24th, 2020, and we rebroadcast it yesterday for easy access.

In the first part, a friend of Dr. Watson's wife comes to Watson's house, concerned because her husband, who is addicted to opium, has gone missing. While Watson is helping to retrieve the husband, he is surprised to find that Sherlock Holmes is there too, in disguise and trying to get information to solve a different case about a man who has disappeared. Watson stays to listen to Holmes tell the story of the case of Neville St. Clair.

St. Clair is a prosperous, respectable, punctual man. His family's home is in the country, but he visits London every day on business. One day when Mr. St. Clair was in London, Mrs. St. Clair also went to London separately. She happened to pass down an alleyway. This is where we will pick up.

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The Man with the Twisted Lip | Sherlock Holmes [rebroadcast] Sep 07, 2021

Tonight, we’ll rebroadcast the opening to “The Man With The Twisted Lip” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The conclusion episode will air tomorrow.

This mystery deals with London opium dens of the 19th century, missing gentlemen and their worried wives.

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The Fish Prince Sep 06, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the Hindu folk tale “The Fish Prince.” It comes from “Wonder Tales from Many Lands” by Katherine Pyle, published in 1920, and is adapted by Snoozecast. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story features an ancient and still popular item of jewelry called a bangle. Bangles are circular in shape, and, unlike bracelets, are not flexible. Although people in some parts of India used to wear a thick single bangle as protection during battle, they are now worn mostly as adornment by women in many parts of the world.

The oldest bangle was recently found to be at least 50,000 years old. It was masterfully crafted out of green stone by a species of early hominid that lived side by side with both homo sapiens and Neanderthals.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 12 Sep 03, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part of our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Queen Zixi steals the magic cloak from Princess Fluff using deception and cunning. She then finds out that all of her work was for nothing- the cloak does not grant wishes to those that steal it. Zixi grows wiser through her disappointing realization. We are also introduced to a society of quarrelsome creatures called Roly-Rogues that live high on a mountaintop above the cloud line.

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Cooking with Chocolate Sep 01, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read from “Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes” by Miss Parloa, and sponsored by the Walter Baker & Co based in Massachusetts.

The Maya believed that cacao was discovered by the gods in a mountain along with other delectable foods, for their divine use. According to Maya mythology, the Plumed Serpent gave cacao to the Maya after humans were created by the divine grandmother goddess.

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Introductions | Etiquette by Emily Post Aug 30, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Etiquette in Society, In Business, In Politics and at Home” written by Emily Post and published in 1922. Post was an American writer and socialite who became the most famous authority on how to behave graciously in society and business. This particular book became wildly popular.

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Heidi pt. 15 Aug 27, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the previous episode, the good doctor says farewell to his friends on the mountain. The grandfather fixes up a ruined mansion in the village for him and Heidi (and their goats) to stay in for the winter. Heidi attends school. We will pick up at the end of Heidi’s visit to the beloved and bed-ridden Grandmother.

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Mr. Badger | The Wind in the Willows Aug 25, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

If you’d like to start with the first episode, it aired on March 22, 2021. To follow along easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

Grahame grew up on the River Thames. As secretary of the Bank of England, he told his son bedtime stories that evolved into this book after he took an early retirement.

In the last episode, the innocent Mole isn’t content with hibernating overwinter in the cozy domicile of his friend the water rat. He becomes obsessed with finding the mysterious Mr. Badger, who lives somewhere in the Wild Wood. Mole sets out to find him, and the Rat goes out to rescue him when he gets lost.

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The Boxcar Children Aug 23, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read from “The Boxcar Children” written by first grade school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924.

The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest. They eventually meet their grandfather, who is a wealthy and kind man (although the children had believed him to be cruel).

As she wrote the story, Warner read it aloud to her classes and rewrote it many times to make it easy to understand and enjoyable.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 13 Aug 20, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, our little hero Curdie had been spying on the goblins in their cave system under the mountains. He stumbled upon the royal family and was captured and kept prisoner by them.

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Stage Coach Views | Thoreau's Cape Cod Aug 18, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a selection from “Cape Cod” by Henry David Thoreau, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Thoreau was an American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher. A leading transcendentalist, he is best known for “Walden”, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay "Civil Disobedience", an argument for disobedience to an unjust state.

Thoreau travelled to Cape Cod in Massachusetts four times, which inspired this “excursion” or travel book.

If you would like to hear more Thoreau on Snoozecast, check out “The Wild” from March of 2021, along with “Walden” parts 1 and 2, which both aired in 2019.

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The Bird King and the Mermaid Aug 16, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a sleep story called “The Bird King and the Mermaid,” adapted by Snoozecast from “The Story of Tremsin, the Bird Czar, and Nastasia, the Lovely Maid of the Sea” found in “Cossack Fairy Tales”, published in 1916. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Cossacks are a group of predominantly Orthodox Christian people who speak a slavic language and originated in Eastern Europe. They played an important role in the historical and cultural development of both Ukraine and Russia.

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The Secret Garden pt. 11 Aug 13, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary interrogates old Ben Weatherstaff about gardening and in particular, the care of roses. We will pick up just after she stumbles upon Dickon, who is charming the woodland creatures with his flute.

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The Sign of the Four | Sherlock Holmes Aug 11, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the second novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, “The Sign of the Four.” It was published in 1890 and written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyal.

Sherlock referred to himself as a "consulting detective" in the stories, and is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science, and logical reasoning that borders on the fantastic.

Written from the point of view of Holmes’ friend Dr. Watson, “The Sign of the Four” has a complicated plot involving Indian colonial service, a stolen treasure, and a secret pact among four convicts.

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North and South Aug 09, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the social novel “North and South,” published in 1854 and written by Elizabeth Gaskell. The novel’s protagonist, Margaret Hale, is forced to leave her home in the tranquil, rural south, to settle with her parents in Milton, a fictional industrial town in the north. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Elizabeth Gaskell, often referred to as Mrs. Gaskell, was an English novelist, biographer and short story writer. Her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of Victorian society Her work is of interest to social historians as well as readers of literature.

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Little Women Ch. 14 "Secrets" Aug 06, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Secrets”.

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last chapter, “Castles in the Air”, Laurie joins the sisters for their secret hilltop “Busy Bee Society” meeting. They discuss what their own personal heavens would be.

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Pennsylvania Dutch Cookery Aug 04, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read from a little cookbook titled “Pennsylvania Dutch Cookery.” The publisher and author are unknown.

The Pennsylvania Dutch live primarily in Southeastern and South Central Pennsylvania. Some Pennsylvania Dutch live in the historically Pennsylvania Dutch-speaking areas of Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

The continued use of the term ""Pennsylvania Dutch"" was strengthened by the Pennsylvania Dutch themselves in the 1800s as a way of distinguishing themselves from later waves of German immigrants to the United States.

There are possibly more than 300,000 native speakers of Pennsylvania German language in the United States and Canada.

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Kashtanka the Mutt Aug 02, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an 1886 short story titled “Kashtanka” by Anton Chekhov, and adapted by Snoozecast. It is a sincere and simple story about loyalty, about a dog named Kashtanka who experiences life with two very different masters. It has been speculated that the story is a veiled biography of the author himself. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 14 Jul 30, 2021

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, please find and listen to all the previous episodes easily at snoozecast.com/series. In the last episode, the Bennet’s had differing experiences at the ball at Netherfield. For example, Jane, in love with Bingley, had a lovely time. Elizabeth, holding prejudice against both Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy, and generally embarrassed by all the other members of her family, did not have a lovely time. We will pick up with the Bennet family being the last to leave the ball at Netherfield.

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Wild Wood | The Wind in the Willows Jul 28, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

If you’d like to start with the first episode, it aired on March 22, 2021.

Grahame grew up on the River Thames. As secretary of the Bank of England, he told his son bedtime stories that evolved into this book after he took an early retirement.

In the last episode, new friends Mole and Rat have a picnic on the river bank, and take an accidental plunge in the river afterwards. Later, they pay a visit to the estate of The Toad to see what he was up to. The Toad’s newest passion was for his fancy carriage he referred to as a gypsy caravan. The Toad hoped for company to join him on the open road and tries to convince his visitors to come along.

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Rapunzel Jul 26, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the German fairy tale “Rapunzel” lightly adapted by us from “The Red Fairy Book,” and attributed to The Brothers Grimm. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Some researchers have proposed that the earliest possible inspiration for the “Maiden in the Tower” archetype is to the pre-Christian European (or proto-Indo-European) sun or dawn goddess myths, in which a “light deity” is trapped and then rescued.

If you are still awake after Rapunzel, you will find another hair-themed fairy tale titled “Ricky with the Tuft” from “The Tales of Mother Goose,” by Charles Perrault.

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Peter Pan pt. 13 Jul 23, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, for the 400th episode of Snoozecast, we shall read the next chapter to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodesof this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

An easy way to listen to this continuing story in order is at snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, the lost boys were tricked into thinking the pirates aboveground were defeated by the tribal warriors in battle. Up the boys came only to be bound and carried off to the pirate ship, along with Wendy, as hostages. Hook stayed behind, to go below ground and deal with Peter Pan himself. The pirate captain dropped poison into Peter’s bedside cup of water for him to wake up to.

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Emily Dickinson | Nature Poetry Jul 21, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read selected poems from Emily Dickinson, starting with a collection about nature. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Little-known during her life, Dickinson has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry.

Evidence suggests that Dickinson lived much of her life in isolation. Considered an eccentric by locals, she developed a penchant for white clothing and was known for her reluctance to even leave her bedroom. Dickinson never married, and most friendships between her and others depended entirely upon correspondence.

Her poems were unique for her era. They contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation. In early editions, including this one, Emily Dickinson's poems were edited by her friends, better to fit the conventions of the times. Thus some of the uniqueness is best understood by viewing her direct handwriting on the page, or by reading more recent editions.

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The Buddha's Path Jul 19, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “The Buddha’s Path of Virtue: A Translation of the Dhammapada” by F. L. Woodward. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures.

This particular translation by Woodward was published by The Theosophical Society, which was founded by Madame Helena Blavatsky. You can listen to some of her travel memoir in our episode from January 2020 titled “Madame Blavatsky Visits Bombay | From the Caves and Jungles of Hindustan."

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The Magic Cloak pt. 11 Jul 16, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the war between the kingdoms of Noland and Ix ends with the Ixian army running away in fear of Nole’s magical powers. Queen Zixi devises a new plan to steal the magic cloak. She disguises herself as a girl and asks to become a royal maid of Princess Fluff.

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A Case of Identity Conclusion | Sherlock Holmes Jul 14, 2021

Tonight, we'll read the conclusion to “A Case of Identity”, a short story from the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, written by Arthur Conan Doyle. The first part of this story originally aired on April 8th, 2020, and we rebroadcast it yesterday for easy access.

Miss Sutherland was engaged to Mr. Hosmer Angel, who disappeared on the day of their wedding, leaving her only a mysterious plea that she remain faithful to him no matter what happened. She vows to await his return, and eventually turns to a detective for assistance.

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A Case of Identity | Sherlock Holmes [rebroadcast] Jul 13, 2021

Tonight, we’re airing a re-broadcast of the opening to “A Case of Identity”, from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1892. The conclusion episode will air tomorrow.

The story revolves around the case of Miss Mary Sutherland, a woman with a substantial income from the interest on a fund set up for her. She is engaged to a quiet Londoner who has recently disappeared.

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Emily of New Moon Jul 12, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “Emily of New Moon” written by L. M. Montgomery. Similar to the author’s other series “Anne of Green Gables,” this is the first in a series of novels about an orphan girl growing up on Prince Edward Island. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Emily is a heroine with a love for the beauty in nature and art, loyalty to her friends, a thirst for knowledge, and a passionate dedication to her writing.

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Heidi pt. 14 Jul 09, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the previous episode, the doctor visits Heidi on the mountain. He brings many gifts from home, but Heidi is at first saddened that he has not brought her friend Clara for this visit. Still, the doctor has his own recovering to do, from his own personal grief. He finds solace and beauty on the alpine slopes with Grandfather, Heidi, and their friends.

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Canoe Cookery Jul 07, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read from “Canoe and Camp Cookery : A Practical Cook Book For Canoeists, Corinthian Sailors and Outers” by H.H. Soulé under the pen name Seneca, published in 1893.

Canoes were developed by cultures all over the world. Until the mid-1800s the canoe was an important means of transport for exploration and trade, and in some places is still used as such.

A canoe, in American English, is a lightweight narrow vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top.

In British English, the term "canoe" can also refer to a kayak, while canoes are then called Canadian or “open” canoes to distinguish them from kayaks.

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The Valiant Little Tailor Jul 05, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In this story, the tailor starts out having achieved a very small feat and ends up a hero.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 12 Jul 02, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part of “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

When we left off, our little hero Curdie is trying to find his way out of the Goblin’s cave system when he stumbles upon a strange sight.

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The Great Gatsby Jun 30, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “The Great Gatsby,” a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, the novel depicts narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and Gatsby's obsession to reunite with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The novel was inspired by youthful romance and riotous parties the author had recently experienced.

“The Great Gatsby” was a commercial failure that many critics thought was sub-par to Fitzgerald’s previous work. Now, it is widely considered to be a literary masterwork and a contender for the title of the Great American Novel.

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The Red House Mystery Jun 28, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “The Red House Mystery” by A. A. Milne, published in 1922. This episode is dedicated to Kerry, who first recommended the author Milne to us. It was Milne’s only mystery novel, and yet it was immensely popular. It falls into the “locked room” whodunnit category. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The setting is an English country house, where Mark Ablett has been entertaining a house party. The black sheep of his family arrives from Australia and a mystery ensues.

There is a preface to this book by the author that reads “My dear Father,

Like all really nice people, you have a weakness for detective stories, and feel that there are not enough of them. So, after all that you have done for me, the least that I can do for you is to write you one. Here it is: with more gratitude and affection than I can well put down here.

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The Secret Garden pt. 10 Jun 25, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary and Martha write a letter to Martha’s brother Dickon, asking him to obtain some gardening supplies for Mary. Mary is hiding where exactly she plans to do her gardening.

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Lancelot Saves the Queen | King Arthur Jun 23, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read another story from the King Arthur series written by Maude Radford Warren titled “How Sir Lancelot Saved the Queen

If you’d like to listen to this whole series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

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Ali Baba Jun 21, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a story called “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” from “The Arabian Nights: Their Best-known Tales” by Smith, Wiggin, and Parrish. It has become one of the most familiar of the "Arabian Nights" tales, and is where the phrase “Open, Sesame!” comes from. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This folk tale was added to the “One Thousand and One Nights” anthology in the 18th century by its French translator. This translator heard it from a Syrian storyteller who travelled to Paris.

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Little Women ch. 13 "Castles in the Air" Jun 18, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Castles in the Air”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series. In the last episode, we finished the chapter called “Camp Laurence.” The episode finished with the March sisters, along with Laurie and his British friends paddling back from their day of picnicking and games.

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Duckings and Bobbings | Birdwatching Jun 16, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read selections from “The Bird Watcher in the Shetlands” by Edmund Selous, written in 1905. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our others from this birdwatching series at snoozecast.com/series.

The author started as a conventional naturalist of his time, but Selous developed a disdain of the common practice of killing animals for scientific study. He was a pioneer of bird-watching as a method of scientific study. The author was a solitary man and was not well known in ornithological circles. He avoided both the company of ornithologists and reading their observations so as to base his conclusions entirely on his own observations. He has gifted future generations with his beautiful and intuitive writing on birds.

The island of Shetland is the northernmost part of Scotland. The archipelago has a complex geology, a rugged coastline, and many low, rolling hills. The islands have produced a variety of prose writers and poets, who have often written in the distinctive Shetland dialect of the Scots language.

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A Retrieved Reformation Jun 14, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "A Retrieved Reformation", a short story by American author O. Henry first published in 1903. This story shows how love can change anyone for the better. It describes the events which lead up to the reformation of an ex-convicted burglar. As usual, the ending of this O. Henry is worth hearing for the twist. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 13 Jun 11, 2021

Tonight, we shall read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, please find and listen to all the previous episodes easily at snoozecast.com/series.

In the previous episode, the Bennet sisters attend the much anticipated ball at Netherfield. Elizabeth makes the mistake of talking with her odious cousin Mr. Collins, and becomes obligated out of politeness to accept the first two dances with him. She had designs to dance with Wickham then, but either way Wickham does not show up at the ball. While Jane has a wonderful time with Mr. Bingley, poor Lizzy makes matters worse by dancing with Mr. Darcy, whom she has judged to be detestable. We will pick up with Lizzy and Jane chatting, during the ball.

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A Study in Scarlet | Sherlock Holmes Jun 09, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “A Study in Scarlet” an 1887 detective novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle. The story marks the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. They meet for the first time and interview each other to become roommates.

“A Study in Scarlet” was also the first work of detective fiction to incorporate the magnifying glass as an investigative tool.

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Halvor and the Trolls Jun 07, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, for our episode “Halvor and the Trolls” we’ll read a story called Soria Moria Castle from The Red Fairy Book. This episode is dedicated to our patron Heidi, who loves the Red, Blue and Green Gairy Book stories best. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Peter Pan pt. 12 Jun 04, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the next chapter to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. An easy way to listen to this continuing story in order is at snoozecast.com/series.When we left off, Wendy tells a story to the lost boys in their underground home. Her story has an ulterior motive- she wants to break the spell of Neverland and return to their parents and home. Peter refuses to go, but reluctantly arranges to help them leave, when they realize that a battle between their protecting tribe aboveground and the evil-doing pirates. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Doilied Breakfast Table Jun 02, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “The Myrtle Reed Cook Book” written by Myrtle Reed and published in 1916. Reed was an American author, poet, journalist, and philanthropist. She was a diagnosed insomniac with prescribed sleeping potions, called sleeping drafts in her day. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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King Midas and The Golden Touch May 31, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a short story called “The Golden Touch” from “A Wonder Book and Tanglewood Tales” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1910. This episode is dedicated to our patron Kathryn, who was craving something from Greek mythology, and our listener, Sue, who suggested this particular book. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 10 May 28, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz. Baum, who also wrote “The Wizard of Oz”, commented this was the best book he had written.

In the last episode, Queen Zixi disguises herself and sets up a fake Witch Training School to lure the Princess Fluff and her Magic Cloak into her trap. This plan fails, so the queen decides to bring her large army to Noland to get the cloak. Meanwhile, King Bud along with his sister and the high counselors, make a last minute plan to have a wish be granted for the Lord High Counselor that they would win the war despite being outnumbered.

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Lancelot and His Friends | King Arthur May 26, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read another story from the King Arthur series written by Maude Radford Warren titled “Sir Lancelot and His Friends.”

If you’d like to listen to this whole series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

Sir Lancelot, also known as Lancelot of the Lake, is a character in some versions of Arthurian legend, where he is typically depicted as King Arthur's close companion and one of the greatest Knights of the Round Table. In the French-inspired Arthurian tradition, Lancelot is the orphaned son of a king, raised in the fairy realm by the Lady of the Lake.

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The Picnic | The Wind in the Willows May 24, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

Grahame grew up on the River Thames. As secretary of the Bank of England, he told his son bedtime stories that evolved into this book after he took an early retirement.

In the last episode, Mole was spring cleaning his underground burrow when he was hit hard by spring fever. He ran up into the sunshine and befriended a water rat on the River Thames. The mole then not only sees a river for the first time but has his first boat ride. We will pick up at the start of their delicious picnic.

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Heidi pt. 13 May 21, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening of this series, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“Heidi” is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. “Heidi” is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

In the previous episode, Mr. Sesemann and Clara convince their friend, the doctor, to visit Heidi on the mountain in place of Clara. Clara was still too weak to go herself, and the winter was approaching. The doctor was grieving the loss of his own daughter, and they believed it would be a good tonic for his spirits to make this journey.

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The Bad Little Owls May 19, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Bad Little Owls” from the “Told at Twilight” series by John Breck. It was published in 1923. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

A group of owls is called a parliament. This term originates from C.S. Lewis’ description of a meeting of owls in “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

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A Voyage to the Moon May 17, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “A Voyage to the Moon” written by Edgar Allen Poe. It was intended by the author as a hoax when it was originally published in 1835 titled as ""The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall."" To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The story is regarded as one of the early examples of the modern science fiction genre. Jules Verne acknowledged Poe as the creator of the ""scientific novel.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 11 May 14, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s “The Princess and the Goblin” tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, Princess Irene was in conversation with her grandmother, preparing to leave for the evening. Her grandmother gives Irene the gift of a magical ring that provides a thread for her to find her way back to safety if she is ever in danger.

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A Scandal in Bohemia Conclusion | Sherlock Holmes May 12, 2021

"Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to “A Scandal in Bohemia” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1892.

