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.

-- read by 'V' -- 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Little Women ch. 9 pt. 2 "Vanity Fair"

Snoozecast is the podcast designed to help you fall asleep.
Episodes air every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Learn more about us at snoozecast.com, and visit our sponsor Robody, at ro.co/snoozecast for a special deal that will help any listeners that would like a medically supported weight loss program. It also helps Snoozecast when you sign up through that special link, so thank you! 
Learn about our premium listening options at snoozecast.com/plus, which unlocks ad-free listening to our expanded catalog, including bonus original stories.

Kids & Family

Health & Fitness

Leisure

Stories for Kids

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.

— 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

Olive and the Endless Rain

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.

— read by 'N' —
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

Anne of Green Gables pt. 15

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.

— read by 'N' —
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

The Spelling Bee

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.
— read by 'N' —
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

The Ugly Duckling

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.

— read by 'N' —
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

Little Women ch. 9 pt. 2 "Vanity Fair"

Download our free app to listen on your phone