Snoozecast

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.

Bain, a British academic and translator, presented his works as delicate artifacts from the East, complete with ornate introductions describing his supposed discoveries. At the time, readers were fascinated by such “found” works, and many took them at face value, seeing them as glimpses into an exoticized vision of Indian literature. Only later did scholars conclude that Bain had likely authored the stories himself, drawing loosely on Hindu philosophy and mythological themes.

Whether authentic translation or original invention, The Descent of the Sun blends the cadence of classical myth with the romantic imagination of turn-of-the-century fantasy. The tales explore creation and rebirth, the intertwining of fate and desire, and the enduring victory of love over hardship—framed in the lyrical, almost musical prose that Bain favored.

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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 navigates Bath’s tightly woven social circuits—frequenting parties and strolling the streets—she continues to hope for a meaningful conversation with Wentworth, while contending with Lady Russell’s lingering disapproval and Mr. Elliot’s calculated charm. When a concert presents itself as a likely opportunity, Anne sets aside a visit to her friend Mrs. Smith in hopes of finally seeing Wentworth again—and possibly learning the truth of his feelings once and for all.

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Tonight, we’ll read from Elements of Arithmetic, written by Augustus De Morgan and first published in 1846.

De Morgan was a pioneering British mathematician and logician, remembered not only for his clear explanations but also for his sharp wit. He introduced the world to what we now call De Morgan’s Laws in logic, and was the first to formally define and use the term “mathematical induction.” Because he was a Unitarian and refused to subscribe to the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Anglican Church, he was denied a fellowship at Oxford and Cambridge. This principled stance however did not hinder his influence: he went on to become the first professor of mathematics at the newly founded University College London. His legacy is honored not only in mathematics but on the Moon itself, where a crater bears his name.

Elements of Arithmetic was one of his most widely read works, offering both beginners and more advanced students a foundation in the science of numbers. Arithmetic — the study of numbers, their properties, and their relationships — forms the bedrock of mathematics, bridging the practical art of calculation with the deeper theories that underpin algebra and number theory.

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Tonight, we’ll read about selecting wood from “Violin Making” written by Walter H. Mayson and published in 1909.

The modern violin first appeared in 16th-century Italy, evolving from earlier bowed string instruments like the medieval rebec and Renaissance viol. Over time, it became both a tool of virtuosity and an object of cultural symbolism, equally at home in a grand concert hall or a lively village square. While the word “fiddle” is often used interchangeably with “violin,” its music spans a surprisingly wide range—from Western classical to folk, country, jazz, and even many non-Western traditions.

For centuries, violinists and collectors have prized instruments made by legendary families such as Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivari. These instruments inspire almost mythic reverence for their tone and craftsmanship, with qualities that have resisted precise scientific explanation. While modern luthiers continue to challenge the old masters, a Stradivari remains a benchmark of beauty and rarity—one selling for £9.8 million (about $15.9 million US) in 2011 still holds the record.

Walter H. Mayson, the author of tonight’s text, was an English violin maker who entered the craft relatively late in life, beginning at the age of 39. His book, published after his death, distills a lifetime’s devotion to the art, offering practical instruction and insights into the materials and methods behind the making of fine violins. In this excerpt, he turns his attention to one of the most crucial stages of the process—choosing the wood itself.

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Tonight, we’ll continue the 1928 children's book by A. A. Milne “The House at Pooh Corner” with the second-to-last chapter, titled “In Which Eeyore Finds the Wolery and Owl Moves Into It.”

In the last episode, Pooh and Piglet set out on a blustery autumn day to visit friends, deciding they would wish everyone a “Very Happy Thursday.” After stopping at several homes, they fought through the strong wind to Owl’s house. While they were visiting, the wind toppled Owl’s tree, sending the house tilting sideways and blocking the door.

Pooh, Piglet, and Owl found themselves trapped inside. Owl dismissed Pooh’s first ideas for escape, but eventually Pooh suggested a plan: tie a string to Piglet, hoist him up to Owl’s ceiling letter-box, and have him squeeze through to get outside for help. Though nervous, Piglet bravely agreed. With Pooh and Owl pulling, Piglet was lifted up, squeezed out through the letter-box, and escaped.

Once outside, Piglet called back that Owl’s tree had fallen and he would fetch Christopher Robin to help clear the doorway and bring a rope for Pooh. Piglet ran off on his errand, leaving Pooh and Owl to wait—while Owl resumed telling a long story about his Uncle Robert. Piglet’s quick action and courage had saved the day, making him the hero of the moment.

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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.

Her prose is often described as impressionistic, capturing fleeting moments and shifts in mood with a painter’s sensitivity. “At the Bay” is part of her final collection, The Garden Party and Other Stories, and is set in a sunlit coastal settlement reminiscent of the bays near her hometown of Wellington. In it, the dawn opens over a household stirring awake, and the reader is invited into a world of sensory immediacy—shifting light, sea breezes, and the subtle interplay between family members.

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Tonight, we’ll read poems by John Keats starting with one titled “Sleep and Poetry.”

John Keats’ work is a cornerstone of English Romantic poetry, rich with symbolism, sensual detail, and allusions to Greek and Roman myth as well as romanticised tales of chivalry. His verse overflows with vivid imagery—nightingales, Grecian urns, moonlit fields—while also contemplating beauty, truth, and life’s transience.

Born in London in 1795, Keats trained as a surgeon before devoting himself entirely to poetry. In just four years, he produced the works that would secure his place in literary history, though in his lifetime his books sold barely two hundred copies. Today, his name is among the most revered in English literature.

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Tonight, we’ll read the 31st chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Where the Brook and River Meet”

In the last episode, The Queen’s Class Is Organized, Anne’s dream of becoming a teacher begins to take shape when Miss Stacy invites her to join a special class preparing for entrance exams to Queen’s Academy. Marilla, though secretly very fond of Anne, initially seems stern but ultimately supports her ambition. Anne is deeply grateful and vows to study hard, though she dreads being separated from Diana, who is not joining the class.

The Queen’s class includes Anne, Gilbert, and several other Avonlea students, and a friendly but fierce academic rivalry develops between Anne and Gilbert. Though Anne insists she no longer cares about him, she privately regrets having rebuffed his earlier attempt at friendship. As winter turns to spring, studies lose their appeal, and the students welcome vacation, especially after Miss Stacy confirms she’ll return next year.

The chapter ends with a glimpse of Anne’s growing maturity—she sets aside her schoolbooks for summer, determined to enjoy her last season of girlhood. Meanwhile, even Mrs. Lynde admits Anne has turned out remarkably well, and Marilla quietly reflects on how deeply proud and attached she has become to the once unpredictable orphan girl.

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Tonight, we’ll read from Pythagoras and the Delphic Mysteries, written by Édouard Schuré and published in English in 1909.

This work is part of Schuré’s larger cycle The Great Initiates, which presents the lives and teachings of spiritual figures like Krishna, Hermes, Orpheus, Plato, and Jesus through a blend of historical research and philosophical interpretation. In this volume, Schuré attempts to reconstruct the hidden life of Pythagoras—not only as a mathematician but as a mystic, reformer, and initiate into the sacred traditions of ancient Egypt, Greece, and India.

Schuré’s writing reflects the 19th-century fascination with esoteric knowledge and spiritual evolution. While modern scholarship may question some of his interpretations, the result is a richly imaginative account that captures how Pythagoras was viewed not just as a historical figure, but as a symbol of harmony, wisdom, and the mystical power of number.

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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".

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