In the first episode, Holmes receives a visit from a masked man, whom he deduces is actually the king of Bohemia. Once the man is unmasked, he asks for Holmes’s help retrieving a valuable set of photographs.

The King is engaged to a Scandinavian princess, but is worried that the princess’s family would disapprove of his previous relationship with an American opera singer named Irene Adler.

Ms. Adler has evidence of this relationship, namely photographs of the two of them together, and has refused to return them to the King. Holmes is the King’s last hope of retrieving the photos."

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A Scandal in Bohemia | Sherlock Holmes [rebroadcast] May 11, 2021

Tonight, we’re airing a re-broadcast of the opening to “A Scandal in Bohemia”, from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1892. The conclusion episode will air tomorrow.

"A Scandal in Bohemia" is the first short story featuring Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. The story is notable for introducing the character of Irene Adler, who is one of the most memorable female characters in the Sherlock Holmes series, despite appearing in only one story.

Doyle ranked "A Scandal in Bohemia" fifth in his list of his twelve favourite Holmes stories.

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Tess of the d'Urbervilles May 10, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “Tess of the d’Urbervilles,” a novel by Thomas Hardy, published in 1891. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Hardy's writing often explores what he called the ""ache of modernism"", and this theme is notable in Tess, which as one critic noted portrays ""the energy of traditional ways and the strength of the forces that are destroying them"".

The book, now considered a major work of it’s time, received mixed reviews when it first appeared, in part because it challenged the sexual morals of late Victorian England.

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The Secret Garden pt. 9 May 07, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary is having a fantastic time practicing with her skipping rope all over the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor, when she stumbles upon the secret garden."

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The Sugar Boiler's Assistant May 05, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read from “The Bread and Biscuit Baker’s and Sugar Boiler’s Assistant” written by Robert Wells and published in 1890.

Candy is made by dissolving sugar in water or milk to form a syrup, which is boiled until it reaches the desired concentration or starts to caramelize. The type of candy depends on the ingredients and how long the mixture is boiled. Candy comes in a wide variety of textures, from soft and chewy to hard and brittle.

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Pinocchio May 03, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by Italian writer Carlo Collodi, published in 1883. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto as a wooden puppet but he dreams of becoming a real boy. He is notably characterized for his frequent tendency to lie, which causes his nose to grow. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Pinocchio is a cultural icon. He is one of the most re-imagined characters in children's literature. His story has been adapted into many other media, notably the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio.

Collodi often used the Italian Tuscan dialect in his book. For example, the name of Pinocchio’s father, Gepetto, comes from the diminutive for Geppo, the Tuscan pronunciation of ceppo, meaning a log, stump or block.

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Little Women ch. 12 pt. 2 "Camp Laurence" Apr 30, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next part of the chapter “Camp Laurence” in the book “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868.

Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

If you would like to start at the beginning, the first episode aired on December 18th, 2019. You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the March sisters go on a picnic with Laurie and his friends visiting from England.

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Sir Geraint and Enid | King Arthur Apr 28, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read another story from the King Arthur series written by Maude Radford Warren titled “Sir Geraint and Enid.”

If you’d like to listen to the first stories in this series, you can find our episode titled “The Sword Excalibur” that aired on April 10, 2020. If you’d like to listen to the whole series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

Sir Geraint was a valiant warrior who married the beautiful Lady Enid. We will hear the tale of their marriage, which has its ups and downs, but luckily, ends on the up. Beyond their part in the Arthurian legends, Geraint and Enid are featured in a classic Welsh folk tale and their story was reworked by the poet Alfred Tennyson.

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The Ugly Duckling Apr 26, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “The Ugly Duckling” from “Favorite Fairy Tales” compiled by Logan Marshall. It is a Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, originally published in 1843. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Unlike most fairy tales, this one is completely Andersen's invention and owes no debt to humanity’s vast cultural catalog of fairy tales or folklore.

Apparently Andersen grew up awkward and tall, with a big nose and feet.

Furthermore, speculation suggests that Andersen may have been the illegitimate son of Prince Christian Frederik who later became king of Denmark. Being a swan in the story was a metaphor not just for inner beauty and talent in that case, but also for secret royal lineage.

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Peter Pan pt. 11 Apr 23, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the next chapter to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. If you’d like to start this story from the beginning, you can find the first episode aired on March 20th, 2019. An easy way to listen to this continuing story in order is at snoozecast.com/series. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

When we left off, because Peter Pan had saved Tiger Lily’s life, the native people idolize Peter, which in turn irritates the other boys. The tribe stays above the Lost Boy’s cavern home and guard it from the pirates.

Below, Peter and Wendy have a strange conversation. Wendy wants to know what Peter thinks of her. Peter answers that he feels like a devoted son. This upsets Wendy.

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The Herbal Handbook Apr 21, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “The Complete Herbal” written by Nicholas Culpeper, published in 1653. Culpeper was an English botanist, herbalist, physician and astrologer. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Culpeper catalogued hundreds of outdoor medicinal herbs. He attempted to make medical treatments more accessible to lay persons by educating them about maintaining their health. Ultimately his ambition was to reform the system of medicine by questioning traditional methods and knowledge and exploring new solutions for ill health. The systematisation of the use of herbals by Culpeper was a key development in the evolution of modern pharmaceuticals, most of which originally had herbal origins.

Culpeper's emphasis on reason rather than tradition is reflected in the introduction to his Complete Herbal. He was one of the best-known astrological botanists of his day, pairing the plants and diseases with planetary influences.

Culpeper believed medicine was a public asset, not a commercial secret, and the prices physicians charged were far too high compared with the cheap and universal availability of nature's medicine. For this, he was considered a radical, and even accused of witchcraft.

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The Forest of the Freed Apr 19, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a story from a short story collection titled “Mrs. Spring Fragrance” written by Sui Sin Far, published in 1912. The story we will read, about two children who find themselves lost in a magical forest, was originally titled “The Banishment of Ming and Mai.” To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The author Sui Sin Far was the pen name of Chinese-British-Canadian-American writer Edith Maude Eaton. The work is notable for being the earliest book of fiction published in the United States by an author of Chinese descent.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 12 Apr 16, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, please find and listen to all the previous episodes easily at snoozecast.com/series.

“Pride and Prejudice” follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, Elizabeth shares what she heard about Darcy from Wickham with her sister, Jane. Jane takes the more reasonable stance that there must be more to the story. Elizabeth is already sure Wickham is correct.

All the sisters attend a ball at Netherfield, and Wickham is not there. Elizabeth feels obliged to dance with Mr. Collins, and she has an awful time. The other sisters have a wonderful time, as dancing was a thrill for them.

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The Copper Beeches | Sherlock Holmes Apr 14, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read “The Adventure of the Copper Beeches” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1892.

In this story, a woman with long copper colored tresses named Violet is offered a strange job as a governess at a country estate called “The Copper Beeches.” She is offered a large sum of money if she will cut her hair short as well.

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A Girl of the Limberlost Apr 12, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “A Girl of the Limberlost” by Gene Stratton-Porter, published in 1909. The story takes place in Indiana, in and around the Limberlost Swamp. Even at the time of its publication, this impressive wetland region was being reduced by heavy logging, natural oil extraction and drainage for agriculture. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The author, Stratton-Porter, was considered one of the most popular woman novelists of the era.

Elnora Comstock, is an impoverished teenager who lives with her widowed mother, Katharine Comstock, on the edge of the Limberlost swamp. Elnora’s mother treats her neglectfully, and makes her to go to her first day of high school at a new school unprepared. She is wearing ugly, out-dated clothes, and doesn’t have proper books or tuition.

Luckily, Elnora is a plucky and good-hearted young woman. She also has loving neighbors who want to help her. And that is where we will start.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 9 Apr 09, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“The Magic Cloak” episode one aired on Nov 11, 2019. If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz. Baum, who also wrote “The Wizard of Oz”, commented this was the best book he had written.

In the last episode, Tillydib, the lord high purse-bearer, is wearing the cloak when he wishes the royal purse would never run out of coins. Then we are introduced to the beautiful witch Queen Zixi. Her one weakness is that her true face shows in mirrors, so she has them all hidden. When she learns about the magic cloak, she sets out to steal it, in order to never have to see how ugly she really looks.

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Cloudland Apr 07, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “Meteorology, The Science of the Atmosphere” by meteorologist Charles Fitzhugh Talman, published in 1922. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The word meteorology, stemming from the Ancient Greek, means "the study of things high in the air." Though study of meteorology dates back millennia, significant progress did not occur until the 18th century. Prior attempts at prediction of weather depended on historical data. It was not until after the elucidation of the laws of physics and more particularly, the development of the computer, allowing for the automated solution of a great many equations that model the weather, in the latter half of the 20th century that significant breakthroughs in weather forecasting were achieved.

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The Velveteen Rabbit | Redux Apr 05, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the complete story of “The Velveteen Rabbit”, a British children's book written by Margery Williams in 1922. It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit's desire to become real through the love of his owner. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Many listeners have asked us to complete this story, as when it originally aired on June 10th, 2019, we didn’t include the ending. So here it is, rerecorded. Enjoy!

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Heidi pt. 12 Apr 02, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“Heidi” is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. “Heidi” is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

In the previous episode, Heidi gets an idea to use the money she received from the Sessemann family to provide soft white bread rolls to the grandmother regularly. She also reads a story to her grandfather, also referred to as “the uncle”. The story was about repentance, forgiveness and humility and it brings the old man a change of heart.

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Baking Cakezzz Mar 31, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read about baking cakes from the “Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Volume 4”

This was the same book we have read selections for the original Breadtime episode along with the Baking Cookiezzz episode.

The Woman’s Institute was founded by Mary Brooks Picken in Scranton, PA. Born in Kansas in 1886, Picken wrote the first dictionary to be published by a woman in the English language, beyond the over one hundred other books she wrote.

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Sir Ivaine and the Lion | King Arthur Mar 29, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read another story from the King Arthur series written by Maude Radford Warren titled “Sir Ivaine.”

If you’d like to listen to the first stories in this series, you can find our episode titled “The Sword Excalibur” that aired on April 10, 2020. If you’d like to listen to the whole series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

In the last episode, we learn of Sir Ivaine, who, among Arthur's Knights of the Round Table was one who was a mixture of good and bad, as indeed most people are. He was brave, kind-hearted, and merry; but at the same time fickle, sometimes forgetful of his promises, and inclined to make light of serious things.

Sir Ivaine was overthrown by the evil Black Knight as a boy, and Ivaine sets out before the others to vanquish the foe. On his way, he befriends a lion. Sir Ivaine battles the Black Knight and wins, but in doing so finds himself wounded and confined within the castle walls of the Black Knight, separated from his lion whom is still outside the walls. He is protected at the top of a castle turret, in secret hiding, by a kind little maiden.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 10 Mar 26, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first episode aired on April 15th, 2019. If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s “The Princess and the Goblin” tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, cave creatures, which descend from commonplace animals but have turned grotesque after generations without sunlight, enjoy playing in the moonlight now that they have a way out of the cave system at night. Meanwhile, Irene knows she has an important date to meet with the mysterious old woman upstairs. Instead, a cave cat jumps in her window and frightens her into running out into the dark. She makes her way back home by following the guiding light of her great-grandmother’s beacon.

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The House of Mirth Mar 24, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The House of Mirth,” a 1905 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It tells the story of Lily Bart, a beautiful but impoverished New York City socialite. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The commercial and critical success of “The House of Mirth” solidified Wharton's reputation as a major novelist.

The central theme of “The House of Mirth” is essentially the struggle between who we are and what society tells us we should be. Thus, it is considered by many to be as relevant today as it was in 1905.

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The River Bank | The Wind in the Willows Mar 22, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. This story was suggested by our patron, Lucienne. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story centers around four small animals: Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Their stories take place in the countryside of Edwardian England.

Grahame grew up on the River Thames. As secretary of the Bank of England, he told his son bedtime stories that evolved into this book after he took an early retirement.

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The Secret Garden pt. 8 Mar 19, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first episode aired March 9th, 2020. If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary realizes she is starting to like people and wonders if she could visit Martha’s family cottage. Also, Mary finds an old-fashioned key buried in the earth.

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The Beryl Coronet | Sherlock Holmes Mar 17, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read “The Beryl Coronet” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1892.

A beryl coronet is an emerald crown.

This story begins with a prominent banker making a loan equivalent to two million US dollars today to a socially prominent client, who leaves a beryl coronet as collateral. Imagine going to the bank and asking for a two million dollar loan. As collateral, you secretly offer the banker someone else’s fancy royal crown. Do you think that would work? Well, it may have worked in tonight’s episode.

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The Dancing Maiden Charan Mar 15, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a story called "Charan, The Dancing Maiden", taken from the book “Korean Folk Tales” written by Pang Im but compiled, translated to English by James Gale and published in 1913. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Pang Im was born in 1640, the son of a provincial governor. He was a great scholar and a disciple of one of Korea's first famed writers. When he was eighty years old, he became governor of Seoul, and held other high cabinet positions as well. In 1722 he played a part in a disturbance of the government and was exiled to North Korea.

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Little Women ch. 12 "Camp Laurence" Mar 12, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter to “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Experiments”.

Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

If you would like to start at the beginning, the first episode aired on December 18th, 2019. You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, the little women learn that idleness does not necessarily lead to lasting contentment.

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The Odyssey Mar 10, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Odyssey,” in this the Samuel Butler translation, is one of two ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest works of literature still read by contemporary audiences. It follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his journey home after the Trojan War. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

After the decade of war itself, his journey lasts for an additional perilous decade. In his absence, he is assumed dead, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must contend with a group of rude suitors competing for Penelope's hand in marriage.

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The Wild Mar 08, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "The Wild", sometimes known as “Walking”, a lecture by Henry David Thoreau first delivered in 1851. It is a transcendental essay that analyzes the relationship between man and nature, trying to find a balance between society and our raw animal nature. Thoreau read the piece a total of ten times, more than any other of his lectures. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 11 Mar 05, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, please find and listen to all the previous episodes easily at snoozecast.com/series.

“Pride and Prejudice” follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, Mr. Collins accompanies the Bennet daughters to Mrs. Philips’ dinner party. Mr. Wickham is there, and Elizabeth is charmed by him, and hears his tale of woe blamed on Mr. Darcy.

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Artful Street-Smarts | Ladies' Book of Etiquette Mar 03, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from the “Ladies’ Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness,” written in 1860 by Florence Hartley. The excerpts will include “Conduct in the Street” and “Polite Deportment and Good Habits.”

The opening excerpt regarding conduct in the street refers to omnibuses. These were large horse-drawn carriages used for public transportation in the late 1800s.

Hartley was a Victorian-era writer covering topics of etiquette and needlework. She was also an advocate for women's health.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our other episode of excerpts from this title including “How to Behave at a Hotel” and “Places of Amusement.” That episode aired on June 21, 2019.

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Johnny Town-Mouse Mar 01, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a selection of mouse-featured Beatrix Potter stories, starting with “Johnny Town-Mouse” and followed with “The Tale of Two Bad Mice” and “The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse.” To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children's books featuring animals. Though Potter was typical of women of her generation in having limited opportunities for higher education, her study and watercolours of fungi led to her being widely respected in the field of mycology. In all, Potter wrote thirty books; the best known being her twenty-three children's tales.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 8 Feb 26, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. “The Magic Cloak” episode one aired on Nov 11, 2019. If you’d like to listen to this continuing story easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz. Baum, who also wrote “The Wizard of Oz”, commented this was the best book he had written.In the last episode, Tollydob, the lord high general, is wearing the cloak when he wishes he were 10 feet tall- and immediately grows to that height. The lord high executioner, Tellydeb, wishes he could reach an apple at the top of a tree and he suddenly has arms that can grow to whatever length he needs. Finally, Tallydab, the lord high steward, wishes his dog Ruffles could talk, and he now has a dog that not only talks but talks back. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Sir Gareth and Lynette | King Arthur Feb 24, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read a section from the King Arthur series written by Maude Radford Warren titled “Sir Gareth and Lynette.”

If you’d like to listen to the first stories in this series, you can find our episode titled “The Sword Excalibur” that aired on April 10, 2020. If you’d like to listen to the whole series easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

In the last episode, King Arthur decides he wants to marry Princess Guinevere and sends some of his men to ask her father, King Leodogran. This leads Leodogran to investigate King Arthur’s parentage to find out if he is truly from royal blood. Leodogran seeks the counsel of Queen Bellicent, who has a young son named Gareth. Gareth pleads with her to be allowed to join his older brothers in joining the court of King Arthur. She finally concedes, as long as he disguises himself as a lowly kitchen worker at first.

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Persuasion Feb 22, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Persuasion,” the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, along with being considered her most mature and refined writing, published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The novel was well-received at it’s debut, but its greater fame came decades later, and continues to this day.

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Heidi pt. 11 Feb 19, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“Heidi” is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. “Heidi” is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

In the previous episode, Sebastian, Mr. Sesemann’s servant, is ordered to take Heidi back to her mountain home. Heidi’s first stop as she hikes up the mountain is to Peter’s grandmother. They have a joyous reunion and then Heidi sets off higher up the mountain towards Grandfather. She is warned by Peter’s mother Brigida to be careful with Grandfather as he has been even more like an unfriendly hermit since she left.

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Watching Birds in the Greenwoods | Birdwatching Feb 17, 2021

Tonight, we’ll be reading another chapter from the book “Bird Watching” published in 1901 by Edmund Selous, titled “Watching Birds in the Greenwoods.”

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our “Blackbirds” episode, “Watching Birds from a Haystack” episode, and “Watching Seabirds”, from this series as well.

The author started as a conventional naturalist of his time, but Selous developed a hatred of the common practice at the time of killing animals for scientific study and was a pioneer of bird-watching as a method of scientific study. The author was a solitary man and was not well known in ornithological circles. He avoided both the company of ornithologists and reading their observations so as to base his conclusions entirely on his own observations.

The word “greenwood” refers to both unseasoned firewood and a forest in full leaf, as in summer.

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Thumbelina Feb 15, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a story from Hans Christian Andersen called “Little Thumbelina.” Thumbelina is about a tiny girl and her adventures with marriage-minded toads, moles, and doodlebugs. She successfully avoids their intentions before falling in love with a flower-fairy prince just her size. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Hans Christian Andersen was born in Denmark in 1805 to a shoemaker. An only child, Andersen shared a love of literature with his father, who read him fables and fairy tales. Together, they constructed panoramas and toy theatres, and took long jaunts into the countryside.

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Peter Pan pt. 10 Feb 12, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the next chapter to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

When we left off, Wendy and Peter end up on Marooner’s Rock with the tide coming in after a fight with the pirates. They are both too weak to swim to shore or fly for home. The tide is getting higher and higher on the rock. Suddenly Michael and John’s kite drifts across the rock. The kite is too small to lift them both, so Peter tells Wendy to grab on and let it carry her home, sacrificing himself.

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The Art of Breadmaking | Breadtime Feb 10, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read “A treatise on the art of making good wholesome bread of wheat, oats, rye, barley” by Friedrick Accum, published in 1821.

Accum was a German chemist, whose most important achievements included advances in the field of gas lighting, efforts to keep processed foods free from dangerous additives, and the promotion of popular chemistry.

Following an apprenticeship as an apothecary, he opened his own commercial laboratory enterprise in London.

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The Enchanted Castle Feb 08, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Enchanted Castle,” a children's fantasy novel by Edith Nesbit published in 1907. The enchanted castle of the title is an English country estate seen through the eyes of three children, Jerry, Jimmy, and Kathy. They discover it while exploring during the school holidays. The lake, groves and marble statues, with white towers and turrets in the distance, make a fairy-tale setting. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 9 Feb 05, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first episode aired on April 15th, 2019. If you’d like an easy way to listen to these continuing episodes in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s “The Princess and the Goblin” tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, Princess Irene couldn’t sleep as she had a painfully sore finger. She wandered upstairs to see if she could find her secret grandmother again. The grandmother cures her injury, and let’s here sleep with her that night.

Also, we learn more about Curdie’s love and admiration for his wonderful, strong and wise mother, Mrs. Peterson. We also learn that he has been saving to buy her a new petticoat.

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Mr. Midshipman Easy Feb 03, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Mr. Midshipman Easy,” an 1836 novel by Frederick Marryat, a retired captain in the Royal Navy. The novel is set during the Napoleonic Wars, in which Marryat himself served with distinction. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

At fourteen, the naïve Jack Easy leaves the luxury of his family estate in England and sails into a world of adventure aboard the sloop of war HMS Harpy. At first, Jack finds it hard to bear the discipline of naval life and is always getting himself into trouble. But soon he is bravely taming a band of mutinous seamen as the Harpy chases Spanish ships on the Mediterranean.

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The Snow Queen pt. 3 Feb 01, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the third part of a fairy tale called “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. The story centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and her friend, Kay. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story is one of Andersen's longest and most highly acclaimed tales. It was also the inspiration for the Disney movie “Frozen.”

