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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.

Hartwig’s book presents a 19th-century view of natural and human-made underground wonders, from geological formations to sacred spaces carved into rock. In this excerpt, he turns his attention to the austere dwellings of ascetics and monks—places where silence and solitude were not only accepted but sought after. These caves and temples, often carved into cliffsides or hidden in remote valleys, served as places of meditation, penance, or retreat.

The tradition of eremitism can be traced back thousands of years, from the deserts of Egypt and Syria to the forested hills of India and the mountainous regions of China. Some hermits lived entirely alone, while others formed loose communities around a shared spiritual purpose. Their dwellings, carved or adapted from stone, remain today as enduring symbols of withdrawal from worldly life, and of the quiet human impulse to seek meaning in stillness.

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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.

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Tonight we'll read the next chapter of Good Wives, written by Louisa May Alcott, titled "Surprises". This is also known as the second half of the Little Women novel, and is considered the 43rd chapter as part of that work as a whole.

In our last chapter, Jo found herself adrift in a quieter home, struggling to lift her spirits or rekindle her sense of purpose. Though she tries to be useful, her days feel empty until simple comforts. Conversations with her parents. Small household tasks, and time with Meg and the children begin to steady her. Encouraged to write again, Jo pours her heart into a story that unexpectedly resonates with readers.

She warmly supports Amy and Laurie's news, though it stirs her own longing for connection. Alone in the attic, Jo finds an old note from Professor Bear and holds it close. Sensing something quietly beginning.

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Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe episode, we’ll read the tale “Old Pipes and the Dryad” by Frank R. Stockton and published in 1894.

Stockton was a popular American writer best known for his whimsical and gently satirical fairy tales. His most famous story, “The Lady, or the Tiger?”, posed a famously unsolvable riddle and brought him wide acclaim. But many of his lesser-known tales, like tonight’s, are just as imaginative and charming. Stockton often gave mythological or magical elements a lighthearted twist, grounding them in everyday human kindness or folly.

In classical mythology, a dryad is a tree spirit or nymph—typically female—who is bound to a particular tree, often an oak. The Greeks believed dryads were shy and long-lived, emerging only when their tree was especially old or under threat. Over time, the dryad became a symbol of the forest itself—an embodiment of nature’s quiet, watchful presence.

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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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