Alice comes across the Caterpillar sitting on a mushroom, who asks Alice who she is. But with all the strange things happening to her in Wonderland, Alice is having a hard time figuring that out herself. Despite the Caterpillar's short remarks, Alice stands her ground and demands that the Caterpillar tell her who it is first. But the Caterpillar just replies with "Why?" leaving Alice with another puzzling question. However, the Caterpillar promises to have something important to say and calls Al...
Feb 10, 2023•14 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Alice has a curious adventure as she stumbles upon the White Rabbit who is frantically searching for his fan and gloves. The Rabbit mistakes Alice for his housemaid, Mary Ann, and demands she bring him his lost possessions. Alice, eager to prove herself, sets out on a wild goose chase to find the fan and gloves, and soon finds herself in a neat little house with a brass plate that reads "W. Rabbit." Upon entering the house, she rushes up the stairs in search of the lost items and finds herself i...
Feb 09, 2023•16 min•Season 5Ep. 4
The chapter opens with a bedraggled and damp collection of creatures gathering on the riverbank. They are all cross and uncomfortable, desperately trying to find a way to dry off. As the conversation goes on, Alice finds herself chatting with the animals as if they were old friends. The authority among the group, a mouse, calls for everyone to sit down and listen as it promises to dry them off. With great authority, the mouse begins to recite a history lesson about William the Conqueror, but the...
Feb 06, 2023•11 min•Season 5Ep. 3
In the chapter "The Pool of Tears," we see Alice's journey into the strange and fantastical world of Wonderland continue. After being surprised by her sudden growth spurt, Alice contemplates her appearance and worries about who will take care of her now far-off feet. She even jokingly considers sending presents to her own feet, but soon realizes the absurdity of it all. However, the humour in the situation quickly fades as Alice finds herself stuck in the hall, unable to fit through the garden d...
Feb 03, 2023•12 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 5! We are delighted to present Lewis Carroll's classic, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Like most of the books we tackle, there is much more to the book than you probably remember or are led to believe from movie adaptations. Alice's adventure begins by following a white rabbit down a rabbit-hole and into a strange and magical world. Along the way, Alice encounters a variety of strange creatures, finds herself shrinking and growing with the help of a magical potions and cake,...
Feb 01, 2023•12 min•Season 5Ep. 1
The stunning conclusion to The Time Traveller, with final remarks from our narrator. "But to me the future is still black and blank—is a vast ignorance, lit at a few casual places by the memory of his story. And I have by me, for my comfort, two strange white flowers—shrivelled now, and brown and flat and brittle—to witness that even when mind and strength had gone, gratitude and a mutual tenderness still lived on in the heart of man."
Jan 31, 2023•3 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Did it really all happen? Was it just a dream the Time Traveller had in his workshop? The friend known as the editor believes it was all just a good story. Our narrator returns the following day to the workshop to investigate further and is told insistently that indeed, he really does travel through time. He is told, "I’ll prove you this time travelling up to the hilt, specimens and all." The narrator hears noises from the workshop and enters to find the time machine, along with our Time Travell...
Jan 30, 2023•9 min•Season 4Ep. 16
The Time Traveller is back in the present he left from and recognises his surroundings, but something seems off. Suddenly, he realizes that he has returned to the exact spot he started from, but in the opposite corner of the room. He realises this is because the time machine has been moved by the Morlocks. Recovering from his experience, he recounts the last few minutes of his adventure as he prepares to join his friends and retell the story.
Jan 27, 2023•4 min•Season 4Ep. 15
The Time Traveller travels further forward in time, determined to find out what happens to planet earth. He experiences a world of desolation and strange creatures. He sees a huge red sun, motionless on the horizon, and is soon confronted by monstrous crabs. As he continues to travel, the sun grows larger and duller, the atmosphere thinner, and the creatures fewer. Finally, he finds himself in a world of eternal twilight, where an eclipse is beginning. He is overwhelmed by the darkness, cold, an...
Jan 26, 2023•13 min•Season 4Ep. 14
The Time Traveller arrives back at the same spot where he had arrived at the beginning of his journey and muses on his naivete at the time. He reflects on the beauty of the world and the complacency of the people, who were unaware of the dangers lurking beneath their feet. He is surprised to find the bronze doors of the White Sphinx open and discovers the Time Machine within. As he prepares to leave, the Morlocks arrive, but he is able to fight them off and escape with the Machine. An intense st...