In the second part, we follow little Gerda on her journey to find her friend Kay. She is bewitched and talks with flowers, and then gets caught up with a family of robbers. A raven tries to help her and leads her to a castle where he thinks he has seen her Kay.

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The Secret Garden pt. 7 Jan 29, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Secret Garden”, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first episode aired March 9th, 2020. If you’d like to listen to this story’s episodes easily in order, go to snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, Mary wanders the halls of the manor alone on a rainy day. She finds some interesting things, like old fashioned portraits of a girl that looks like her. She also finds a hidden hallway, and hears the sound of a child crying again. Mary gets caught by Mrs. Medlock and thus ended her investigations for the day.

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The Noble Bachelor | Sherlock Holmes Jan 27, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read “The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor” from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This story describes the disappearance of Hatty, an aristocrat's bride on the day of their marriage. She participates in the wedding, but disappears from the reception.

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Around the World in Eighty Days Jan 25, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Around the World in 80 Days,” a novel by Jules Verne published in 1872. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In this story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a 20-thousand pound wager ( over two million pounds now) set by his friends. It is one of Verne's most acclaimed works.

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Little Women ch. 11 "Experiments" Jan 22, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter to “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Experiments”.

Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

If you would like to start at the beginning, the first episode aired on December 18th, 2019. You can listen to the whole series in order at snoozecast.com/series.

In the last episode, we sit on a meeting of The Pickwick Club, the girls secret literary club. By the end, it turns out that Jo had Laurie hiding, and he is revealed to much consternation from the others. Soon though, he is welcomed into the group, and he provides a private mail box (or post office, as they refer to it) to exchange communication between the households.

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The Trees of Paradise Jan 20, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read The Trees of Paradise, an excerpt from “Plant Lore, Legends and Lyrics” by Richard Folkard. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Snow Queen pt. 2 Jan 18, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second part of a fairy tale called “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. The story centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and her friend, Kay. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The story is one of Andersen's longest and most highly acclaimed stories. It was also the inspiration for the Disney movie “Frozen.”

In the first part, we meet best friends, Gerda and Kay. We also learn of the wicked mirror that splinters into tiny pieces over the land. The shards sometimes land in unknowing people’s eyes or hearts, and cause them to be cold-hearted and mean-spirited. This happens to the little boy, Kay. Then he gets whisked away by the Snow Queen’s sled. Gerda goes in search of him, and meets a kindly witch.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 10 Jan 15, 2021

Tonight, we’ll read the next part of “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, please find and listen to all the previous episodes easily at snoozecast.com/series.

“Pride and Prejudice” follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, distant cousin Mr. Collins comes to the Bennet Family’s home at Longbourne to find a wife. Although he poses as a man of convictions, his supposed love interest can change in a moment.

The girls walk to the nearby town of Meryton, accompanied by Mr. Collins. There, they become enamored by a handsome stranger in uniform named Mr. Wickham. They also bump into Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley at the same time. Elizabeth notices a curious displeasure between the surprise meeting of the stranger and Mr. Bingley.

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Across Asia on a Bicycle Jan 13, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Across Asia on a Bicycle,” published in 1894 and written by Thomas Allen and William Sachtleben. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This book is made up of a series of sketches describing a bicycle journey around the world and specifically across Asia. Allen and Sachtleben set a record for the longest continuous land journey ever made around the world.

The day after they graduated college in St. Louis, Missouri, the two friends set out on their journey. Almost three years later, they rolled back into New York on their wheels, having, as they write, “put a girdle round the earth.”

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The Maiden of the Mist Jan 11, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “The Maiden of the Mist” or “Anne of Geierstein”, by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1829. It is set mainly in Switzerland, shortly after the Battle of Tewkesbury in the 1400s. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In this story, two exiles are on a secret mission to the court of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, hoping to gain his help in regaining the English crown from Edward IV. The two Englishmen get into difficulties in the Swiss mountains. They meet Countess Anne and her family, who are involved in the politics of the newly independent Swiss Confederation and plan to confront Charles with complaints about his conduct towards the Swiss nation.

This book is part of a long series called The Waverley Novels. For nearly a century, they were among the most popular and widely read novels in Europe. Because Scott did not publicly acknowledge authorship until later, the series takes its name from Waverley, the first novel of the series released.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 7 Jan 08, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our “Magic Cloak” series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“The Magic Cloak” episode one aired on Nov 11, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the previous episode again, it aired November 13th, 2020.

The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz. Baum, who also wrote “The Wizard of Oz”, commented this was the best book he had written.

In the last episode, the magic cloak accidentally lands on the royal valet Jikki’s shoulders. At the time, he is trying to carry much too many things on behalf of the demanding Aunt Rivette. He wishes he could have a half dozen servants to help him complete all of his tasks. Then, he has the new and unexpected problem of having to much help at hand!

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Peter Pan pt. 9 Jan 06, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the next chapter to “Peter Pan”, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, the children are napping on Marooner’s Rock in the Mermaid’s Lagoon, when they realize pirates are near and dive underwater. The pirates caught Tiger Lily, from the island tribe, snooping on their ship and planned to leave her on the rock to drown. Peter impersonates Hook’s voice and orders the pirates to let her go, which they fearfully obey. Hook appears afterwards and gives his men the news that the lost boys have found a mother in Wendy. They come up with a plan to kidnap her to make her their mother instead, as even pirates apparently want to be comforted and taken care of.

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The Snow Queen Jan 04, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers.Tonight, we’ll read a fairy tale called “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. The story centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and her friend, Kay. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The story is one of Andersen's longest and most highly acclaimed stories. It was also the inspiration for the Disney movie “Frozen.”

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The Fiery Maiden and the Sun Jan 01, 2021

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a folktale called “Aponibolinayen and the Sun”, from the book “Philippine Folk Tales” published in 1916, compiled by anthropologist Mabel Cook Cole. This story comes from the Ting-yen or Itneg people, who live in a mountainous region in the Philippines. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Itnegs believe in the existence of numerous supernatural powerful beings. They believe in spirits and deities, the greatest of which they believe to be Kadaklan who lives up in the sky and who created the earth, the moon, the stars, and the sun. Tonight, we’ll read about the sun in particular and how he came to be married to a special mortal woman with magical powers.

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Heidi pt. 10 Dec 30, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story “Heidi”, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. If you’d like to start from the beginning, you’ll find that the very first episode aired on March 8th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode before this one, it aired on October 28th, 2020. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“Heidi” is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. “Heidi” is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

In the previous episode, the servants at the Sesemann house are certain the house is haunted. The ghost turns out to be a sleepwalking little Heidi, tormented by her secret homesickness. When Mr. Sesemann realizes this, plans are made to allow her to go back to visit her family on the mountain.

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Treasure Island Dec 28, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “Treasure Island”, by listener suggestion, an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It is a tale of "buccaneers and buried gold." Its influence is enormous on popular perceptions of pirates, including such elements as treasure maps marked with an "X", schooners, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Baking Cookiezzz Dec 25, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the section on baking cookies from “Woman’s Institute Library of Cookery Volume 4”, written by The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences. This is the same set of cookbooks Snoozecast’s “Breadtime” episode draws from.

The Woman’s Institute was founded by Mary Brooks Picken in Scranton, PA. Born in Kansas in 1886, Picken wrote the first dictionary to be published by a woman in the English language, beyond the over one hundred other books she wrote."

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The Gift of the Magi Dec 23, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “The Gift of the Magi” a short story by O. Henry, followed by the poem “The Night Before Christmas.” To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Published in 1905, this O.Henry story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money.

“The Night Before Christmas” is formally titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and written by Clement Clarke Moore, anonymously published in 1844.

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The Chess Master, Paul Morphy Dec 21, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “The Exploits and Triumphs, In Europe, of Paul Morphy, The Chess Champion.” It was published in 1859 and written by Frederick Milnes Edge, who was Morphy’s secretary. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Paul Morphy, born in New Orleans in 1837, was considered the greatest chess player of his era. He was a child prodigy who learned playing chess simply by watching family members play. When he was only 9 years old, he was hailed as the best chess player in his city.

This book describes Morphy's trip to Europe in 1858. After his triumphs in Europe, he was considered the unofficial World Chess Champion, as official championship tournaments were only held starting in 1886, almost thirty years later.

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A Scottish Tour Dec 18, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland A.D. 1803”, a travel memoir by Dorothy Wordsworth. Her six-week, 663-mile journey through the Scottish Highlands with her brother William Wordsworth and mutual friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge has been called a masterpiece and one of the best Scottish travel writings during a century which saw hundreds of such examples. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Dorothy wrote "Recollections" for family and friends and never saw it published in her lifetime. The three travelers were important authors in the burgeoning Romanticism movement and thus the trip itinerary was in part a literary pilgrimage to the places associated with Scottish figures significant to Romanticists.

Dorothy's descriptions and judgments of the countryside and landscapes were a mixture of her own personal aesthetics and the in-fashion aesthetics of the sublime, beautiful and picturesque—in fact, Recollections is considered today a classic of picturesque travel writing. Venturing to Scotland in 1803 was not an easy trip and the thirty-year-old Dorothy would experience much of the rougher nature of Scottish life: a depopulated rural land due to industrialization and emigration, along with rough roads, coarse lodgings and sometimes meager food.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 8 Dec 16, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “The Princess and the Goblin”, a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes of this series, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first episode aired on April 15th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the previous episode, part four aired November 6th, 2020.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s “The Princess and the Goblin” tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, Princess Irene found her way back to her mysterious great-great-great-great-grandmother, after she couldn’t sleep due to an injury from pricking her finger earlier in the day.

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A Christmas Tree Dec 14, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a short story by Charles Dickens called “A Christmas Tree”, from 1850. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It was only ten years earlier, in 1840, that Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, introduced the German concept of a Christmas tree to England. Before then, nobody in England had placed a Christmas tree in their home.

Just as Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” isn’t actually a song, “A Christmas Tree” is barely a story and the tree is merely a launching off point for a series of dreamy impressions from the author’s mind.

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The Secret Garden pt. 6 Dec 11, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to "The Secret Garden", a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, Mary spends a lot of time outdoors wandering around the gardens and moor. It begins to help her grow healthier and heartier. The maid Martha tells Mary the forbidden story of how Master Craven’s garden became “secret.” Mary also insists to Martha that she hears a child crying somewhere in the manor. Martha insists it’s just the roar of the wind playing tricks on her ears.

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Lewis & Clark Dec 09, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from "The Journals of Lewis and Clark". The Lewis and Clark Expedition, from 1803 to 1806, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country. The Corps of Discovery was a select group of Army and civilian volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend Lieutenant William Clark. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 to explore and to map the newly acquired territory, to find a practical route across the western half of the continent, and to establish an American presence in this territory before other powers tried to claim it. The campaign's secondary objectives were scientific and economic: to study the area's plants, animal life, geography and to establish trading. The expedition returned to Jefferson, with maps, sketches, and journals in hand.

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The Opal Dec 07, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “The Opal”, a fairy tale about how the gemstone was formed. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Depending on the conditions in which it formed, precious opal may be iridescent with white, black, or nearly any color of the visual spectrum as a background color. Black opal is considered to be the rarest, whereas white, gray, and green are the most common.

Opal was rare and very valuable in antiquity. In Europe, it was a gem prized by royalty. Until the opening of vast deposits in Australia in the 19th century the only known source was beyond the Roman frontier in Slovakia.

Following the publication of Sir Walter Scott's Anne of Geierstein in 1829, opal acquired a less auspicious reputation. Due to the popularity of Scott's novel, people began to associate opals with bad luck.

Opal was also said to grant invisibility- if wrapped in a fresh bay leaf and held in the hand- and thus it was considered the gemstone of thieves.

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Princess Guinevere | King Arthur Dec 04, 2020

Tonight, for the 300th episode of Snoozecast, we’ll read a story about Princess Guinevere from our King Arthur’s series.

If you’d like to listen to the first stories in this series, you can find our episode titled “The Sword Excalibur” that aired on April 10, 2020. If you’d like to listen to the previous episode, it aired on September 14, 2020.

King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

Guinevere is the wife and queen of King Arthur in the Arthurian legend. Early versions of these stories starting in the twelfth century had only a brief mention of her. As time went on, her character has been fleshed out depending on the author’s desires. Guinevere has been portrayed as everything from a villainous and opportunistic traitor to a fatally flawed but noble and virtuous lady.

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On Soup Dec 02, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from "The Feasts of Autolycus", including “On Soup” and “The Incomparable Onion”, published in 1900 and edited by Elizabeth Robins Pennell. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Pennell was an American travel writer, columnist, biographer and memoirist. Her biographies included the first in almost a century of the proto-feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, and also one of her uncle the folklorist Charles Godfrey Leland.

Coincidentally, Charles Godfrey Leland compiled the book “Algonquin Legends” that the recent Snoozecast episode “Badger the Mischief Maker” was based on.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 9 Nov 30, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Pride and Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, episode one aired on August 28th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode, it aired on October 19th, 2020.

Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, the Bennet's learn that they are to be paid a visit by a distant cousin, Mr. Collins, who also will inherit their estate when Mr. Bennet passes. We will pick up in the middle of his visit to the family.

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Little Women ch. 10 "The P.C. and the P.O." Nov 27, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter to “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “The PC and the PO”.

Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

In the previous chapter, Meg allows herself to be made over as a wealthy belle of the ball by the Moffat family she is staying with. She has an emotional roller coaster at the actual ball- pride, embarrassment and finally tipsy revelry. She hears more talk about her and her family that she doesn’t appreciate. Meg feels glad to be home, and gets heartwarming advice from her mother. Marmee tells her that it is more important to be a good person, and to be happy, than to be too focused on marrying into wealth lest one be miserable.

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The Crystal Egg Nov 25, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a short story by H.G. Wells in 1897 titled “The Crystal Egg”. The story tells of a shop owner, named Mr. Cave, who finds a strange crystal egg that serves as a window into the planet Mars. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This is the fifth time H.G. Wells has been featured on Snoozecast. If you enjoy this story, be sure to look for “The Time Machine”, The Island of Dr. Moreau, “The Wonderful Visit”, and “The Invisible Man.

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An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving pt. 2 Nov 23, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second and final part to “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving”, a short story written by Louisa May Alcott. Please find the first part that aired on November 16th, 2020. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

“An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” is a simple story set in the early 1800s, featuring a country family in New Hampshire. It’s full of idyllic and peaceful descriptions from an earlier time.

In part one, the Bassett parents rush off when they hear that the grandmother was very ill, just as a snowstorm was starting. This left all the children to manage the farmhouse on their own. Luckily, they are a resourceful and industrious group.

We’ll pick up with oldest sister Tilly and Prue in the kitchen, as they are starting their first attempt at a Thanksgiving feast on their own.

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The Influence of the Stars Nov 20, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to ""The Influence of the Stars"" published in 1904. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"The Influence of the Stars" was written by Rosa Baughan, the eldest daughter of an eminent London newspaper man. She soon established a reputation of her own - as one of the most intriguing spiritualists in Victorian Britain. In her short life, she published more than twenty titles devoted to graphology, divination and astrology.

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Washington Square Nov 18, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Washington Square”, written by Henry James and published in 1880. The novel recounts the conflict between a dull but sweet daughter and her brilliant, unemotional father. The plot of the novel is based upon a true story told to James by his close friend, a British actress. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The book is often compared with Jane Austen's work (who of course, wrote “Pride and Prejudice”) for the clarity and grace of its prose and its intense focus on family relationships.

This is the second time Henry James is featured on Snoozecast. You can find “The Turn of the Screw” back in October 2019.

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An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Nov 16, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving”, written by Louisa May Alcott after she wrote The Little Women trilogy. It’s a simple story set in the early 1800s, featuring a country family in New Hampshire. It’s full of idyllic and peaceful descriptions from an earlier time. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Alcott was an American writer, raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents. She grew up among many of the well-known intellectuals of the day, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 6 Nov 13, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our Magic Cloak series, from the book “Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak”, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz. Baum, who also wrote “The Wizard of Oz”, commented this was the best book he had written.

In the last episode, while Bud and Fluff glory in their new positions of authority and their possessions, Aunt Rivette wants to show off her good fortune. She asks Fluff if she can wear her cloak, and she becomes so tired walking that she wishes she could fly. Two wings sprout from Aunt Rivette's back, and she flies up in a confused panic.

We will pick up after Fluff convinces Bud that he can’t just play with his toys all day, even if he is the supreme ruler of the land. He must do all the disagreeable things a king is supposed to do, like attending the royal receptions he is invited to.

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Peter Pan pt. 8 Nov 11, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the next chapter to "Peter Pan", the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. If you’d like to start this story from the beginning, you can find the first part aired on March 20th, 2019. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, we learn about the underground abode of the lost boys. Tinkerbell has her own little cubby hole of a fancy bedroom. Wendy ends up doing all the boys housework and cooking. Wendy also tries to help her brothers along with other boys remember their parents, by giving them quizzes on the subject.

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The Devoted Friend Nov 09, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the story The Devoted Friend, written by Oscar Wilde, published in 1910. Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays and his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening of this series, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In this fable, told by a linnet, or songbird in the finch family, to teach a water rat some life skills, Hans is an innocent gardener and the devoted friend of a wealthy but manipulative Miller. In this story, Wilde pokes fun at a society where charity is less about love and more about ensuring that the wealthy benefit.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 7 Nov 06, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to "The Princess and the Goblin", a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s "The Princess and the Goblin" tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, Curdie, our little hero who works as a miner within the caves of the mountain, realizes part of the Goblin’s devious plans: that they may flood the mines and destroy them with any miners in them. Curdie went home to his father’s house and have some sleep. Meanwhile, we will pick back up at the introduction of Princess Irene’s father, the King Papa."

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The Speckled Band | Sherlock Holmes Nov 04, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the story "The Adventure of The Speckled Band" from "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", published in 1891 and written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The story tells of Helen Stoner, a soon-to-be married young woman who suspects her stepfather may be trying to kill her in order to retain control of her inheritance. Convinced of her stepfather's intentions, she turns to Holmes for help.

"The Speckled Band" is a classic locked room mystery that deals with the themes of parental greed, inheritance and freedom. Tinged with Gothic elements, it is considered by many to be one of Doyle's finest works, with the author himself calling it his best story.

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The Jumping Frog Nov 02, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the 1865 Mark Twain short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. It was Twain’s first great success as a writer and brought him national attention. In it, the narrator retells a story he heard from a bartender, Simon Wheeler in California, about the gambler named Jim Smiley. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Jim Smiley is described as betting on just about anything, for example, on the travels of a “straddle bug”. If you’re wondering what a straddle bug is, just picture a large, commonplace beetle.

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Night Spell Oct 30, 2020

Tonight, for the last episode of our second annual October classic horror series, we’ll read a Snoozecast original called “Night Spell.”

It’s Halloween Night and all the nocturnal animals of the forest will be attending a very important function. Where are they off to this evening?

Besides a cameo from Maggie in this story, you may also notice poet Robert Frost, for a spell.

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Heidi pt. 9 Oct 28, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story "Heidi", published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. If you’d like to start from the beginning, you’ll find that the very first episode aired on March 8th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode before this one, it aired on September 28th, 2020. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"Heidi" is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. "Heidi" is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

In the previous episode, Clara Sessemann’s grandmama comes to visit. The grandmama takes a liking to Heidi and inspires her to start reading. Heidi has trouble reading at first, and is still homesick, but by the end of the episode is able to find some solace in stories that remind her of her mountain home.

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Herbs for Incantations Oct 26, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "Herbs for Incantations", an excerpt from "The Folk-lore of Plants" by T. F. Thiselton-Dyer, published in 1889. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Reverend Thiselton-Dyer was a British curate and vicar, along with a writer of popular non-fiction books such as this one along with “Strange Pages from Family Papers”, which was considered a masterpiece of popular historical writing.

He was particularly admired for his ability to couple in-depth research with the suspense and excitement normally associated with the nascent art of detective fiction.

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Dracula Oct 23, 2020

Tonight, during our second annual October classic horror series, we’ll read the opening to "Dracula", an 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.

"Dracula" introduced the character of Count Dracula and established many conventions of subsequent vampire fantasy. The novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England so that he may find new blood and spread the undead curse.

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The Secret Garden pt. 5 Oct 21, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to The Secret Garden, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, Martha the maid encourages Mary to explore the grounds and gardens of Misselthwaite Manor. Martha also lets Mary know there is a locked, walled garden that had belonged to Mr. Craven’s deceased wife. Mary finds a wall so covered in ivy that it doesn't seem to have a door at all. As she is searching, she meets the crusty old gardener Ben Weatherstaff, and his friend, a sweet little songbird of the Robin variety.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 8 Oct 19, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, episode one aired on August 28th, 2019.

