Stay ConnectedSnoozecast is the podcast designed to help you fall asleep.
Episodes air every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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Copyright: © ℗ & © 2020 Snoozecast: Stories for Sleep
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.
The novel follows Isabel Archer, a spirited and idealistic young American who travels to Europe in search of experience and independence. When she unexpectedly inherits a fortune, her circumstances shift dramatically—but so too do the stakes of her freedom. Henry James uses Isabel’s story to explore the quiet perils of autonomy, as she is gradually drawn into a web of manipulations and choices that test the boundaries of her self-determination.
James wrote “The Portrait of a Lady” during his middle period, after moving to Europe himself, and the novel reflects his deepening interest in psychological realism and the nuances of cultural contrast. The book stands as a key work in the development of the modern novel, notable for its subtle characterization and moral ambiguity.
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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.
Madame d’Aulnoy, writing at the end of the 17th century, is credited with helping to popularize the term “fairy tale” itself—conte de fées—as she brought together aristocratic salon wit and magical storytelling. Her tales were never strictly for children; they were often satirical, romantic, and filled with elaborate detail meant to entertain adult audiences in the court of Louis XIV. They reflected the social norms and expectations of her time, particularly around the roles of women and the idea of destiny.
“The White Doe” is one of her lesser-known but richly imagined stories, blending themes of transformation, betrayal, and enchanted punishment. In this tale, the heroine is bound by a strange prophecy, and a single broken rule sets off a chain of magical consequences. The story’s combination of court intrigue, fairy interventions, and symbolic metamorphosis makes it a quintessential example of d’Aulnoy’s genre-bending flair.
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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, Anne is stunned to learn of Louisa Musgrove’s sudden engagement to Captain Benwick. The pairing seems unlikely—Louisa being lively and high-spirited, Benwick reserved and mournful—but Anne quickly attributes their attachment to circumstance: close proximity and shared vulnerability. Reflecting on it, Anne concludes their union makes sense and could bring mutual happiness.
Anne also feels an unspoken joy at the idea that Captain Wentworth is now free—though she barely dares to examine those feelings. Meanwhile, Sir Walter and Elizabeth are indifferent to the news, concerned only with social status, and reluctant to associate with the Crofts. Anne, in contrast, finds quiet joy in observing Admiral and Mrs. Croft’s warm, equal companionship. A chance meeting with the Admiral in a print shop reveals his usual charm and humor, further endearing him to Anne.
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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.
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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.
This series does not necessarily need to be followed in order—as it drifts more like memory itself, circling themes and impressions rather than following a linear story. In this episode, we meet Charles Swann, a family acquaintance whose name and presence loom large in the narrator’s early life. Though Swann appears casual and charming, his social status, romantic entanglements, and eventual tragedies become central threads in the broader tapestry of the novel.
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Tonight, we’ll continue the 1928 children's book by A. A. Milne “The house at Pooh Corner”.
In the last episode Pooh discovers that fir-cones (and later sticks) dropped into the slow-moving river reappear downstream, invenitng the game of Poohsticks, which leads to playful mishaps such as Eeyore ending up inthe water. When Tigger’s bounce and the ensuing confusion prompt Rabbit to seek Christopher Robin’s judgment, Christopher Robin suggest they simply play Poohsticks together, turning the moment into a peaceful, shared pastime by the river.
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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. In the first episode, “Overture”, 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.
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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' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read the 29th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “An Epoch of Anne’s Life”.
In the last episode, Anne and her friends reenact the poem The Lady of Shalott by floating Anne down the river in a flatboat. She pretends to be the doomed lily maid, but the boat begins to leak and sinks. Anne is forced to climb onto the bridge supports and wait for help. Gilbert Blythe happens by in a rowboat and rescues her. Though still upset with him for past teasing, Anne reluctantly accepts the ride. Gilbert tries to reconcile and apologizes, but Anne coldly rebuffs him. Despite the dramatic mishap, Anne later admits the adventure was romantic.
— read by 'N' —
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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 Italian descent, Francatelli was a French-trained cook who worked for Queen Victoria. While best known for his lavish cookbook The Modern Cook, filled with elaborate dishes for aristocratic tables, Francatelli also had a keen interest in practical nourishment for everyday people. A Plain Cookery Book was his attempt to provide affordable, nutritious recipes for the working poor—a surprisingly progressive endeavor for someone with royal credentials.
The book contains instructions for everything from humble gruels to hearty stews, with occasional flourishes of culinary elegance. Francatelli emphasized the importance of thrift and economy in the kitchen, recommending ways to stretch small amounts of meat or repurpose leftovers. Though the language may feel formal by today’s standards, many of the recipes offer a glimpse into the ingenuity of 19th-century home cooks working with limited means.
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