Jan 25, 2023•7 min•Season 4Ep. 13
After a long journey, the Time Traveller finds himself in a dark forest, with a small load of firewood and his companion, Weena. Suddenly, he is surrounded by Morlocks which threaten them both. In a desperate attempt to escape, he lights the firewood, watching as the blaze spreads and drives the Morlocks away. But his success is short-lived, as the fire quickly engulfs the forest and the protagonist realises he is lost and Weena is gone. In a moment of panic, he discovers a hillock in the middle...
Jan 24, 2023•16 min•Season 4Ep. 12
The Time Traveller and Weena explore an ancient palace made of green porcelain, which turns out to be a museum of sorts. Inside, they find all sorts of relics from the past, from fossils to weaponry. The Time Traveller realizes that these objects could be of use against the Morlocks, and finds a box of matches and some camphor, which he uses to create a fire to keep them safe through the night. The next day, he sets out to find a way to get his Time Machine back, armed with a things he has found...
Jan 23, 2023•15 min•Season 4Ep. 11
The Time Traveller is travelling with Weena and is searching for a refuge from the Morlocks. He wanders through the valley of the Thames, until he comes upon the Palace of Green Porcelain and is drawn to its tall pinnacles. He is determined to find a safe place to sleep, and armed with a battery of weapons, he and Weena venture into the black wood. Will our Time Traveller finally find a way to recover the Time Machine and escape the Morlocks?
Jan 20, 2023•15 min•Season 4Ep. 10
When our Time Traveller discovers a clue that could lead him to the Time Machine, he is filled with a sense of dread and apprehension. He begins to explore the area and eventually finds a mysterious palace made of green porcelain. After spending some time there, he discovers a tunnel that leads down to the underworld. As he descends the shaft, he encounters a group of white creatures, the Morlocks, who flee in terror at the sight of lit matches. He continues down into a vast, dark cavern filled ...
Jan 19, 2023•13 min•Season 4Ep. 9
The Time Traveller explores peculiar circular wells with a thud-thud-thud sound coming from them, and tall towers with a flicker of heat above them. He concludes that there is an extensive system of subterranean ventilation, but is unable to learn much more due to the gap between his own knowledge and that of the society he is visiting. He is also puzzled by the lack of cemeteries, elderly and infirm people, and machinery or appliances of any kind. He eventually discovers the cause of the wells ...
Jan 18, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 8
When the full moon shone over the land, the Time Traveller stumbled upon a startling discovery - his Time Machine had gone missing! In a fit of fear and desperation, he searched for it, but to no avail. He was left stranded in this strange new world, feeling hopelessly cut off from his own kind. He must now find a way to locate the missing machine and make another if needed. After a night of anguish and exhaustion, he was met in the morning by two orange-clad people. Though his attempts to commu...
Jan 17, 2023•15 min•Season 4Ep. 7
The Time Traveller discovers a future world with advanced technology and what he believes is a utopian society. He notices that all the inhabitants have the same physical appearance and dress, indicating an absence of gender distinctions, and speculates that the strong, secure conditions of the society have led to a decreased need for physical strength and competition. He also concludes that the absence of struggle has led to the decline in population, evidenced by the ruined buildings, and that...
Jan 15, 2023•14 min•Season 4Ep. 6
This chapter follows the Time Traveller as he is confronted by a group of strange creatures from the future. These creatures, which appear to be of a frail nature, take him to a vast, dilapidated grey building. There, he notices peculiarities about their clothing and features, and realises that their level of knowledge is far below what he had expected. He soon learns their language and discovers that these creatures are vegetarians and subsist only on fruits. As he interacts with them, the Time...
Jan 13, 2023•10 min•Season 4Ep. 5
When the inventor of the world's first time travel machine takes it out for the first time, he finds himself catapulted through time, quickly whirling into a grey world of confusion. Coming to a stop and looking around, he sees a colossal figure of white marble and bronze - a figure that watches him with sightless eyes and a hint of a smile - and then the sun bursts through the clouds, revealing a beautiful summer landscape. The inventor is suddenly filled with panic; he turns back to the machin...