If you’d like to listen to the last episode, it aired on September 11th, 2020. Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, Mrs. Bennet, the matriarch of the family, schemes to marry her daughter Jane to Bingley but it ends up making the daughters look bad when they overstay their welcome. Darcy is prejudiced against Jane and her family’s lowly social connections. Though Mrs. Bennet is disappointed that Jane and Elizabeth didn't stay longer, Mr. Bennet is glad to have them back. He had missed their conversation amid younger sister’s Kitty and Lydia's infatuation with anything related to the regiment.

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The Werewolf Prince Oct 16, 2020

Tonight, for our second annual October classic horror series, we’ll read a Swedish fairytale called The Werewolf.

Until the 20th century, wolf attacks on humans were an occasional, but still widespread feature of life in Europe. Some scholars have suggested that it was inevitable that wolves, being the most feared predators in Europe, were projected into the folklore of evil shapeshifters. Areas devoid of wolves typically use different kinds of predator to fill the niche; werehyenas in Africa, weretigers in India, as well as werepumas, and werejaguars in southern South America.

Werewolvery was a common accusation in witch trials throughout their history. A peak of attention to lycanthropy, or the clinical diagnosis of werewolvery, came in the late 16th to early 17th century, as part of the European witch-hunts.

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Little Women ch. 9 pt. 2 "Vanity Fair" Oct 14, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the second part to the ninth chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Meg Goes to Vanity Fair”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

In the previous chapter, Meg stays with the wealthy Moffat family to celebrate Belle Moffat’s coming-out party as she was turning sixteen. The March family, however, is too poor for this sort of party. Meg and her family collect all of their nicest clothing for her, but when Meg gets to the Moffat’s, it soon becomes clear that her nicest clothing is nowhere near nice enough.

The Moffat’s are kind to Meg but are clearly dismayed by the difference. Meg also is shocked and dismayed to learn that the Moffat’s think Meg’s mother is scheming to marry Meg to her younger neighbor Laurie, in order to marry her into Laurie’s wealth.

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The Betrothed of Destiny Oct 12, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an Armenian folktale titled “The Betrothed of Destiny”. It comes from A.G. Sekelmann’s 1898 “The Golden Maiden and other Armenian folktales. This particular story features a fearless, strong heroine. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Ghost Ship Oct 09, 2020

Tonight, during our second annual October classic horror series, we'll read "The Ghost Ship", written by Richard Middleton published posthumously in 1912.

Middleton was a tragic figure - a young man impatient for success, who managed to live the archetypal life of the Romantic Bohemian poet, complete with poverty and unrequited love for an impossible woman. None of his novels were published while he was alive. Soon after his death, he was quote unquote discovered and critically acclaimed for the brilliance of his work and the brevity of his life.

If you enjoy this story, be sure to check out Snoozecast's other Middleton episode to date, titled "The Magic Carpet."

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An Autumn Dinner Oct 07, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read excerpts from "The Feasts of Autolycus" , including "An Autumn Dinner" and "The Magnificent Mushroom", published in 1900 and edited by Elizabeth Robins Pennell. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Pennell was an American travel writer, columnist, biographer and memoirist. Her biographies included the first in almost a century of the proto-feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, and also one of her uncle the folklorist Charles Godfrey Leland.

Coincidentally, Charles Godfrey Leland compiled the book "Algonquin Legends" that the recent Snoozecast episode "Badger the Mischief Maker" was based on.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 5 Oct 05, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to our Magic Cloak series, from the book "Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak", a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. "The Magic Cloak" part 1 aired on Nov 11, 2019. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz. Baum, who also wrote the Wizard of Oz, commented this was the best book he had written. This episode will start at the opening of Chapter Seven.

In the last episode, King Bud and Princess Fluff preside over the royal court and have their first try at official decision-making. At the end of session, their miserable Aunt Rivette bursts in and demands to be given better accommodations and money to spend since she is family.

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Oct 02, 2020

Tonight, during our second annual October classic horror series, we’ll read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", a gothic story by American author Washington Irving. Written while Irving was living abroad in Birmingham, England, it is among the earliest examples of American fiction with enduring popularity, especially during Halloween.

The Headless Horseman was believed to be a Hessian soldier who was decapitated by a cannonball in battle. Hessians was what the American’s called German soldiers who fought for the British during the Revolutionary War.

If you enjoy this story, be sure to check out Snoozecast’s earlier episodes of Rip Van Winkle part one and part two, also written by Irving.

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Peter Pan pt. 7 Sep 30, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the next chapter to "Peter Pan", the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. If you’d like to start this story from the beginning, you can find the first part aired on March 20th, 2019. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, Peter Pan flies in right after Tootles has shot Wendy. Peter is about to kill Tootles for the act but finds out that Wendy has in fact not died. The acorn button that was the “kiss” that Peter had given her saves the arrow from hitting Wendy. Peter declares that Tinkerbell is banished for a week from the dastardly deed. The boys build a small house around Wendy. Wendy plays the motherly role of telling the boys a bedtime story before they all fall asleep.

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Heidi pt. 8 Sep 28, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next part to the classic children’s story "Heidi", published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. If you’d like to start from the beginning, you’ll find that the very first episode aired on March 8th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode before this one, it aired on August 24th, 2020. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"Heidi" is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. "Heidi" is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature. We will pick up at the start of chapter 10.

In the previous episode, Heidi causes lots of cute chaos since she isn’t familiar with the formal life in the city. Miss Rottenmeier the head housekeeper is at odds with Heidi but Heidi always ends up overcoming the adversity due to her sweet nature. Mr. Sesseman, Clara’s father, comes home and Miss Rottenmeier tries her best to turn him against Heidi. Luckily, Mr. Sesseman uses his own perspective on Heidi along with Clara’s enthusiastic embrace of her to let her stay.

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The Mariposa Barbershop Sep 25, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from the 1912 book "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town", from a chapter called “The Speculations of Jefferson Thorpe”. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

However, if you would like to find the first episode in this series, it aired on August 23, 2019. This humorous and affectionate account of small-town life in the fictional town of Mariposa is inspired by the author’s experience living in Ontario, Canada.

The book illustrates the inner workings of life in Mariposa—from business to politics to steamboat disasters. In this vignette, we learn about the town’s barbershop, and the leisurely art of the afternoon shave.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 6 Sep 23, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read part 6 to "The Princess and the Goblin", a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first episode aired on April 15th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the previous episode, part four aired August 19th, 2020. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s "The Princess and the Goblin" tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, Curdie, our little hero who works as a miner within the caves of the mountain, secretly follows a family of goblins to see what they are up to. As he rounds a corner, he stumbles upon what may be the headquarters of the Goblin kingdom.

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Badger the Mischief Maker | Algonquin Legends Sep 21, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the story of the mischievous animals of Algonquin Legends, particularly the badger, the weasel fairies, the moose and the marten. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story is based on one found in the book “Algonquin Legends of New England”, published in 1884 and compiled by Charles Godfrey Leland. The Algonquians are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups. Today, thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples.

Their legends involve characters who are simultaneously human and at the same time represented by an animal or a magical being, or sometimes both, as is the case of the weasel fairy sisters.

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The Exhilaration of the Road Sep 18, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a short work by John Burroughs called "The Exhilaration of the Road". It is taken from a compilation titled "The Footpath Way", an anthology for walkers published in 1911. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

John Burroughs was an American nature essayist, active in the U.S. conservation movement. Burroughs accompanied many personalities of the time in his later years, including Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford (who gave him an automobile), and Thomas Edison. According to Ford, "John Burroughs, Edison, and I made several vagabond trips together. We went in motor caravans and slept under canvas.”

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The Secret Garden pt. 4 Sep 16, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the fourth part to "The Secret Garden", a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, little Mary and the maid Martha get acquainted.

They are both surprised by the other. Mary is shocked by Martha’s thick Yorkshire dialect and casual, direct manner. Martha is shocked that Mary is helpless to dress herself and is wasteful of eating good food, when her own numerous siblings may go hungry. Where we pick up, Martha has encouraged Mary to walk around outside.

-- read by 'V'

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Arthur's Court | Tales of King Arthur Sep 14, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read more stories from "King Arthur and His Knights". If you’d like to listen to the first stories in this series, you can find our episode titled “The Sword Excalibur” that aired on April 10, 2020.

If you’d like to listen to the most recent previous episode again, “The Great Feast” aired August 3rd, 2020. King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and modern historians generally agree that he is unhistorical. The Knights of the Round Table are the knightly members of the legendary fellowship of the King Arthur in literature.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 7 Sep 11, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to "Pride and Prejudice", written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, episode one aired on August 28th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode, it aired on July 27th, 2020.

"Pride and Prejudice" follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, Jane Bennet continues to recover from her illness slowly; and in the evening Elizabeth joined the drawing-room party. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, was watching the progress of his letter and repeatedly calling off his attention by messages to his sister.

Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and Miss Bingley. Miss Bingley gets jealous with Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy is relieved that Elizabeth is so beneath him that he can’t be tempted into a relationship with her.

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The Twelve Dancing Princesses Sep 09, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a fairy tale by listener request called "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This tale is best known as part of the German Brothers Grimm collection, but there are variants of it from around the world including the folk tales of Russia, Iceland, India, Armenia, France, Turkey and Portugal.

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Little Women ch. 9 pt. 1 "Vanity Fair" Sep 07, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the first part of the ninth chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Meg Goes to Vanity Fair”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

In the previous chapter, "Jo Meets Apollyon" (Napolean), Jo comes to terms with her fiery temper when little sister Amy falls through thin ice due to Jo’s negligence.

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The Blue Carbuncle | Sherlock Holmes Sep 04, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the story "The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle" from "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", published in 1891.

The dermatological term “Carbuncle” refers to a painful cluster of boils on the skin. In this case, however, The Blue Carbuncle is a missing and near-priceless gemstone.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 4 Sep 02, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the fourth part to our "The Magic Cloak" series, from the book "Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak", a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. The Magic Cloak episode one aired on Nov 11, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the previous episode again, Part 3 aired July 15th, 2020. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz. Baum, who also wrote the Wizard of Oz, commented this was the best book he had written. This episode will start at the opening of Chapter Four.

In the last episode, orphaned siblings Timothy (who everyone calls "Bud"), the orphaned son of a ferryman who, with his sister Meg (nicknamed "Fluff"), enter town with their stern Aunt Rivette. Timothy is declared the new king of Noland. His sister becomes Princess Fluff, and they take residence in the royal palace.

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The Good Anna Aug 31, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "The Good Anna", a short story written by Gertrude Stein as part of her first published book, titled “Three Lives” published in 1909. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Stein was an American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector. Born in the United States, she moved to Paris as an adult and stayed there the rest of her life. She hosted a Paris salon, where the leading figures of modernism in literature and art, such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Henri Matisse would meet.

Two quotes from Stein’s works have become widely known: "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose," and "there is no there there ”The Good Anna is set in the fictional city of Bridgepoint, which is modeled after Baltimore, MD where Stein lived at one time.‍

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Watching Seabirds | Birdwatching Aug 28, 2020

Tonight, we’ll be reading another chapter from the book "Bird Watching" published in 1901 by Edmund Selous, titled "Watching Gulls and Skuas".If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our "Blackbirds" episode and the "Watching Birds from a Haystack" episode from this series as well.

The author started as a conventional naturalist of his time, but Selous developed a hatred of the common practice at the time of killing animals for scientific study and was a pioneer of bird-watching as a method of scientific study. The author was a solitary man and was not well known in ornithological circles.

He avoided both the company of ornithologists and reading their observations so as to base his conclusions entirely on his own observations.

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Peter Pan pt. 6 Aug 26, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the sixth chapter to "Peter Pan", the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. If you’d like to start this story from the beginning, you can find the first part aired on March 20th, 2019. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last episode, the pirates have figured out the lost boys underground hiding spot and wait to plot their attack. Tinkerbell is a vengeful, jealous little fairy and not only attacks the flying Wendy with an assault of mid-air pinches, but tricks the boys on the ground to shoot poor Wendy with an arrow.

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Heidi pt. 7 Aug 24, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read part 7 of the classic children’s story "Heidi", published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. If you’d like to start from the beginning, you’ll find that the very first episode aired on March 8th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode before this one, it aired on July 13th, 2020. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Heidi is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. Heidi is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

We will pick up at the start of chapter 8. In the last episode, Heidi has only been living in Frankfurt at the grand Sesemann house for a day but she is already missing her mountain home with her grandfather. She mistakes the sounds of the street coaches for the wind racing through fir trees and runs outside. The stern Miss Rottenmeier has been trying to figure out a way to send Heidi back where she came from.

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Snow Man Aug 21, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a short story by O. Henry titled “Snow Man” published posthumously in 1917. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

William Sydney Porter, pen name O. Henry, is known for his stories with surprise twist endings. This particular story had to be left unfinished by the author as he was dying, so he asked a friend and fellow writer to finish the it for him.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 5 Aug 19, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read part 5 to "The Princess and the Goblin", a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s The Princess and the Goblin tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, Curdie stayed late to mine in the mountain on his own. In the past he would sometimes hear possible Goblin noises, but on this night he heard an actual conversation between a Goblin family, through a thin wall of rock.

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Maggie's Start Date Aug 17, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original titled “Maggie’s Start Date.” Maggie is the Green family’s loyal dog, however she may have ambitions beyond being household pet... To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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History of Bread Aug 14, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read about the history of bread-making in Europe and America, from “The History of Bread”, written by John Ashton and published in 1905.

The text mentions visigoths, which were an early Germanic people, and part of the larger political entity of the Goths within the Roman Empire.

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Doctor Dolittle pt. 4 Aug 12, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll be reading the fourth part to "Doctor Dolittle", written in 1920 by British author Hugh Lofting. The full title being, “The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts”. It is the first of Lofting’s "Doctor Dolittle" books, a series of children's novels about a man who learns to talk to animals and becomes their champion around the world. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Hugh Lofting started writing the Dolittle stories as imaginative letters to his children from the battlefield trenches of World War I.If you’d like to start with episode 1, it aired on December 2nd, 2019. Episode 3 aired on May 27th, 2020.

Previously, the good doctor had to deal with all the monkeys. He vaccinated the healthy ones and created a hospital for the sick ones.

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Prince Darling Aug 10, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "Prince Darling", a french fairy-tale credited to Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The author is also known for the best known version of "Beauty and the Beast". She was one of the first to include folk tales as moralist and educational tools in her writings. Her third husband was the French spy Thomas Pichon.

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The Magic Carpet Aug 07, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read short stories including "The Magic Carpet" from the compilation called "The Day Before Yesterday" by Richard Middleton, published posthumously in 1912. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Middleton was a tragic figure- a young man impatient for success, who managed to live the archetypal life of the Romantic Bohemian poet, complete with poverty, unrequited love for an impossible woman, and an early, tragic death.

No novels were published while he was alive. Soon after his death, he was quote unquote discovered and critically acclaimed for the brilliance of his work and the brevity of his life.Four volumes of his collected works were published, including this one...

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The Secret Garden pt. 3 Aug 05, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the third part to "The Secret Garden",a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The most recent episode, part 2, aired April 29th, 2020. In the last episode, Mary and Mrs. Medlock take the train to Misselthwaite Manor. Mary sees the moor for the first time. It reminds her of the sea because of the sound of wind rushing across it. In the manor, she only meets her uncle Mr. Craven’s servants because Mr. Craven doesn’t care to see her.

She meets a young maid named Martha when she wakes up. Martha speaks in a Yorkshire dialect Mary has trouble understanding.This is where we will pick back up.

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The Great Feast | Tales of King Arthur Aug 03, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read more stories from "King Arthur and His Knights", published in 1903 by Maude L. Radford. If you’d like to listen to the first stories in this series, you can find our episode titled “The Sword Excalibur” that aired on April 10, 2020. King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and modern historians generally agree that he is unhistorical. The Knights of the Round Table are the knightly members of the legendary fellowship of the King Arthurin literature.

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Tears of Gold pt. 2 Jul 31, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second part to the story "Tears of Gold", known as "The Blessing of the Mendicant", from from Folk-Tales of the Khasis compiled by Mrs. Rafy in 1920. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Khasi people are an indigenous ethnic tribe from India. A unique feature of the Khasi people is that they follow the matrilineal system of descent and inheritance.In part 1, a boy named U Babam Doh grows up not knowing that the father he had never known had was eaten by the dragon U Yak Jakor.

The boy was bestowed the ability to cry tears of gold nuggets, because the boy’s mother had eaten some magical rabbit stew. The rabbit was a gift from a wise beggar. U Babam Doh grows up with another boy that is the heir apparent to rule his chiefdom. The prince grows jealous of U Babam Doh’s uncanny luck at winning, and charges him with witchcraft.

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Tears of Gold Jul 29, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a story from Folk-Tales of the Khasis called "The Blessing of the Mendicant" (or Beggar), compiled by Mrs. Rafy in 1920. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Khasi people are an indigenous ethnic tribe from India. A unique feature of the Khasi people is that they follow the matrilineal system of descent and inheritance. A mendicant is a person who relies on alms to survive. This person is often a monk or otherwise part of a religious order.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 6 Jul 27, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen. If you’d like to listen from the beginning, episode one aired on August 28th, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode, it aired on June 15th, 2020.

Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness. In the previous episode, Mrs. Bennet arrives with two more of her daughters, Lydia and Catherine, to visit Jane and Elizabeth at Netherfield.

Mrs. Bennet makes a general fool of herself, trying too hard to convince Bingley to remain there, and boasting about Jane’s beauty. Fifteen year old Lydia Bennet boldly asks Bingley whether he will hold a ball at Netherfield.

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The Man with the Twisted Lip | Sherlock Holmes Jul 24, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the story "The Man With The Twisted Lip from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", published in 1891. This mystery deals with London opium dens, missing gentleman and their worried wives.

[Editor's note: This episode contains themes that may not be suitable for some listeners].

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Little Women ch. 8 "Jo Meets Apollyon" Jul 22, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the eighth chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Jo Meets Apollyon”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

If you would like a refresher from the last chapter, it aired on June 3rd, 2020. In the previous chapter, Amy’s Valley of Humiliation, Amy borrows money in order to obtain trendy pickled limes, and gets in trouble for it with the teacher. Her harsh punishment leads to her mother, Marmee, allowing her to take a break from going to school, although Marmee also warns Amy about her conceited nature.

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Peter Pan pt. 5 Jul 20, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the fifth chapter to Peter Pan, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. If you’d like to start this story from the beginning, you can find the first part aired on March 20th, 2019. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In chapter 4, Peter Pan, Wendy, John, Michael, and Tinker Bell fly toward Neverland for many days. They approach Neverland as the sun is setting. The island looks ominous at dusk. Pirates fire at them as they approach, and Tinker Bell thinks of a jealous plan to rid herself of Wendy.

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Count Rumford's Substitute for Tea & Coffee Jul 17, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from 1892’s The Chemistry of Cookery by W. Mattieu Williams titled Count Rumford’s Substitute for Tea and Coffee. Who is this Count Rumford, you may ask? Well, to summarize Count Rumford’s life in modern words: Benjamin Thompson was an interesting fellow. Born in Massachusetts in 1753, he charmed and married an heiress from Concord, New Hampshire, then called Rumford NH. He was a British loyalist when the American Revolutionary War began. When a rebel mob attacked his house, he abandoned his house and family to join the British side of the war and conducted experiments on gunpowder. Then he moved to Bavaria, and among other things applied his scientific skills to establishing workhouses for the poor and inventing the method of cooking called Sous Vide. For his efforts in science and society his awarded the title of Count. He chose the name Rumford for the town he was married in some twenty years earlier. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 3 Jul 15, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the third part to our The Magic Cloak series, from the book Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak, a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Magic Cloak episode one aired on Nov 11, 2019. If you’d like to listen to the last episode again, Part 2 aired March 30th, 2020. The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz.

Baum, who also wrote the Wizard of Oz, commented this was the best book he had written. This episode will start at the opening of Chapter Four. In the last episode, the kingdom of Noland’s high counselors are trying to decide how to choose a successor to the dead king. It turns out that there is an obscure law that the forty-seventh person to pass through the gates would be declared ruler. Meanwhile, orphaned children Meg, AKA Fluff, and Timothy, AKA Bud, along with their stern Aunt Rivette, are headed for town when Meg is gifted a magic cloak by a fairy. The magic cloak brings her a magical happiness.

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Heidi pt. 6 Jul 13, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read pt. 6 from Johanna Spyri's "Heidi" first published in 1881. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The White Cat pt. 2 Jul 10, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second part to the fairy tale called "The White Cat", credited to Madame d’Aulnoy. In part 1, the old king devises to distract his sons from taking over the throne with a sort of fool’s errand to find him the perfect beautiful lap dog. Whoever won would also take over the kingdom. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The youngest son stumbles upon a magical castle with a lovely talking cat, known as the White Cat. She gives him an acorn that she says carries the tiniest, most perfect dog, to bring to his father.

