Hello everyone.
Since starting the sleepy bookshelf in 2021, we have been looking for new ways to help you sleep.
“Because we know how much you all love our Jane Austen seasons. I'm pleased to introduce the sleepy bookshelf, just Jane.”
Where we will read Austin's entire catalogue, one novel at a time. New episodes will release every Monday and Wednesday.
So click the link at the bottom of the show notes to subscribe and follow along with the first season, Mansfield Park.
I hope to see you there, to put down your worries from the day, and pick up a good Jane Austen book. Hello, and welcome to the sleepy bookshelf, where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good book.
“In our last episode, we read the final chapters of Far From the Madding Crowd.”
In case you nodded off before we finished, this is a recap of that last episode.
But be warned, this is a spoiler alert. If you haven't listened to the whole book and you don't want to know how it ends yet, stop this episode now. For the rest of you, I'll continue. As spring returned, Bathshaba had slowly begun to recover from the grief that followed Troy's death. Though she remained deeply changed.
“By summer, she began taking an interest in the farm again.”
And during a rare visit to the village, she had gone to the churchyard to see Troy's completed gravestone, beside Fannies. There, she met Gabriel and learned that he was considering leaving England for California. The thought of losing the one person who had remained steadfast, distressed her more than she expected. And over the following months, she became increasingly convinced that Gabriel was deliberately avoiding her. When he finally gave notice that he intended to stop managing her farm, Bathshaba was devastated and went to his house herself.
Gabriel explained that he had only withdrawn because people were gossiping that he was waiting to marry her, and he feared damaging her reputation. When she protested that marriage was merely too soon, rather than impossible, Gabriel finally realised that she might return the love he had carried for her for so long.
She teasingly pointed out that he had never actually asked her, and the two, at last, quietly acknowledged that they wanted a future together.
Bathshaba and Gabriel arranged the smallest, most private wedding possible. Despite their efforts at secrecy, a handful of trusted friends discovered the plan, and Bathshaba and Gabriel walked arm in arm through the mist, one morning to church. That evening their friends surprised them with music, cannon fire and good wishes outside their home. After everything they had endured together, Gabriel and Bathshaba finally settled into a love built not on passion or fantasy. But on years of friendship, loyalty and truly knowing one another.
Don't forget, you can subscribe to our premium channel to listen ad-free and get exclusive bonus content in between the stories on our main feed. In the meantime, if it is bedtime, take a look at the rest of the bookshelf. She's a story, relax, and listen to the sound of my voice. Soon enough, you'll be fast asleep. If not, have a lovely day, and I truly hope to see you later at the Sleepy Bookshelf.