Jan 12, 2023•14 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Feeling sceptical and doubtful of the Time Traveller's 'ingenious paradox and trick', the guests gathered at the Time Traveller's dinner party are shocked when the door opens and a haggard and broken figure limps in. With dust and dirt streaked on his coat, hair grey and dishevelled, and a cut on his chin, the Time Traveller takes a sip of champagne from the Editor and asks only for some meat. After washing and dressing, he returns with a haggard smile, and explains the source of his extraordina...
Jan 11, 2023•13 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The Time Traveller has created a model of a time machine and invites his guests to examine it; in front of everyone, a lever is pressed and the machine vanishes. He explains that it has travelled into the future or the past and that he intends to travel in a larger machine soon. The guests are sceptical, but the Time Traveller leads them to his laboratory where indeed, there is a larger version of the machine. He expresses his serious intent to explore time and the guests are unsure how to take ...
Jan 09, 2023•9 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Welcome to H.G. Wells' classic time-travelling adventure tale. Written in 1895, and Wells' first full-length work, it is widely credited with introducing the idea of time travel, but is also fascinating due to its Victorian England view point, and Wells' own political and social opinions of the time. This introductory chapter follows a group of friends discussing the possibility of time travel and the concept of a fourth dimension with a gentleman we shall refer to simply as the Time Traveller, ...
Jan 08, 2023•12 min•Season 4Ep. 1
The concluding episode of The Blue Castle, Valancy and Barney take one last look at The Blue Castle before embarking on their overseas adventures. "But she knew perfectly well that no spot or place or home in the world could ever possess the sorcery of her Blue Castle." We have been pleased to present this new audio recording of L.M. Montgomery's beautiful work.
Jan 05, 2023•2 min•Season 3Ep. 45
In this extract from a letter, Olive Stirling comments on her cousin's adventures, which have ended up much to Valancy's advantage. Of course, the family is now making a fuss over Valancy as she settles into her new life.
Jan 03, 2023•2 min•Season 3Ep. 44
In this chapter of The Blue Castle, Barney and Valancy discuss their future together. Valancy is hesitant in accepting Barney's proposal as she is not sure if she is fit for his lifestyle. Barney reassures her that she will not have to live the life of a society woman, but rather they will have a little house in the countryside near Montreal, and spend their summers at Mistawis. He also promises to show her the beauty of the world.
Dec 30, 2022•3 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Barney arrives to the brick house on Elm Street in a dreadful old car. Uncle Benjamin had predicted his arrival, and welcomed him into the parlour, where Valancy had been staying. Valancy was reluctant to see him, and believed he had only married her out of pity. When Barney told his story, she found out his childhood torment, due to his father's business, and his his fiancé had not in fact loved him at all. Will it be enough for Valancy to believe that Barney really does love her after all?...
Dec 28, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Valancy is in anguish as she looks at her old room and is reminded of her old life and the changes that have come to her. She longs for her time spent at the Blue Castle with Barney, recalling their many moments together and the beauty of the island. At the same time however, she hates and envies Ethel Traverse, the woman Barney still loves, who will ultimately be the one to share his life. Valancy is overcome with pain and longing as she wonders what Barney is feeling. She is desperate for the ...
Dec 27, 2022•5 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Valancy returns to her home in Elm Street, where her mother, Uncle Benjamin and Cousin Stickles are waiting for her. After her mother's icy welcome, Valancy reveals that she has been married to Dr Redfern's son, who is now revealed to be a millionaire. She feels he has been tricked into the marriage by a false diagnosis of her health. Uncle Benjamin takes charge of the situation, assuring Valancy's family to trust him and leave the situation to him. He indicates that Valancy's husband may not wa...
Dec 25, 2022•13 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Valancy has written a note to her husband Barney and leaves the Blue Castle, reflecting on all the experiences she had there. She tried to reason with him and expressed her gratitude for his kindness. She also left a postscript, urging him to go back to his father who was lonely and missing him. Her final thought on leaving the Blue Castle was regretfully remembering the sound of the wind crying over Mistawis at night.
Dec 23, 2022•7 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Valancy is walking through the back streets of a village, trying to avoid being seen due to her confusion and distress. She eventually meets Dr. Redfern, the father of her husband Barney, who is surprised to find out that his son is married. She takes him to their home, and tells her the story of Barney's past. He reveals that Barney had left home eleven years prior due to a quarrel with a girl named Ethel Traverse and had been travelling the world. Valancy is shocked and overwhelmed by this rev...
Dec 22, 2022•20 min•Season 3Ep. 38