As an aside, the story mentions that the prince brings with him a “turnspit dog”. This was a lowly breed of dog that is now extinct. It was kept in kitchens and ran on a wheel to turn the spit, or rotisserie that meat cooked on. The turnspit may have been an ancestor to either a modern Corgi, or the Glen terrier.

In order not to overexert a dog with this hot and unpleasant work they were often kept in pairs, so that they could be worked in shifts. It is believed that this is the origin of the proverb 'every dog has his day.’The Turnspit dog was also used as foot warmers at church, and it is said that Queen Victoria kept retired turspits as pets.

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The White Cat Jul 08, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a fairy tale called The White Cat, credited to Madame Comtesse d’Aulnoy. Madame d’Aulnoy’s tales were designed to entertain literary salon attendees for hours so they tended to be long, complicated and political. She could not openly criticize the regime of Louis the Fourteenth, or the way aristocratic women were entrapped within it, but she could tell her fairy tales, as in this one. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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If on a Summer's Night a Traveler... Jul 06, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “If On a Summer’s Night a Traveler...”, a Snoozecast original. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The story is an homage to Julio Cortazar’s “The Continuity of Parks” and Italo Calvino’s “If on a winter’s night a traveler”. This meta-fiction follows a group around the campfire deciding what story to tell, while eventually settling on one that seems to converge — with their own reality.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 4 Jul 03, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read part 4 to, "The Princess and the Goblin", a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s "The Princess and the Goblin" tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, the princess and her nurse Lootie go for a walk and get lost. As they try to make their way back, the day gets later and the shadows longer. Lootie is afraid of breaking the most important rule- to never let the princess be out in the dark, due to goblin issues. Luckily, they meet a mining boy named Curdie who helps them back to safety.

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The Lazy Tour Jul 01, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices", written in collaboration by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The book reads as an autobiographical tour taken by the two of them in the north of Britain. The Lazy Tour takes place in the year 1857 and provides insight into the friendship and adventures of the pair of titans of Victorian literature.

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At Sea Jun 29, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from the book "Fresh Fields" by John Burroughs, published in 1896. The main section we will read is titled At Sea. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

John Burroughs was an American nature essayist, active in the U.S.conservation movement. Burroughs accompanied many personalities of the time in his later years, including Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford (who gave him an automobile), and Thomas Edison.

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The Talking Bird pt. 2 | One Thousand and One Nights Jun 26, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Also known as "The Arabian Nights", "One Thousand and One Nights" is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age, which ran from the 8th to the 14th centuries. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the first part of the story, we meet the Persian emperor Kosrouschah. We also meet 3 sisters- one who becomes the emperor’s queen, and the other two become wives of the emperor’s baker and his royal chef. These two become jealous of the queen so when she gives birth to two sons and a daughter, the sisters secretly steal and abandon each baby. The royal babies are all found by the emperor’s gardener and raised as his own.

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The Talking Bird pt. 1 | One Thousand and One Nights Jun 25, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we are offering the first part of the story “The Talking Bird, The Singing Tree and the Golden Water” from One Thousand and One Nights. This episode is remastered and rebroadcast - the original air date was on January 11th, 2019. Our next episode will feature part two of this story. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Also known as "The Arabian Nights", "One Thousand and One Nights" is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age, which ran from the 8th to the 14th centuries. Some tales themselves trace their roots back to ancient and medieval Arabic, Persian, Greek, Indian, Jewish and Turkish folklore and literature.

What is common throughout all the editions of the "Nights" is the initial frame story of the ruler and his wife and the framing device incorporated throughout the tales themselves. The stories proceed from this original tale; some are framed within other tales, while others begin and end of their own accord. Some editions contain only a few hundred nights, while others include 1,001 or more.

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Wild June Jun 22, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “In New England Fields and Woods”, written by Rowland Evans Robinson in 1896. Robinson was, in his time, one of Vermont’s best known writers. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This collection of short essays follows New England's changing seasons and moods in all its natural beauty. This particular selection covers the month of June, along with bullfrogs and angler fishing.

Angling is the type of fishing, unlike trolling or long lining for example, that one typically assumes when one thinks of the activity- that of a hook on a line with a rod.

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Rocky Mountain Lady Jun 19, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by Patreon supporter request, we’ll read "A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains", a travel book, by Isabella Bird, describing her 1873 trip to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The book is a compilation of letters, that Isabella Bird wrote to her sister, Henrietta. Women were scarce enough in the Western United States of the late nineteenth century, and a middle-aged English lady traveling alone, by horseback, was quite a phenomenon.

Bird was a nineteenth-century British explorer, writer,photographer,and naturalist. From early on, Bird was frail and suffered from headaches and insomnia. Doctors recommended open air and exercise, so Bird learned to ride horseback.

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Jane Eyre pt. 3 Jun 18, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the third part to the classic 1847 novel "Jane Eyre", by English writer Charlotte Bronte. It is the story of a young, orphaned girl who lives with her Aunt and cousins and is mistreated by them. The novel is considered one of the greatest works of English fiction. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 5 Jun 15, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to "Pride and Prejudice", written by Jane Austen. "Pride and Prejudice" follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, Jane Bennet falls ill on a visit to Bingley’s house, and is forced to remain there sick. Her sister Elizabeth goes to visit her. Jane insists that her sister spend the night. That night, while Elizabeth visits Jane, the Bingley sisters poke fun at the Bennets. Darcy and Mr. Bingley defend them, though Darcy concedes that the Bennets’ lack of wealth and family make them poor marriage prospects.

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An Old Road Jun 12, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a chapter titled “An Old Road” from "A Rambler’s Lease" by Bradford Torrey, published in 1892. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Torrey was an American ornithologist. He also edited a book of Thoreau’s journal writings. He wrote a preface to A Rambler’s Lease paraphrased as follows: “The writer of this little book has found so much pleasure in other men's woods and fields that he has come to look upon himself as in some sort the owner of them. Their lawful possessors will not begrudge him this feeling, he believes, nor take it amiss if he assumes, even in this public way, to hold a rambler's lease of their property. His private opinion is that the world belongs to those who enjoy it.”

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The Invisible Man Jun 10, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to, "The Invisible Man", a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, published in 1897. The Invisible Man refers to a scientist named Griffin, devoted to research into optics. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

He invents a way to become invisible. He tests it on himself successfully, only to find that he cannot reverse it. The novel is considered influential, and helped establish Wells as the "father of science fiction".

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The Golden Goose Jun 08, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read The Golden Goose, from Katherine Pyle’s 1918 "Mother’s Nursery Tales". The Golden Goose was collected by The Brothers Grimm. In this tale, The Golden Goose, a simple and sweet man named John finds a goose with golden feathers- and it turns his whole world on its head. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Flight of the Golf Ball Jun 05, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt from “The Soul of Golf” by P.A. Vaile, published in 1912. Vaile was born in 1866, and wrote many books on the subject of golf. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The modern game of golf originated in 15th century Scotland, but it’s ancient origins are unclear and much debated. Versions of the game may harken back to ancient Rome or China.

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Little Women ch. 7 "Amy's Valley of Humiliation" Jun 03, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the seventh chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Amy’s Valley of Humiliation”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

In the previous chapter, shy Beth and old Mr. Laurence become friends. Beth reminds Mr. Laurence of his beloved but deceased granddaughter. He gives Beth a piano as a gift.

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Snow White Jun 01, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "Snow White", a 19th-century German fairy tale which is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The seven dwarfs were ﬁrst given individual names in the 1912 Broadway play Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and then given different names in Walt Disney's 1937 ﬁlm Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The Grimm story, which is commonly referred to as "Snow White", should not be confused with the story of "Snow-White and Rose-Red", another fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm.

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Marbles & Kites May 29, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from "Healthful Sports for Boys", by A.R. Calhoun. Also known as Alfred Rochfort, born in 1844, Calhoun was an American soldier, author, journalist and critic. He served in the Union army during the U.S. Civil War. He was born in Kentucky and died in Brooklyn in 1912. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Doctor Dolittle pt. 3 May 27, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll be reading the third part to "Doctor Dolittle", written in 1920 by British author Hugh Lofting. The full title being, “The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts”. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is the ﬁrst of Lofting’s Doctor Dolittle books, a series of children's novels about a man who learns to talk to animals and becomes their champion around the world.

Previously, the good doctor’s animal collection grows. Dr. Dolittle takes a ship to Africa to help with an epidemic, and introduces himself to the native people.

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Roughing It May 25, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "Roughing It", by Mark Twain, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is a semi-autobiographical travel memoir following a young Twain through the Wild West during the 1860s.

US Astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell read Roughing It aloud to pass the time aboard a two week long mission orbiting the earth in 1965.

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Lorna Doone May 22, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "Lorna Doone", a Romance of Exmoor, a novel published in 1869 and written by English author Richard Doodridge Blackmore. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"Lorna Doone" is based on a group of historical characters set in the late 17th century. John Ridd is the son of a farmer who is murdered by a member of the Doone clan.

The Doone’s were once noble but now outlaws. John falls in love with a girl named Lorna who turns out to be from this very clan he loathes.

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Fortunatus May 20, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a story called, "Fortunatus". It is inspired by a German tale regarding a legendary hero popular in 15th and 16th century Europe. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"Fortunatus" is a tale which marks the passing of the feudal world into the more modern, globalized, capitalist world.

The moral of the story is that it is far too easy, without wisdom, to lose one's fortune, no matter how it was acquired.

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The Fisher-Boy Urashima May 18, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a Japanese folk tale called "The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad", compiled in Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Urashima is a fisherman rewarded for rescuing a turtle. The tale, sometimes called the “Japanese Rip van Winkle”, originates from 8th century Japanese literature.

It is considered a national fairy tale.

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Terra Nova May 15, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "Terra Nova", a Snoozecast original. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In this short story, a young man meets a trio of travellers who provide a new perspective on the isolated village he wants to leave. Set in Canada’s Gros Morne National Park, a World Heritage Site, this tale draws inspiration from The Tablelands.

The striking, desert-esque landscape is notable for illustrating the theory of plate tectonics.

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The Swiss Family Robinson pt. 2 May 13, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second part to, "The Swiss Family Robinson". To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"The Swiss Family Robinson" is an 1812 novel by Johann David Wyss, about a Swiss family shipwrecked in the East Indies en route to Australia. Wyss, a Swiss pastor, originally wrote this book to entertain and instruct his four sons.

In part 1, The Robinsons' ship wrecks and the family decide to explore what is left the next day. They make a boat and decide to set sail for an island on the horizon.

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The Princess of Babylon pt. 2 May 11, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the second and final part to the story, "The Princess of Babylon". To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This story is taken from a lesser known philosophical tale by Voltaire, written in 1768. The story focuses on Amazan, a handsome, unknown shepherd, and Formosanta, the Princess of Babylon, whose love and jealousy drive them to travel the world.

In the first episode, the king holds a competition of the world’s rulers who were interested in marrying his daughter, the princess. The games would be impossibly difficult. A handsome and magical stranger appears out of seeming thin air to win the games, however he is suddenly called away to care to matters at home.

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Concerning the Spiritual in Art May 08, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to Wassily Kandinsky’s, “Concerning the Spiritual in Art”, published in 1911. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Kandinsky, a Russian painter and art theorist, is credited as the pioneer of abstract art. This text is the artist’s meditation on how the creative process feeds a spiritual hunger within the artist.

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Tristram Shandy May 06, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by Laurence Sterne and published in 1759. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

As its title suggests, the book is about Tristram's narration of his life story. But one of the central jokes of the novel is that he cannot explain anything simply; he must make diversions to add interest to his tale, to the extent that Tristram's own birth is not even reached until far into the book. Its style is marked by digression,double entendre, and graphic devices.

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The Yellow Dwarf pt. 2 May 04, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by Patreon supporter request, we’ll read pt. 2 to, "The Yellow Dwarf" from "The Blue Fairy Book" edited by Andrew Lang in 1889. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"The Yellow Dwarf" story originated from the Countess d'Aulnoy, a 17th century French writer known for her fairy tales. In part I, Bellissima is a beautiful princess who has a spell put on her by the yellow dwarf that her and him should marry.

Bellissima moves forward with her life in hopes that the spell isn’t true, and plans to marry one of the many kings who want to betroth her.

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Black Beauty pt. 4 May 01, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the fourth installment to 1877’s, "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewall. "Black Beauty" is one of the best-selling books of all time. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

When we left off, we learned Ginger’s story. Ginger is a mean-spirited horse- or so she seems, until you hear her experience and mistreatment. Even the well behaved pony named Merrylegs sometimes has trouble with human behavior, but Merrylegs is wiser in how he responds.

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The Secret Garden pt. 2 Apr 29, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second part to "The Secret Garden",a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the first episode, we learn of the unloved and unloving Mary. When cholera breaks out, she is left all alone in the world. She is then sent from India to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven.

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Himalayan Folk-Tales Apr 28, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read some selected Himalayan Folk Tales from a 1906 book called "Simla Village Tales", written by Alice Elizabeth Dracott. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

From the author in her preface: "Himalayan folk-lore, with its beauty, wit, and mysticism, is a most fascinating study, and makes one grieve to think that the day is fast approaching when the honest rugged hill-folk of Northern India will lose their fireside tales under the influence of modern civilisation....From their cradle under the shade of ancient deodars, beside the rocks, forests and streams of the mighty Himalayan mountains, have I sought these tales to place them upon the great Bookshelf of the World.”

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Breadtime Apr 24, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read about the basics of bread making, from Volume 1 of 1925’s "Woman’s Institute Library of Cookery", written by The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences.

This institute was founded by Mary Brooks Picken in Scranton, PA. An expert on fashion, Picken also wrote the first dictionary to be published by a woman in the English language.

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Moonfleet Apr 22, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "Moonfleet", a 1898 novel written by English writer J. Meade Falkner. The plot is an adventure tale of smuggling, treasure, and shipwreck set in 18th century England. Falkner is best known for writing this book. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

A feature of the narrative is a continuing reference to the board game of backgammon which is played by the patrons of the "Why Not? Inn" on an antique board which bears a Latin inscription that translates to: “As in life, so in a game of hazard, skill will make something of the worst of throws.”

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Princess Belle Etoile Apr 20, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from "Princess Belle Etoile", written by the 17th century French writer and mother of modern western fairy tales, Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, AKA the Madame Countess d'Aulnoy. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

She originated the term that is now generally used for the genre. "Princess Belle Etoile" was itself inspired by an Italian fairy tale, which may have originally spun from an Arabic tale.

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Wild April Apr 17, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from, “In New England Fields and Woods”, written by Rowland Evans Robinson in 1896. Robinson was, in his time, one of Vermont’s best known writers. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This collection of short essays follows New England's changing seasons and moods in all its natural beauty. This particular selection covers the month of April, along with woodchucks, chipmunks and garter snakes.

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Peter Pan pt. 4 Apr 15, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we shall read the fourth installment to Peter Pan, the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last part, chapter 3, Peter promises Wendy to teach her to fly if she will come to Neverland and tell stories to him and “the lost boys”. Nanna the dog nanny does her best to alert the parents, but it is too late.

All the children, along with Peter and Tinkerbell, had just flown out the window into the night.

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Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm Apr 13, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, a classic American 1903 children's novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It tells the story of Rebecca and her aunts, one stern and one kind, in the fictional village of Riverboro,Maine. Rebecca's joy for life inspires her aunts, but she faces many trials in her young life, gaining wisdom and understanding.

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The Sword Excalibur | Tales of King Arthur Apr 10, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the opening stories in Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table, published in 1918 by Andrew Lang. King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and modern historians generally agree that he is unhistorical. The Knights of the Round Table are the knightly members of the legendary fellowship of the King Arthurian literature.

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A Case of Identity | Sherlock Holmes Apr 08, 2020

Tonight, we'll read A Case of Identity, a short story from the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1892. In general the stories in Sherlock Holmes identify, and try to correct, social injustices. In this story, a wealthy woman’s fiancé disappears and she hires the detective to help find him.

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Rip Van Winkle pt. 2 Apr 06, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll finish the story of Rip Van Winkle. "Rip Van Winkle" was originally a short story by the American author Washington Irving, published in 1819. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains and wakes up 20 years later, having missed the American Revolution. Irving wrote it while in England and later admitted he had never been to the Catskill Mountains when he wrote the story.

When we left off, Rip awakens from his long sleep on the mountain, and walks back to town, unaware of how long he had been asleep.

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The Yellow Dwarf Apr 03, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "The Yellow Dwarf" from "The Blue Fairy Book", edited by Andrew Lang in 1889. "The Yellow Dwarf" story originated from the Countess d'Aulnoy, a 17th century French writer known for her fairy tales. She originated the term that is now generally used for the genre. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Little Women ch. 6 "Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful" Apr 01, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the sixth chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

In the previous chapter, on a snowy day Jo finds that Laurie is shut in his mansion, lonely and with a cold, and she brings in the warmth of friendship.

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The Magic Cloak pt. 2 Mar 30, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the next section to "Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak", a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz, and Baum himself commented this was the best book he had written.

In Chapter 1, the fairy Queen Lulea calls their merrymaking to a halt, and suggests they do something practical and helpful for a change. The fairies decide to create a magic cloak that can grant its wearer one wish. A fairy is set forth to give the cloak to the first unhappy person they meet.

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Among the Wildflowers Mar 27, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to "Riverby" by John Burroughs. The section is titled "Among the Wild Flowers". To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

John Burroughs was an American nature essayist, active in the U.S.conservation movement. Burroughs accompanied many personalities of the time in his later years, including Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford (who gave him an automobile),and Thomas Edison.

According to Ford, "John Burroughs, Edison, and I made several vagabond trips together. We went in motor caravans and slept under canvas."

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Sketches of Gotham Mar 25, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "Sketches of Gotham: A Collection of Unusual Stories Told in an Unusual Way", written by Owen Gould Davis in 1906. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Davis was an American dramatist. In 1919, he became the first elected president of the Dramatists Guild of America. He penned hundreds of plays and scripts for radio and film. Before the First World War, he also wrote racy sketches of New York City high jinks and low-life like this one under the pen-name, Ike Swift.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 3 Mar 23, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the third part to "The Princess and the Goblin", a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George Macdonald’s, "The Princess and the Goblin" tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, the Princess had met a mysterious old woman introduced to her as her grandmother. The Grandmother keeps magical pigeons and eats their eggs. When the princess goes back downstairs to her nurse-maid, she doesn’t believe the Princess’s tale to be true.

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Heidi pt. 5 Mar 20, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the next section of the classic children’s story "Heidi", published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. "Heidi" is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature. We will pick up where we left off, at the start of chapter 5.

In the last episode, it is the middle of winter on the mountain. Peter gives Grandfather and Heidi the idea that she should visit his grandmother. Grandmother is grateful for the company, and Heidi inspires her Grandfather to help repair the Grandmother’s cottage.

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The Golden Mermaid Mar 18, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "The Golden Mermaid", a story found in Andrew Lang’s The Green Fairy Book. In this story, a beautiful mermaid falls in love with a prince. But it’s not The Little Mermaid, it’s different. We promise. Because she’s golden. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Rip Van Winkle Mar 16, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, for our 100th episode, we’ll be reading "Rip Van Winkle" originally a short story by the American author Washington Irving, published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains and wakes up 20 years later, having missed the American Revolution. Irving wrote it while living in England and later admitted he had never been to the Catskill Mountains. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Abigail Adams Mar 13, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we’ll read an excerpt from the book “Abigail Adams and Her Times”, by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards. Richards wrote more than 90 books including biographies,poetry, and several for children. Her father was an abolitionist and her mother wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 4 Mar 11, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the next part to "Pride and Prejudice", part to the 1813 romantic novel of manners Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, starting with Chapter 7.

The novel follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the previous episode, the relationships between Jane and Elizabeth Bennet and the Bingley sisters develops as the girls make their formal visits.

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The Secret Garden Mar 09, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "The Secret Garden",a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1911. Set in England, it is now one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

During Burnett’s life, The Secret Garden was overlooked but the book has risen in prominence as more scholarly studies have been done on children’s literature. If you enjoy The Secret Garden, be sure to listen to "A Little Princes"s on Snoozecast, also written by Burnett.

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Vegetable Candy Mar 06, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read excerpts from "Candy-Making Revolutionized: Confectionery from Vegetables" by Mary Elizabeth Hall, printed in 1912. Hall wrote that her hope was that through this book “the more vegetable candy is made, the less unhealthful confectionery there will be consumed." To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Little Women ch. 5 "Being Neighborly" Mar 04, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the fifth chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Being Neighborly”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.In the previous chapter, Burdens, the holidays are over and the girls return to their work, and to the burdens of life.

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Greyfriars Bobby Mar 02, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to "Greyfriars Bobby", a 1912 novel by Eleanor Atkinson based on the true story of the dog Greyfriars Bobby. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This novel is written from the point-of-view of the dog, Bobby, and uses Scottish dialogue as the novel is set in Edinburgh,Scotland. The book is written from the mind of a dog, which makes every-day events strange —the opening line references a church clock as a "time-gun", for example.

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A Dream of the 1890s, Portland Feb 28, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from “Oregon, Washington And Alaska: Sights And Scenes for the Tourist” written in 1890 by E.L. Lomax. Officially incorporated in 1851, Portland grew steadily, forming an identity as an industrial trading town. Up into the 1890s,Portland hosted the Pacific Northwest's largest port, only to be surpassed later by Seattle. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Scarlet Pimpernel Feb 26, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "The Scarlet Pimpernel", a historical fiction novel by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. The novel is set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The title is the nom de guerre of its hero, a chivalrous Englishman who rescues aristocrats before they are sent to the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life: apparently nothing more than a wealthy fop, but in reality a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist.

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A Little Princess Feb 24, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to "A Little Princess", a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published as a book in 1905. It is considered one of the top children’s books in the US of all time, along with Burnett’s other book, "The Secret Garden". To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Wild February Feb 21, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “In New England Fields and Woods”, written by Rowland Evans Robinson in 1896. Robinson was, in his time, one of Vermont’s best known writers. This collection of short essays follows New England's changing seasons and moods in all its natural beauty. This particular selection is part of the late winter time section. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Juno Feb 19, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read "The Juno," a Snoozecast original. In this story, an unexpected guest causes a stir aboard a tall ship bound for Antarctica. Told through journal entries written by the ship's fictional navigator, this tale is inspired by the Ross expedition. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The voyage lasted from 1839 to 1843 and made substantial contributions to the fields of botany and zoology. It proved to be the final significant voyage of discovery powered only by sail.

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My Father's Dragon pt. 2 Feb 17, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the second part to "My Father’s Dragon", written by Ruth Stiles Gannett in 1948. We released the first episode quite a while ago so you may need to scroll back a ways if you want to listen to that first. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The novel is about a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby dragon.We will start at the beginning of Chapter 5, where the boy has finally made it to the island, where he encounters a pack of hungry tigers.

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A Dialogue Between Head and Heart Feb 14, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a letter Thomas Jefferson sent to Maria Cosway in 1786. Jefferson, a widower, met Cosway, who was married, while travelling in France and was rather charmed by the Italian-English artist. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In this letter, a sorrowful Jefferson pines for her and imagines a debate between his head and his heart. He writes, the only “effective security against such pain of unrequited love, is to retire within ourselves and to suffice for our own happiness.”

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Little Women ch. 4 "Burdens" Feb 12, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the fourth chapter of “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “Burdens”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.In the previous chapter, Meg and Jo attend a party, and Jo gets acquainted with the Laurence boy, aka Laurie.

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Peter Pan pt. 3 Feb 10, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the third installment to "Peter Pan", the 1911 novel by J.M. Barrie. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In the last part, chapter 2, Nanna the dog catches Peter Pan’s shadow in the nursery and Mrs. Darling the mother stashes it away.

Mr. Darling treats Nanna badly and ties her up outside, and the Darling parents go out for the night, leaving the children alone inside.

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The White Seal Feb 07, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we’ll read a story called "The White Seal" from 1894’s "The Jungle Book" written by Rudyard Kipling. Kipling was born in India and raised both there and in England, working in India before settling to write these tales from a home he built in Vermont, USA. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is believed that Kipling wrote the collection of stories for his daughter Josephine, who died from pneumonia in 1899, aged 6. Many names in the White Seal story are Russian, as the Pribilof Islands had been bought (with Alaska) by the United States in 1867, and Kipling had access to books about the islands.

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The Mysteries of Udolpho Feb 05, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to 1794’s "The Mysteries of Udolpho" by English author Ann Radcliffe. Radcliffe was a pioneer of Gothic fiction and the most popular author of her day. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Later the author Dostoevsky would write that he had been influenced by Radcliffe as a child. "I used to spend the long winter hours before bed listening... agape with ecstasy and terror, as my parents read aloud to me from the novels of Ann Radcliffe. Then I would rave deliriously about them in my sleep.”

The Mysteries of Udolpho tells of Emily St. Aubert, who suffers, among other misadventures, the death of her mother and father, supernatural terrors in a gloomy castle and machinations of an Italian brigand.

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Doctor Dolittle pt. 2 Feb 03, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll be reading the second part to "Doctor Dolittle", written in 1920 by British author Hugh Lofting. The full title being, “The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts”. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is the first of Lofting’s Doctor Dolittle books, a series of children's novels about a man who learns to talk to animals and becomes their champion around the world.

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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Jan 31, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we’ll read an excerpt from Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography where he describes his childhood. “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”is the traditional name for the unfinished record of his own life memoirs written by Franklin,from 1771 to 1790. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Only published well after his death, this work has become one of the most famous and influential examples of an autobiography ever written.

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Jane Eyre pt. 2 Jan 29, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the second part to the classic 1847 novel "Jane Eyre" by English writer Charlotte Brontë. It is the story of a young, orphaned girl who lives with her Aunt and cousins and is mistreated by them. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The novel is considered one of the greatest works of English fiction. In Part 1, we read Chapter 1 and the opening of Chapter 2. Poor little Jane is bullied by her entire adopted family of an aunt and cousins, along with being misunderstood and treated meanly by their servants. After she is unfairly punished for standing up for herself by being locked in a guest room, she starts to examine this red colored room further.

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The Treasure Seeker Jan 27, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we’ll read "The Treasure Seeker", a story found in the "Crimson Fairy Book" written by Andrew Lang and published in 1903. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In this story, a party of shepherds sat one night telling of the strange things that had happened to them in their youth. One of their stories was more exciting than expected, regarding a mysterious dark spirit who was The Treasure Seeker of the mountain.

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Madame Blavatsky Visits Bombay Jan 24, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening section from, "From the Caves and Jungles of Hindustan" written by Helena Blavatsky and published in 1883. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Madame Blavatsky was a Russian occultist and philosopher who traveled around the world, including India, before moving to New York City. She co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875 and gained an international following from the esoteric religion that the society promoted.

Madame Blavatsky was a controversial figure, championed by supporters as an enlightened guru and derided as a fraudulent charlatan by critics. Her Theosophical doctrines influenced the spread of Hindu and Buddhist ideas in the West as well as the development of Western esoteric currents like the New Age Movement.

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The Swiss Family Robinson Jan 22, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to "The Swiss Family Robinson", a novel by Johann David Wyss, about a Swiss family shipwrecked in the East Indies en route to Australia. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Wyss, a Swiss pastor, originally wrote this book to entertain and instruct his four sons. Years later, one of his sons, persuaded his father to allow him to complete and edit the unfinished manuscript. It was published in Zurich in 1812.

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Black Beauty pt. 3 Jan 20, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the third part to 1877’s "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewall. "Black Beauty" is one of the best-selling books of all time. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

When we left off, our young main character has been trained by his kindly master and wise mother to learn the ways of a properly “broken in” horse. In the last episode, Black Beauty bonds with his stable boy John, who is considerate and pleasant to work with. Our protagonist also starts to learn the ways of his carriage partner, Ginger.

Black Beauty also expresses a sense of melancholy over the tedium of being a stable horse, and his desire for more freedom.

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A Micronesian Fish Drive Jan 17, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt titled "A Micronesian Fish Drive", from a book of short stories called "Ridan the Devil", by Louis Becke, published in 1899. Becke was an Australian Pacific trader, short-story writer and novelist. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Heidi pt. 4 Jan 15, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the next section of the classic children’s story "Heidi", published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. "Heidi" is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

We will pick up where we left off towards the end of chapter 3, with Heidi coming back to her grandfather after an amazing first day of wonderful experiences on the mountain with Peter and his goat herd.

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The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor Jan 13, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening stories of "Sinbad the Sailor and His Seven Voyages", taken from "The Arabian Nights", edited by Andrew Lang and published in 1898. Sinbad is a fictional mariner and the hero of a story-cycle of Middle Eastern origin. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

He is described as hailing from Baghdad during the 9th century. In the course of seven voyages, he has fantastic adventures in magical realms, encountering monsters and witnessing supernatural phenomena.

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Ventriloquism and Polyphony Jan 10, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a chapter from "Three Hundred Things a Bright Boy Can Do", titled "Ventriloquism and Polyphony", written by “Many Hands” and published in 1914. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Ventriloquy, an act of stagecraft in which a person changes their voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppet, known as a “dummy". Originally, ventriloquism was a religious practice among the ancient Greeks.

The noises produced by the stomach, for example were thought to be the voices of the unliving, who took up residence in the stomach of the ventriloquist. The ventriloquist would then interpret the sounds, as they were thought to be able to speak to the dead, as well as foretell the future.

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New Amazonia Jan 08, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening chapters of “New Amazonia: A Foretaste of the Future”, written by Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett under the pen name “Mrs. James Corbett” and first published in 1889. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Categorized as “feminist utopian”, it was one element in the wave of utopian and dystopian literature that marked the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In her novel, Corbett envisions a successful suffragette movement eventually giving rise to a breed of highly evolved "Amazonians" who turn Ireland into a utopian society.

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The Princess of Babylon Jan 06, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the story "The Princess of Babylon", taken from "The Strange Storybook" by Mrs. Lang, published in 1913. The story is taken from a lesser known philosophical tale by Voltaire, written in 1768. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The story focuses on Amazan, a handsome, unknown shepherd, and Formosanta, the Princess of Babylon, whose love and jealousy drive them to travel the world. Through their travels they encounter the basic values of the Enlightenment.

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Mazes and Labyrinths Jan 03, 2020

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening chapters to "Mazes and Labyrinths: A General Account of their History and Development", written by W. H. Matthews and published in 1922. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The history of the maze is paradoxically explored as both a tool for spiritual inquiry and as a vexing trap. Apparently he wrote the heavy tome in less than three years — and it may have been a way for Matthews to deal with the aftermath of his time as a soldier in the labyrinthine trenches of World War I.

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Little Women ch. 3 "The Laurence Boy" Jan 01, 2020

Tonight, we’ll read the third chapter of “Little Women”, by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868, titled “The Laurence Boy”. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

In the previous chapter, on Christmas morning, the girls wake to find books under their pillows. They find their mother has gone to aid poor neighbors. When she returns, she asks her daughters to give their delicious Christmas breakfast to the starving family. That evening, they perform their play, in which Jo gets to play male roles. After the performance, the girls come downstairs to find a feast laid out on the table, provided by another neighbor, who has a grandson that Jo would like to meet.

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Sleeping Beauty Dec 30, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the story of "Sleeping Beauty", from the Lang’s "Blue Fairy Book" published in 1889. It is a classic fairy talea bout a princess who is cursed to sleep for a hundred years by an evil fairy, where she would be awakened by a handsome prince. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The earliest known version of the story is found in the narrative “Perceforest”, composed in the 14th century. "Perceforest" provides an original Genesis of the Arthurian World.

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Watching Birds at a Straw Stack | Birdwatching Dec 27, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read another chapter from the book "Bird Watching" published in 1901 by Edmund Selous, titled "Watching Birds at a Straw Stack".

The author started as a conventional naturalist, but Selous developed a hatred of the common practice at the time of killing animals for scientific study and was a pioneer of bird-watching as a method of scientific study.

The author was a solitary man and was not well known in ornithological circles. He avoided both the company of ornithologists and reading their observations so as to base his conclusions entirely on his own observations. And to be clear, Straw Stacks are similar to Hay Stacks in that both are field crops, although hay is the remains of grasses and straw is made from the stalks of wheat.

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Little Women ch. 2 "A Merry Christmas" Dec 25, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read the second chapter titled “A Merry Christmas” to “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868.

Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

In Chapter 1, the March sisters lament that they won’t receive Christmas presents as their family has fallen into poverty. They discuss a Christmas play they are going to put forth, and their mother arrives with a letter from their father who is away in the Civil War. They resolve to practice their Christian faith’s values in their daily lives in order to rise above their material complaints.

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Balsam Fir Dec 23, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “Balsam Fir”, a Snoozecast original. Experience tromping through an evergreen tree farm to pick the perfect tree to bring home. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Alpine Resort Dec 20, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt about traveling to a high alpine winter resort, from a book called Winter Sports in Switzerland, written by E. F. Benson in 1913. Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Little Women ch. 1 "Playing Pilgrims" Dec 18, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read the opening chapter to “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868. Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her sisters.

Alcott wrote the books over several months at the request of her publisher. She later recalled that she did not think she could write a successful book for girls and did not enjoy writing it. "I plod away," she wrote in her diary, "although I don't enjoy this sort of things.” The book's immediate success surprised both her and her publisher.

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The Blue Parrot Dec 16, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a story called "The Blue Parrot", taken from The Olive Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and H. J. Ford, and published in 1907. The story originated from a French book of tales titled Contes de Fée from the late 1700s. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Afloat and Ashore Dec 13, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to "Afloat and Ashore" a nautical fiction novel by James Fenimore Cooper, published in 1844. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Set at the turn of the 19th century, the novel follows the maritime adventures of Miles Wallingford Jr., the son of wealthy New York landowners who chooses to go to sea after the death of his parents.

The novel is partially autobiographical, in part by Cooper's own experiences as a sailor. Throughout his career, Cooper wrote profusely with the objective of countering European prejudices and nurturing an original American art and culture.

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The Woman in White Dec 11, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to "The Woman in White", written in 1859 by Wilkie Collins. It is considered to be among the first mystery novels, and an early example of detective fiction. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Modern critics and readers regard it as Collins's best novel, although at the time of publication, critics were generally hostile. The novel opens with Walter Hartright, a young art teacher, who encounters a mysterious and distressed woman dressed entirely in white, lost in London; he is later informed by policemen that she has escaped from an asylum.

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Beauty and the Beast pt. 2 Dec 09, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second and final part to the classic tale "Beauty and the Beast", taken from the Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, published in 1889. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

When we left off, the merchant and father to Beauty was caught picking a rose from the Beast’s garden as a gift to Beauty. In punishment, the Beast demanded that the father bring back one of his daughters.

The catch was that she must choose to come willingly. Of course, the kind-hearted Beauty offers to go despite the sacrifice it entailed. Father and daughter arrive at the Beast’s castle and are about to meet him.

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Sunday Dinner Dec 06, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we bring you “Sunday Dinner” a Snoozecast Original. In this story, experience visiting an old friend’s cozy farm home and the comforting meal prepared and enjoyed inside. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 3 Dec 04, 2019

Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the third part to the 1813 romantic novel of manners "Pride and Prejudice", written by Jane Austen. The novel follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the last episode, discussion of the ball continues when the daughters of the Bennets' neighbor visit. The oldest daughter, Charlotte, is Elizabeth's close friend, and commiserates with Elizabeth over Mr. Darcy's snub.

Charlotte acknowledges, however, that Mr. Darcy's family and wealth give him the right to be proud. Elizabeth agrees, noting that her resentment of his proud nature stems from his wounding her own pride. We will pick up at the start of chapter 6.

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Doctor Dolittle Dec 02, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening chapters to "Doctor Dolittle", written in 1920 by British author Hugh Lofting. The full title being, “The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts”. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is the first of Lofting’s "Doctor Dolittle" books, a series of children's novels about a man who learns to talk to animals and becomes their champion around the world. It was one of the novels in the series which was adapted into the 1967 film "Doctor Dolittle".

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Winter Voices Nov 29, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read another excerpt from “In New England Fields and Woods” written by Rowland Evans Robinson in 1896. Robinson was in his time one of Vermont’s best known writers. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This collection of short essays follows New England's changing seasons and moods in all its natural beauty. This particular selection is part of the November and December time of year.

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Thanksgiving Recipes Nov 27, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read Thanksgiving recipes and sample menus from a magazine called "American Cookery", published in 1921. This periodical was formerly titled less succinctly “The Boston Cooking-School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics.

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Peter Rabbit Nov 25, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read, "Tales of Peter Rabbit and Friends", from "The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter", written by Beatrix Potter. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

"The Tales of Peter Rabbit" was first self-published in 1902, when she was in her thirties. Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children's books featuring animals.

Though Potter was typical of women of her generation in having limited opportunities for higher education, her study and watercolors of fungi led to her being widely respected in the field of mycology. In all, Potter wrote thirty books; the best known being her twenty-three children's tales.

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Sea and Sardinia Nov 22, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we’ll read the opening to “Sea and Sardinia”, a travel book by the English writer D. H. Lawrence. It describes a brief excursion undertaken in January 1921 by Lawrence and his wife from Sicily to the interior of Sardinia. Despite the brevity of his visit, Lawrence distills an essence of the island and its people that is still recognizable today. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Black Beauty pt. 2 Nov 20, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the second part to 1877’s "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewall. This novel became an immediate best-seller at the end of Sewall’s life, but she lived long enough to briefly see her only novel would become.Black Beauty is one of the best-selling books of all time. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Robin Hood Nov 18, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the opening to the 1883 novel by American illustrator and writer Howard Pyle, "Robin Hood". Consisting of a series of episodes in the story of the English outlaw Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men, the novel helped solidify the image of a heroic Robin Hood, which had begun in earlier works such as Walter Scott's 1819 novel "Ivanhoe". To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Myths of the Cherokee Nov 15, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read some of the folklore of the Cherokee people from the 1900 book "Myths of the Cherokee" by James Mooney. Mooney was an American ethnographer who lived for several years with the Cherokee. He became a self-taught expert on American tribes by his own studies and his careful observation during long residences with different groups. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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A Tale of Two Cities Nov 13, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening two chapters of 1859’s "A Tale of Two Cities", written by Charles Dickens. It is a historical novel, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in Paris and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie, whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. It has become Dickens’ best known work of historical fiction.

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The Magic Cloak Nov 11, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "Queen Zixi of Ix", or "The Story of the Magic Cloak", a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1905. The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz, and Baum himself commented this was the best book he had written. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The book was made into the 1914 film "The Magic Cloak of Oz". Although no part of the book's story takes place in the Land of Oz, by the time the movie was made, it had become clear that the Oz franchise was Baum's most popular creation.

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Moon Shot Nov 08, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read a couple famous speeches by President John F. Kennedy: His 1961 inauguration speech and his 1962 moon speech. The youngest president elected in United States history, he was the first man born in the 20th century to hold that office. His speeches inspired the nation to reach for the stars. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Cowboy Smith Nov 06, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read the opening to the 1911 novel titled “Me-Smith” written by Caroline Lockhart. Lockhart was a journalist, a newspaper owner, and a ranch owner along with writing novels set in her adopted home of Cody, Montana. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Caroline Lockhart Ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.In 2018, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame inducted her. Me-Smith was her first novel.

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Beauty and the Beast Nov 04, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the classic tale "Beauty and the Beast", taken from the Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, published in 1889. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The original story of Beauty and the Beast was written by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve, within the culture of the aristocratic salons of the 1700s. It is thought that it has roots even longer ago, in the tale of "Cupid and Psyche", the ancient chronicle from the Latin novel "Metamorphoses".

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Mushrooms in the Paris Caves Nov 01, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a section of the book “Mushrooms: How to Grow Them” called “Mushroom Growing in the Paris Caves”, written by William Falconer and published in 1892. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The famous architecture of Paris was built using the limestone extracted from underneath the city. The resulting catacombs were also used to grow the Paris mushroom, a variety of the button variety.

Legend has it that mushroom farming in these caves started when some deserters of Napoleon’s army, along with their horses, discovered that mushrooms naturally flourished on the mixture of limestone and horse manure within.

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The Dunwich Horror Oct 30, 2019

Tonight, as the final episode of our October classic horror series, we’ll be reading the opening to "The Dunwich Horror", written in 1928 by H.P. Lovecraft. It takes place in Dunwich, a fictional town in central Massachusetts. It is considered one of the core stories of the Cthulhu Mythos.

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Heidi pt. 3 Oct 28, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the next section of the classic children’s story "Heidi", published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. Heidi is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

We left off at the end of chapter 2, with Heidi’s first night at grandfather’s house on the mountaintop. Heidi and Grandfather get along better than would be expected, given his reputation as a surly recluse. Heidi falls to sleep in her new hay loft bedroom, dreaming of the two captivating goats she met that day.

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A Crystal Age Oct 25, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to 1887’s "A Crystal Age by W. H. Hudson. The book, a pastoral Utopian novel has been called a "significant sci-fi milestone" and has been noted for its anticipation of the "modern ecological mysticism" that would evolve a century later. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Turn of the Screw Oct 23, 2019

Tonight, as part of our October classic horror series, we'll read the opening to The "Turn of the Screw", an 1898 Gothic ghost story by Henry James.

The novella focuses on a governess who, caring for two children at a remote estate, becomes convinced that the grounds are haunted. Some critics have argued that the brilliance of "The Turn of the Screw" results from its ability to create an intimate sense of confusion and suspense within the reader.

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Pride and Prejudice pt. 2 Oct 21, 2019

Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the second part to the 1813 romantic novel of manners "Pride and Prejudice", written by Jane Austen. The novel follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

In the first episode, news that a wealthy young gentleman named Charles Bingley has moved in nearby causes a stir among the Bennet family. The Bennet’s have five unmarried daughters so are eager to matchmaker with the stranger.

The daughters attend a ball also attended by Bingley, along with a friend of Bingley named Darcy. The impression others get of Bingley at the ball is charm and of Darcy- rude and snobbish. We will pick up with the daughters coming home to tell their father about the evening.

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Get This Bread Oct 18, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’re bringing you a Snoozecast original titled “Get This Bread”. In this soft-boiled who-dun-it, a rising star editor is suddenly fired, leaving a pair of co-workers to pick up the pieces — and the clues — to solving the mystery. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Oct 16, 2019

Tonight, as part of our October classic horror series, we’ll read the opening to "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", a Gothic novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886.

It is about a London legal practitioner named Gabriel John Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde. The novella's impact is such that it has become a part of the language, with the phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" entering the vernacular to refer to people with an unpredictably dual nature: usually very good, but sometimes shockingly evil.

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The Count of Monte Cristo Oct 14, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read the opening chapter to "The Count of Monte Cristo", completed in 1844 by French author Alexander Dumas. Considered a literary classic today, the story takes place in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean during the historical events of 1815–1839: the era of the Bourbon Restoration through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

An adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness; it centres on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets about exacting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. His plans have devastating consequences for both the innocent and the guilty.

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The Princess Oct 11, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to Lord Tennyson’s 1847 "The Princess". Tennyson was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1850 to 1892 and remains one of the most popular English poets. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The poem tells the story of a heroic princess who forswears the world of men and founds a women's university where men are forbidden to enter. The prince to whom she was betrothed in infancy enters the university with two friends, disguised as women students.

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Frankenstein Oct 09, 2019

Tonight, as part of our October classic horror series (every Wednesday this month), we'll read the opening to "Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus", written by Mary Shelley and published anonymously in 1818 when she was just 20 years old.

It tells the story of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates a hideous humanoid creature. Since the novel's publication, the name "Frankenstein" has often been used to refer to the monster itself, although in the novel the monster is never given a formal name. Shelley’s story of Frankenstein has been referred to as the first true science fiction novel.

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The Adventures of a Spanish Nun Oct 07, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll be reading a story called "The Adventures of a Spanish Nun" from the "Strange Storybook" by Mrs. Andrew Lang — Leonora Blanche Alleyne, published in 1913. This story tells of a young woman who had been raised in a convent but had dreams of exploring the world. She then acts upon them, dressed as men, and full of exploits and daring. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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A Voyage in the Dark Oct 04, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read, "A Voyage in the Dark" an excerpt from “In New England Fields and Woods” written by Rowland Evans Robinson in 1896. Robinson was in his time one of Vermont’s best known writers. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

This collection of short essays follows New England's changing seasons and moods in all its natural beauty. This particular selection is part of the late summer, early autumn.

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The Fall of the House of Usher Oct 02, 2019

Tonight, as part of our October classic horror series (every Wednesday this month), we’ll read the opening to "The Fall of the House of Usher", written by Edgar Allen Poe and published in 1839.

This short story is a work of Gothic fiction and includes themes of madness, family, isolation, and metaphysical identities. Poe's inspiration for the story may be based upon events of the Hezekiah Usher House, located near what is now Downtown Crossing in Boston, Mass. When the Usher House was torn down in 1830, two bodies were found embraced in a cavity in the cellar.

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Aladdin pt. 2 Sep 30, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second part to "Aladdin", our version is out of the Blue Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang in 1889. Aladdin is a middle eastern folk tale and is one of the tales from the Book of One Thousand and One Nights otherwise known as The Arabian Nights. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

In Part One, Aladdin is a lazy boy without a trade to earn money from, until a magician posing as his uncle tries to use him for a spell to receive great powers. By luck, Aladdin receives the magical powers of a magic lantern and a wish-granting genie for himself. He uses his powers to gain the daughter of the Sultan as his wife. We pick up at their marriage.

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Tao Te Ching Sep 27, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read from the "Tao Te Ching". This Chinese classic text is traditionally credited to the 6th-century BC sage Laozi. The text's authorship, date of composition and date of compilation are debated. The "Tao Te Ching" has multiple translations, in general "Tao" means "the way" or "the path", here's some examples of different opening lines:

"The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao."
Translated by James Legge (1891)
"The Tao-Path is not the All-Tao. The Name is not the Thing named."
Translated by Aleister Crowley (1918)
"The tao that can be told, is not the eternal Tao."
Translated by Stephen Mitchell (1988)
"If you can talk about it,it ain't Tao."
Translated by Ron Hogan (1994)
"The way you can go, isn't the real way."
Translated by Ursula Le Guin (1998)

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Black Beauty Sep 25, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read the opening to the 1877 novel, "Black Beauty" by English author Anna Sewell. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Due to a severe injury early in life, Sewell needed to use crutches to walk and developed a love for horses, as horseback riding gave her a sense of freedom.This novel became an immediate best-seller at the end of her life, with Sewell dying just five months after its publication, but having lived long enough to see her only novel become a success.

With fifty million copies sold, Black Beauty is one of the best-selling books of all time. While forthrightly teaching animal welfare, it also teaches how to treat people with kindness, sympathy, and respect.

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The Golden Bough Sep 23, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read an excerpt focused on tree spirits, from the 1890 book, "The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion" written by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer. The book scandalized the public when first published because it compared biblical stories to pagan rituals. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Despite the controversy generated by the work, "The Golden Bough" inspired many authors from the period including: HP Lovecraft, James Joyce, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and T.S. Elliot.

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Butterflies Worth Knowing Sep 20, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “Butterflies Worth Knowing” by Clarence Moores Weed in 1926. Weed was a New England based naturalist. He was the author or co-author of more than 20 books, many of them on insect pests and insect-plant relationships. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Red-Headed League | Sherlock Holmes Sep 19, 2019

Tonight, we’ll be reading "The Red Headed League", a short story from "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1892.

In this story, which Doyle ranked as number 2 of his favorite top 12 Sherlock stories, the focus is on Jebez Wilson, the owner of a pawnbroker shop who sports a head of bright red hair and receives an invitation to join an exclusive club.

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South African Folk-Tales Sep 17, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a selection of South African folk-tales collected during the 19th century. It includes animal tales with classic wisdom, including The Monkey’s Fiddle and The Lost Message. These stories were collected by Dr. James Honey and published in 1910. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Art of Lawn Tennis Sep 13, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll be reading from "The Art of Lawn Tennis", written by William “Big Bill” Tilden, published in 1921. Tilden was considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Born into wealth, Tilden earned large sums of money during his long career and he spent it lavishly, keeping a suite at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. Much of his income went towards financing Broadway shows that he wrote, produced, and starred in.

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My Ántonia Sep 11, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to Willa Cather’s 1918 novel My Ántonia. It is the final book of her "prairie trilogy" of novels, preceded by O Pioneers! and The Song of the Lark. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The novel tells the stories of an orphaned boy from Virginia, Jim Burden, and the elder daughter in a family of Bohemian immigrants, Ántonia Shimerda, who are each brought as children to be pioneers in Nebraska towards the end of the 19th century.

This novel is considered Cather's first masterpiece. Cather was praised for bringing the American West to life and making it personally interesting.

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Jane Eyre Sep 09, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we will read the opening to the classic 1847 novel "Jane Eyre" by English writer Charlotte Brontë and published under the pen name “Currer Bell”. It is the story of a young, orphaned girl who lives with her Aunt and cousins and is mistreated by them. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The novel is considered one of the greatest works of English fiction. It revolutionized writing style by being the first to focus on its protagonist's moral and spiritual development through an intimate first-person narrative, where actions and events are coloured by psychological intensity.

Charlotte Brontë has been called the "first historian of the private consciousness", and the literary ancestor of writers like Proust and Joyce.

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Baseball Sep 06, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read a Snoozecast original story, "Baseball." Settle in and watch a Little League game unfold during the waning days of summer. Without a clock to keep time, baseball, otherwise known as America's Pastime, is always played at its own pace. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Awakening Sep 04, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from the 1899 novel by Kate Chopin, "The Awakening". Set in New Orleans and on the Louisiana Gulf coast at the end of the 19th century, the plot centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle between her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood. It is widely seen as a landmark work of early feminism, and a precursor of American modernist literature. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Jack and the Beanstalk Sep 02, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read “Jack and the Beanstalk”, from the 1918 Mother’s Nursery Tales by Katherine Pyle. Born in 1863, Pyle was an American artist, poet and children’s book writer. “Jack and the Beanstalk” is the best known of the “Jack Tales”, a series of stories featuring the archetypal hero and stock character “Jack.” According to researchers, the story originated more than five millennia ago. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Wonderful Visit Aug 30, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll be reading from the 1895 novel "The Wonderful Visit", by H.G. Wells. With an angel—a creature of fantasy unlike a religious angel—as protagonist and taking place in contemporary England, the book could be classified as contemporary fantasy, although the genre was not recognized in Wells's time. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The Wonderful Visit also has strong satirical themes, gently mocking customs and institutions of Victorian England as well as idealistic rebellion itself.

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Pride and Prejudice Aug 28, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the 1813, romantic novel of manners, "Pride and Prejudice", written by Jane Austen.

The novel follows Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and eventually comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

Filled with comedy, its humor lies in its honest depiction of manners, education, marriage and money during the Regency era in Great Britain.

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Rip Van Winkle Aug 26, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, for our 100th episode, we’ll be reading "Rip Van Winkle" originally a short story by the American author Washington Irving, published in 1819. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains and wakes up 20 years later, having missed the American Revolution. Irving wrote it while living in England and later admitted he had never been to the Catskill Mountains.

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Sunshine Sketches Aug 23, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to Stephen Leacock’s 1912, "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town." This humorous and affectionate account of small-town life in the fictional town of Mariposa is inspired by the author’s experience living in Ontario, Canada. The book illustrates the inner workings of life in Mariposa—from business to politics to steamboat disasters. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The White Heart of Mojave Aug 21, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the 1922 travel memoir "The White Heart of Mojave: An Adventure with the Outdoors of the Desert" by Edna Brush Perkins. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

It recounts the adventure of Perkins and her friend Charlotte Hannahs Jordan, both independent-minded and early suffragettes; at the end of the Great War, the two friends wanted nothing more than to escape the crowded, oppressive city for wild, open space.

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The Nodding Tiger Aug 19, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a folk tale called "The Nodding Tiger" from the 1919 “A Chinese Wonder Book”, by Norman Hinsdale Pitman. In the story, a tiger kills an old woman’s only son. To make amends, the mother convinces the court’s judge to require the tiger to take the son’s place in her life. (Note: There is some mild "off-screen" violence in this vintage folk-tale.) To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Voyage of the Beagle Aug 16, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from Charles Darwin’s "The Voyage of the Beagle", the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as his "Journal and Remarks", bringing him considerable fame and respect. The book is a vivid travel memoir as well as a detailed scientific field journal covering biology, geology, and anthropology that demonstrates Darwin's keen powers of observation. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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After London Aug 14, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read "After London", a Science Fiction precursor by Richard Jefferies first published in 1885. In it’s day referred to as Fantasy or Romance, now we may describe it as eco-apocalyptic. The story tells of how London becomes a swampland after an unspecified natural disaster delivers England over to the mercy of nature. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Heidi pt. 2 Aug 12, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the next selection of the classic children’s story Heidi, published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. It is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. Heidi is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Luck on the Wing Aug 09, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read from "Luck on the Wing" by Major Elmer Haslett. This 1920 book offers a first hand account of combat in the air by an American observer or "sky spy." To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

World War I was the first conflict where combat took to the skies in machines that provided powered and maneuverable flight. This was a risky profession where brave young men flew into battle in machines made of fabric and wood. The author was regarded as one of the finest practitioners of his craft.

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Sense and Sensibility Aug 07, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to Jane Austen’s 1811, "Sense and Sensibility". It was published anonymously; 'By A Lady' appears on the title page where the author's name might have been. It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters as they must move with their widowed mother from the estate on which they grew up. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Little Two Eyes Aug 05, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a fairy tale called "Little One Eye, Two Eyes and Three Eyes" from The Green Fairy Book, published in 1892 and published by Andrew Lang, written by Jacob Grimm, according to the original book. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Lang’s wife Nora Lang took over the editing of the many more published starting in the 1890s. There were 25 collections of stories total published between 1889 and 1913 by the couple. These collections have been immensely influential; the Langs gave many of the tales their first appearance in English.

British fairy tale collections were rare at the time; fairy tales were seen as brutal, escapist and unrealistic and thus a bad influence for young readers. Over a generation, Lang's books worked a revolution in this public perception.

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Blackbirds and Nightingales | Birdwatching Aug 02, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read a chapter from the book, "Bird Watching" titled "Watching Blackbirds, Nightingales, Sand-martins, etc. “Bird Watching” was published in 1901 by Edmund Selous.

The author started as a conventional naturalist, but Selous developed a hatred of the killing of animals for scientific study and was a pioneer of bird-watching as a method of scientific study. He was a strong proponent of non-destructive bird-study as opposed to the collection of skins and eggs. The shooting of birds for scientific purposes, like building museum collections, he strongly rejected.

The author was a solitary man and was not well known in ornithological circles. He avoided both the company of ornithologists and reading their observations so as to base his conclusions entirely on his own observations. Selous continued bird-watching and writing until near the end of his life.

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Araby | Dubliners Jul 31, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the short story "Araby", from the collection "Dubliners", written by James Joyce in 1914. The stories in Dubliners form a naturalistic depiction of Irish middle class life in and around Dublin in the early years of the 20th century. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The stories were written when Irish nationalism was at its peak, and a search for a national identity and purpose was raging; at a crossroads of history and culture, Ireland was jolted by various converging ideas and influences.

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The Princess and the Goblin pt. 2 Jul 29, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read the second part to "The Princess and the Goblin", a children’s fantasy novel, published in 1872. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George MacDonald’s "The Princess and the Goblin" tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home.

When we left off, the little princess found herself lost in a labyrinth of halls and rooms. She then is introduced to a beautiful, kind and strange old woman sitting at a yarn spinning wheel.

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Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette Jul 26, 2019

Tonight, we’ll be reading selections from, "The Gentlemen’s Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness" written by Cecil B. Hartley in 1860.

Snoozecast was surprised to find nothing online about the author besides having written another book on the life of Daniel Boone. Perhaps it is not coincidental that the author of, "The Ladies Book of Etiquette" was published the same year by an author with the same last name - Florence Hartley.

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A Trip to Venus Jul 24, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from, "A Trip to Venus" published in 1897 and written by John Munro.In the story, Our Narrator, his old friend Professor Grazen an astronomer, Mr. Carmichael an engineer, and his daughter Miss Carmichael, travel in a spaceship to the planet Venus. We pick up in Chapter 6, "In Space" just after the crew has launched out of Earth's atmosphere. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Wuthering Heights Jul 22, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read, "Wuthering Heights" published in 1847, it was Emily Brontë's only novel. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Early critics were mixed in their assessment and many were puzzled by the novel's multiple narrators and non-chronological structure. Much of the Victorian public believed the novel was written by a man based on the violent and passionate imagery.

Even though the novel received mixed reviews when it came out, it has since become an English literary classic, and tells the tale of a tempestuous romance between Heathcliff, an orphan, and Catherine Earnshaw who becomes his close companion.

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Madame Bovary Jul 19, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the fantastic classic, "Madame Bovary". It was the debut novel of French writer, Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Madame Bovary lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life. A seminal work of literary realism, the novel is now considered Flaubert's masterpiece, and one of the most influential literary works in history.

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Acadia National Park Jul 17, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original,“Acadia National Park”. Come wander inside this 108 square mile oasis on your way to Blackwoods campground where ultimately you plan on falling asleep to the rhythmic waves of the Atlantic. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Cowherd and the Weaver Jul 15, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, by listener request, we’ll read two versions of a traditional Chinese folk-tale called "The Cowherd and the Weaver" a story about star-crossed lovers that spurred the Qixi Festival, a romantic festival that is often regarded as Chinese Valentine's Day. The Qixi festival inspired the Tanabata festival in Japan and the Chilseok festival in Korea. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Oregon Trail Jul 12, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read from a book called, "The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life" by Francis Parkman. It was originally serialized in Knickerbocker's Magazine and subsequently published as a book in 1849. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The account of a summer tour of the High Plains of Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas met with the acclaim of early reviewers like Herman Melville, who, though he on the whole lauded the book for "the true wild-game flavor," complained of its demeaning presentation of Native Americans and its misleading title.

Parkman's excursion led him only along the first third, the flat stretch of the 2,100 mile trail; he never saw the cruelest parts across the mountains and deserts.

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A Scandal in Bohemia | Sherlock Holmes Jul 10, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1892. "The Adventures" are a collection of twelve short stories, starting with, "A Scandal in Bohemia". Holmes is portrayed as offering a new, fairer sense of justice.

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Don Quixote pt. 2 Jul 08, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the second part to Miguel de Cervante’s, “Don Quixote”. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Written in the early 1600s of Spain, Don Quixote is considered to be, perhaps, the most influential work from Spanish history. It depicts a nobleman who reads so many romantic adventure novels that he decides to become a knight.

In pt. 1, we read chapter one, where Don Quixote decides to become a knight, and sets about in preparation for his adventure: he fashions a homemade suit of armor and cardboard, names his old frail horse, “Rocinante”, and officially proclaims a pretty village girl named Aldonza Lorenzo to be in knightly love with. He renames her Dulcinea del Toboso. He has never actually met her and she may or may not actually exist.

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How to Amuse Yourself and Others Jul 05, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we'll read two selections from, "How to Amuse Yourself and Others" published in 1893 and written by Lina and Adelia Beard. A listener wrote to us asking for a Snoozecast about pressed flowers, so the passages tonight include that and other flower crafts, along with how to build a hammock. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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4th of July Jul 03, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a medley of poems concerning Independence Day. Titles include, "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, "Concord Hymn" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman, "To The Fourth of July" by Swami Vivekanada and, "The Building of a Ship" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. We'll begin with, "Paul Revere's Ride" also by Longfellow. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

The poem commemorates the actions of Paul Revere on April 18, 1775. Modern critics emphasize the poem's many historical inaccuracies, most significantly perhaps is Longfellow giving sole credit to Revere for the collective achievements of multiple riders.

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Aladdin Jul 01, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read, "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp", a story out of the Blue Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang in 1889. "Aladdin" is a middle eastern folk-tale thought to be originally written by Hanna Diyab, and is one of the tales from the book, "One Thousand and One Nights", otherwise known as "The Arabian Nights. Since it first appeared in the early 18th century, Aladdin has been one of the best known and most retold of all folk-tales. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Autobiography of a Yogi Jun 28, 2019

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to the 1946 autobiography by Paramahansa Yogananda, titled, "Autobiography of a Yogi."

Yogananda lived from 1893-1952 and was born in India. Besides detailing his life, the book is an introduction to the methods of attaining God-realization and to the spiritual thought of the East, starting with his childhood search for a Guru.

The book inspired many people, including Steve Jobs who read it once a year throughout his life, and gave it away as a gift to attendees at his posthumous memorial service.

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The Lady with the Dog Jun 26, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read the 1899 short story by Russian author Anton Chekhov titled, "The Lady with a Dog". The story describes a surprising love affair between two unhappily married people — Dmitri and Anna. This is one of Chekhov's most famous pieces of short fiction. Vladimir Nabokov, for instance, considers it as one of the greatest short stories ever written. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Study of Plant Life Jun 24, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read the opening to, "The Study of Plant Life" by M.C. Stopes, published in 1910. M.C. Stopes, short for Marie Charlotte, lived from 1880-1958 and was a British author, paleobotanist, and women's rights campaigner. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Ladies' Book of Etiquette Jun 21, 2019

Tonight, we'll read from the, "Ladies' Book of Etiquette" written in 1860 by Florence Hartley. Hartley was a Victoria-era writer whose work was meant for women of the era, covering topics of etiquette and needlework. She was also an advocate for women's health. (Don't worry fellas, we'll be dropping the "Gentleman's Book of Etiquette", also by Hartley in a future episode.)

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Youth Jun 19, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from Isaac Asimov’s 1952 science fiction short story titled, “Youth”. "Youth" is one of the rare Asimov stories with alien characters. It features two boys and some strange alien creatures. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Jun 17, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read from, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" an 1865 novel written by Lewis Carroll. It tells the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with all ages. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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A Princess of Mars Jun 14, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “A Princess of Mars”, the 1912 science fantasy novel by American author Edgar Rice Burroughs. Full of swordplay and daring feats, the novel is considered a classic example of 20th-century pulp fiction, and of planetary romance. The story is set on Mars, imagined as a dying planet with a harsh desert environment. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Mount Monadnock Jun 12, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll be reading a Snoozecast original, "Mount Monadnock". Learn about the majestic New Hampshire mountain and experience a leisurely hike up it and perhaps - the opportunity for a well earned snooze. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Velveteen Rabbit Jun 10, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read "The Velveteen Rabbit" by listener request. "The Velveteen Rabbit" is a British children's book written by Margery Williams in 1922. It chronicles the story of stuffed rabbit's desire to become real through the love of his owner. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Nature Jun 07, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from, "Nature", an essay published in 1836 by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In the essay Emerson puts forth the foundation of transcendentalism, a belief system that espouses a non-traditional appreciation of nature. Transcendentalism suggests that the divine, or God, suffuses nature, and suggests that reality can be understood by studying nature. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Voyage Out Jun 05, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we'll read from, "The Voyage Out" by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1915. In the story Rachael Vinrace embarks for South America on her father's ship and is launched on a course of self-discovery in a kind of modern mythical voyage. The novel also introduces Clarissa Dalloway, who would become the central character of Woolf's later novel, "Mrs Dalloway." To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Jungle Book Jun 03, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read the opening to, "The Jungle Book", an 1894 collection by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as a tiger and a bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who is raised in the jungle by wolves. The stories are set in a forest in India. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Island of Dr. Moreau May 31, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from, "The Island of Dr. Moreau" an 1896, classic, early science-fiction novel, by author H. G. Wells. The novel is the earliest depiction of the science fiction motif "uplift" in which a more advanced species intervenes in the evolution of an animal species to bring the later to a higher level of intelligence. In this story, a shipwrecked man is rescued by a passing boat who is let on the island home of Dr. Moreau, a mad scientist who creates human-like hybrid beings from animals. This remains one of Wells' best-known works. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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This Side of Paradise May 29, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read from “This Side of Paradise”, the 1920 debut novel from F. Scott Fitzgerald, who later wrote "The Great Gatsby". The book examines the lives and morality of post–World War I youth. The novel famously helped F. Scott Fitzgerald gain Zelda Sayre's hand in marriage; its publication was her condition of acceptance. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Bamboo and the Turtle May 27, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we’ll read a classic Chinese folk tale, “Bamboo and the Turtle” from “A Chinese Wonder Book”, written by Norman Hinsdale Pitman in 1919. The tale features a boy named Bamboo and a special talking turtle. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Walden pt. 2 May 24, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read another snoozy excerpt from Walden, chapter 9, "The Ponds”, by transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. Originally published in 1854, it is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. The work is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and—to some degree—a manual for self-reliance. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Bartleby, The Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street May 22, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll be reading "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street". A short story, by Herman Melville, first serialized anonymously in two parts in 1853. In the story, a Wall St. lawyer hires a new clerk who, after an initial bout of hard work, refuses to do any task required of him. Though no great success at the time of it's publication "Bartleby, the Scrivener" is now among the most noted of American short stories, and is considered a precursor of absurdist literature. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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My Father's Dragon May 20, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read the beginning of, “My Father’s Dragon” by Ruth Stiles Gannett, first published in 1948. A Newbery Honor Book, this children’s story follows the adventures of a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby dragon. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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New Hampshire May 17, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. We read from Robert Frost's, 1924 Pulitzer Prize winning poetry collection titled, "New Hampshire" tonight. Frost was an American poet who was much admired for his depictions of the rural life of New England, his command of American colloquial speech, and his realistic verse portraying ordinary people in everyday situations. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Following the Equator May 15, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Mark Twain's, "Following the Equator" (sometimes titled "More Tramps Abroad") is a non-fiction social commentary in the form of a travelogue published in 1897. Twain found himself nearly bankrupt at the age of 60 — so he took a lecture tour of the British Empire to generate funds and published this book, which was critical of Imperialism. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Bell May 13, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read a tale from Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales called The Bell. In a village, everyone can hear the sounds of a mysterious bell. The townspeople set out to find the source. Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish writer, is known as one of the world’s classic storytellers. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Prophet May 10, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "The Prophet" by the Lebanese American poet and writer Kahlil Gibran, was first published in 1923. "The Prophet" has been translated in over one hundred languages making it one of the most translated books in history, and it's never been out of print. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Age of Innocence May 08, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read from, "The Age of Innocence", a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize. The story is set in the 1870s, in upper-class, "Gilded-Age" New York City. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Momotaro May 06, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read the classic Japanese folk tale, "Momotaro", or, "The Story of the Son of a Peach." The story is about a boy who comes from heaven inside a giant peach to be the son of an old childless couple. This English translation is from Yei Theodora Ozaki, who included it in her 1911 compilation, Japanese Fairy Tales. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Night Swim May 03, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we're pleased to read a Snoozecast original story, "Night Swim" is a short, 2nd person narrative that finds you meeting an old friend to find a secret swimming spot, a lake within the hills, as the night slips away... To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Call of the Wild Apr 30, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "The Call of the Wild" is the classic 1903 adventure story by Jack London. The novel is set in Yukon, Canada, during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, when strong sled dogs were in high demand.

The central character of the novel is a dog named "Buck". The story opens at a Californian ranch, when Buck is stolen from his home and sold into service as an Alaskan sled dog. The story, which was enormously popular at the time of publication, is a tale of survival and return to primitivism.

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Peter Pan pt. 2 Apr 29, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll continue reading, "Peter Pan" the 1911 novel by J. M. Barrie. When we last left off the Darling children, Wendy, Michael and John, as well as Mrs. Darling herself were fast asleep in the nursery, while Peter Pan, the free-spirited boy from Neverland sneaks into the room. We pick up at the start of Chapter 2, "The Shadow." To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Mysterious Affair at Styles Apr 26, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read from the detective novel "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", which is the very first published novel by Agatha Christie. She wrote it in the middle of World War I, and it was first published in 1920. The story features many of the elements that have become icons of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, largely due to Christie's influence. “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” launched Agatha Christie's writing career. It is set in a large, isolated country manor. Christie and her husband subsequently named their house "Styles". To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Anne of Green Gables Apr 24, 2019

Tonight, we read from the classic 1908 novel, "Anne of Green Gables", written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Written for all ages, it recounts the adventures of an orphan named Anne on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame Apr 22, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. Hugo wrote it largely to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of the Gothic architecture, which was neglected and often destroyed to be replaced by new buildings or defaced by replacement of parts of buildings in a newer style. The story is set in Paris in 1482 during the reign of Louis XI. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Old Fashioned Flowers Apr 19, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Belgian author, Maurice Maeterlinck, wrote this essay collection, "Old Fashioned Flowers" in 1905. Maeterlinck, who lived from 1862-1949, was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1911. This book is an ode to flowers and springtime. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Picture of Dorian Gray Apr 17, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. We read the opening to, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" written by Oscar Wilde and first published in 1890. The Gothic and philosophical story was considered offensive and indecent by Victorian English sensibilities. It was thus censored, sparking much controversy. The title character, Dorian Gray, sells his soul to make a portrait of himself age, rather than himself. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Princess and the Goblin Apr 15, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Published in 1872, "The Princess and the Goblin" is a children's fantasy novel. One of the most successful and beloved of Victorian fairy tales, George MacDonald's, "The Princess and the Goblin" tells the story of young Princess Irene and her friend Curdie, who must outwit the threatening goblins who live in caves beneath her mountain home. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

Anne Thaxter Eaton writes in, "A Critical History of Children's Literature" that, "The Princess and the Goblin" and its sequel, "quietly suggest in every incident ideas of courage and honor."

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Flatland Apr 12, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Written in 1884 by Edwin Abbott Abbott, "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" was written under the pseudonym, "A. Square." The book used the fictional two dimensional world of Flatland to comment on the hierarchy of Victorian Culture. The novella's more enduring contribution is it's examination of different dimensions. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Moby Dick Apr 10, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Ceteology" is the title of Chapter 32 of Herman Melville's 1851 "Moby Dick". This chapter is a detour from the progress of the plot, and Melville delves into the study of marine mammal like dolphins and whales. Moby Dick was a commercial flop at the time, out of print by Melville's death, and only found it's reputation as a great American novel in the 20th century. Author D.H. Lawrence called it, "one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world," and "the greatest book of the sea ever written." To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Sea Fairies pt. 2 Apr 08, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read another excerpt from L. Frank Baum's, "The Sea Fairies", picking up more or less where we left off. Baum is best known for, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".

"The Sea Fairies" is a magical underwater fantasy following Mayre Griffiths, nicknamed Trot, as she fulfills her wish of seeing a mermaid for the first time. Her adventure is filled with a journey through an underwater kingdom where she meets kings, queens, and villains along the way.

When we left off, Trot and her old sailor friend, Cap'n Bill are paddling on a row boat along the shore and looking at sea caves.

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The Early History of the Airplane Apr 05, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read "The Early History of the Airplane" written by Orville and Wilbur Wright. This book consists of three short essays about the beginnings of human flight. The Wright Brothers weren't the first to build and fly an aircraft, but they were the first to invent the ability to control the aircraft's wings and make modern flight possible in 1903. This is their recounting of the world-changing feat. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Meaning of Relativity Apr 03, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read from Albert Einstein’s, "The Meaning of Relativity". This compilation of Princeton lectures address the consequences of Einstein's theories of relativity. Einstein developed these theories which became one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). Special relativity applies to elementary particles and their interactions, describing all their physical phenomena except gravity. General relativity explains the law of gravitation and its relation to other forces of nature. It applies to the cosmological and astrophysical realm. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Bamboo-Cutter & The Moon-Child pt. 2 Apr 01, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we continue where we left off from a Japanese folk story called The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child. It is taken from a book originally published in 1908 by Yei Theodora Ozaki, from Tokyo. The author’s story was inspired by the Japanese classic, "Taketari Monogatari.” In the story, the father, the bamboo-cutter, beseeches his beautiful and magical moon-princess adopted daughter to pick one of five gallant knights as her husband. She has demanded further trials to vie for her love. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Vistas in Sicily Mar 29, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Vistas in Sicily" is a 1912 travel memoir by Arthur Stanley Riggs. Riggs was an American writer and historian, in 1898 he served in the navy for the Spanish American War, and decades later served as librarian for the Office of Censorship during World War II. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Man in the Arena Mar 27, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read the opening to the 1910 speech by Theodore Roosevelt entitled, "Citizenship in a Republic" at the Sorbonne in Paris. The speech is popularly known as "The Man in the Arena." To this day, someone who is heavily involved in a situation that requires courage, skill, or tenacity is sometimes referred to as "the man in the arena." To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Viking Tale Mar 25, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read from the beginning of a book called "Viking Tale", written in 1902 by Jennie Hall. This book is focused around the story of Harald Fairhair, first king of Norway around the year 900, but also draws upon other sources to produce a view of Viking life. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Flower Garden Mar 22, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "The Flower Garden", by Ida Dandridge Bennett is a 1903 "how-to" horticultural book. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Peter Pan Mar 20, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read the opening to the 1911 novel, "Peter Pan" by J. M. Barrie. Peter Pan is a mischievous boy who can fly and has many adventures on the island of Neverland. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Cave Diving in Tulum Mar 18, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Cave Diving in Tulum", is a story by Snoozecast. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo . Cave diving is a popular attraction as the area boasts thousands of cenotes, or underground caves. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Moonstone Mar 15, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Generally considered to be the first detective novel, "The Moonstone", originally published in 1868, set the groundwork for the genre's format to come.

The Moonstone of the title is a diamond, not to be confused with the semi-precious moonstone gem. It gained its name from its association with the Hindu god of the moon, Chandra. It was said to be protected by hereditary guardians on the orders of Vishnu, and to wax and wane in brilliance along with the light of the moon.

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Song of Myself Mar 13, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read part of a poem by Walt Whitman titled, "Song of Myself", found in his 1855 collection, "Leaves of Grass". "Song of Myself" is considered one of the most influential poems in American history. Rather than being written in a structured, metered form, it is written in a rhythmic, chant-like quality through a series of vignettes. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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East of the Sun and West of the Moon Mar 11, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read a story out of the "Blue Fairy Book" called, "East of the Sun and West of the Moon", edited by Andrew Lang in 1889. This story is a Norwegian fairy tale about the search for a lost husband. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Heidi Mar 08, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read the classic children’s story, "Heidi" published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. It is a novel about the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. Heidi is one of the best-selling books ever written and is is among the best-known works of Swiss literature. To unlock full episodes and ad-free listening of this series and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Mysticism and Logic Mar 06, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read the opening to a 1918 collection of essays titled, "Mysticism and Logic", by Bertrand Russell. Russell, a Nobel Prize winner, is one of the world’s best-known authorities on logic. In it, he challenges the romantic mysticism of the 19th century, positing instead his theory of logical atomism. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Bamboo-Cutter & The Moon-Child Mar 04, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we read a Japanese folk story called, "The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child". It is taken from a book originally published in 1908 by Yei Theodora Ozaki, from Tokyo. The author’s story was inspired by the Japanese classic, "Taketari Monogata." To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Drifting North Mar 01, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Cattle Brands" by Andy Adams is a collection of short stories best heard around a campfire. This tale, called "Drifting North" is a brief anecdote of the troubles a band of cow punchers run into while moving a herd through some dangerous country.

The author, whose most famous work "Log of a Cowboy", writes from personal experience. Adams spent ten years driving cattle on western trails in Texas during the 1880s.

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Folk-Tales of Ceylon Feb 27, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume 3" was written by a British engineer living in colonial Ceylon during the Victorian era named Henry Parker. During his work as an engineer he developed an admiration for the skills displayed by the ancient Sinhalese at the time of the construction of their reservoirs. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Sea Fairies Feb 25, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. While L. Frank Baum is best known for the 14 novels in the “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” series the prolific children’s author explored other fantastical worlds. “The Sea Fairies” is an magical underwater fantasy following Mayre Griffiths, nicknamed Trot or occasionally "Tiny Trot” as she fulfills her wish of seeing a mermaid for the first time.

Her adventure is filled with a journey through an underwater kingdom where she meets kings, queens and villains along the way.

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The Kentish Coast Feb 22, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. “The Kentish Coast” by Charles G. Harper is one of many self-illustrated travel books, exploring the regions, roads, coastlines, literary connections, old inns and more - of Britain. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Our Family Affairs Feb 20, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Originally published in 1920, “Our Family Affairs, 1867-1896” by E. F. Benson is a memoir by the precocious and prolific British author. Many of his works are famed for their wry and dry camp humor and social observation. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Toboggan Nationals Feb 18, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we read a Snoozecast original titled, "The Toboggan Nationals" - the story is a second person narrative that takes you on a cold winter car ride through Maine's coastal landscape from owls head to your destination at The Toboggan National Championships in Camden. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Walden Feb 15, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Walden" is Henry David Thoreau's reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, originally published in 1854. The work is part personal declaration of independence , social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and — to some degree — a manual for self reliance. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Prince and the Pauper Feb 13, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Originally published in 1881, “The Prince and the Pauper” was Twain’s first attempt at historical fiction. In the novel, two boys identical in appearance exchange identities. Although written for children, “The Prince and the Pauper" is a critique of social inequality and has been adapted for the screen and television a number of times. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Beethoven, a character study Feb 11, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Originally published in 1905, this biographical book on Beethoven gives a glimpse of the great composer who died in 1827. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Creation of the Teton Landscape Feb 08, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we read an excerpt from, "Creation of the Teton Landscape" by David Love, John Calvin Reed and Kenneth Lee Pierce, originally published in 1968. This booklet, prepared by members of the U.S. Geological Survey, discusses how geological phenomena are responsible for the magnificent scenery of the Teton region. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Siddhartha Feb 06, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse was originally published in 1951. It deals with the spiritual journey of self-discovery by a man named Siddhartha during the time of the Gautama Buddha.

The word Siddhartha is made up of two words in Sanskrit language, siddha (achieved) + artha (what was searched for), which together means "he who has found meaning (of existence)" or "he who has attained his goals."

In fact, the Buddha's own name, before his renunciation, was Siddhartha Gautama, Prince of Kapilavastu. In this book, the Buddha is referred to as "Gotama."

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My Robin Feb 04, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "My Robin” by Frances Hodgson Burnett was originally published in 1912. Burnett was an American-English novelist and playwright. She is perhaps best known for her children’s stories, in particular “The Secret Garden.” “My Robin” is a charming anecdote that further expands upon the Robin featured in “The Secret Garden.” To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Flower Fields of Alpine Switzerland Feb 01, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we read a snoozy opening to, "The Flower Fields of Alpine Switzerland" by George Flemwell, originally published in 1911. You'll hear lots of descriptions of mountains and flowers, and flowers on mountains. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Young King Jan 30, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight we read the opening to "The Young King", a shorty story within Oscar Wilde’s "A House of Pomegranates". "A House of Pomegranates" was written in 1891 as a collection of fairy tales that Wilde may have said was "intended neither for the British child nor the British public.” "The Young King" tells the story of the illegitimate shepherd son of the recently dead king's daughter, and now the only heir to the kingdom. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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What Murfee Remembered Jan 28, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Tonight, we'll read a Snoozecast original story titled, “What Murfee Remembered”. In this short story, Murfee is a dog who lives in a city apartment building with his two humans. He has something important on the tip of his mind that he spends his day trying to remember. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Time Machine Jan 25, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Published in 1895, Wells paints a vision of the distant future in his first novel. Considered to be one of science fiction’s most important authors, Wells contributed to the genre with many notable works: “The Island of Doctor Moreau”, “The Invisible Man”, and “The War of the Worlds”.

In his non-fiction futurologist works, Wells predicted the advent of airplanes, space travel and even Wikipedia – although he called it “Permanent World Encyclopaedia”. The term itself “Time Machine” was coined by Wells and is now universally used to refer to any such vehicle.

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Great Expectations Jan 23, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Great Expectations" is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and one of his last completed novels. It depicts the personal growth and personal development of an orphan nicknamed Pip.

It is Dickens's second novel, after David Copperfield, to be fully narrated in the first person. The novel was first published as a serial in a periodical between 1860 and 1861, and shortly thereafter was published as a novel.

The novel is set in Kent and London in the early to mid-19th century and contains some of Dickens's most memorable scenes.

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Miss Ludington's Sister Jan 21, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. "Miss Ludington’s Sister", written in 1885, is an earlier work by Edward Bellamy. The author later found fame as a socialist Utopian science fiction writer. This particular book, however, is a standard love story with a twist. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Jan 18, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. While most listeners may be familiar with the highly successful film adaptation starring Judy Garland released in 1939, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was originally published in 1900 written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow.

The Library of Congress has declared Oz to be "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairy-tale." The story follows Dorothy a young girl from Kansas who is transported via cyclone (along with her dog Toto) to the magical Land of Oz. \

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How a Dear Little Couple Went Abroad Jan 16, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. This adorable turn-of-the-century children's book was originally published in 1900 by Mary Dow Brine, a New York based author who published several works in Harper's Magazine in the 1800s. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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A House of Gentlefolk Jan 14, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Also known as "Home of the Gentry" and "A Nest of the Gentry", "A House of Gentlefolk" is a novel by Ivan Turgenev published in 1859 Russia. It was enthusiastically received by Russian society and remained Turgenev's least controversial and most widely read novel until the end of the 19th century. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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The Talking Bird | One Thousand and One Nights Jan 11, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Also known as "The Arabian Nights," "One Thousand and One Nights" is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age, which ran from the 8th to the 14th centuries. This story is called "The Talking Bird, The Singing Tree and the Golden Water." To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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Journey to the Center of the Earth Jan 09, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. This 1864 science fiction novel tells the story of professor Otto Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel and their guide Hans as they encounter many adventures and hazards traveling through the center of the Earth. The English language edition read tonight changes the professor's name to Hardwigg and Axel's name to Harry.

The book was inspired by Charles Lyell's "Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man" written in 1863. Although this genre of subterranean fiction already existed long before Verne, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" considerably added to the genre's popularity and influenced later such writings.

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Don Quixote Jan 06, 2019

We hope you enjoy this preview of an episode from our back catalog available to our premium subscribers. Written in early 1600s Spain, "Don Quixote" is considered to be perhaps the most influential work from Spanish history. It depicts a nobleman who reads so many romantic adventure novels that he decides to become a knight. Don Quixote sees what he wants in the world, and the word quixotic stems from this character - meaning impractically idealistic. To unlock full episodes, ad-free listening, and more, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.

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