Good evening and welcome to the Sleepy Bookshelf.
This season we are reading far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.
We know our listeners are as unique as our novels and lucky for you, our bookshelf is varied with lots of different types of stories to love you into a deep sleep. The following is a preview, to give you an idea of what to expect from this season.
“Thomas Hardy was one of the most important English novelists and poets of the Victorian era.”
Born in Dorset, his best known for his novels set in the fictional region of Wessex,
which was inspired by the rural landscapes of southwest England. Hardy's works often explored themes of love, faith, social class, and the struggle between individual desires and societal expectations through his realistic characters and tragic story
“telling, Hardy became renowned for his powerful portrayal of rural life.”
Far from the Madding Crowd was published in 1874 and was Hardy's first major literary success,
remaining one of his most popular novels today. It follows the independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdeen as she navigates life, love, and responsibility. The novel centers on her relationships with three very different suitors,
“Gabriel Oak, Sargent Troy, and William Baldwin, and explores themes of love, loyalty,”
pride, and fate. Combining romance with vivid descriptions of Victorian, rural life, the novel examines the consequences of human choices. We hope you will join us for this season, however, if you decide that far from the Madding Crowd isn't your cup of tea, feel free to explore the rest of the bookshelf. We are sure you will find something to help guide you into a restful sleep. Don't forget, our premium subscription offers
additional stories to choose from. You can sign up whenever you'd like, and listen to bonus content between the seasons on the main feed, or as an alternative to them. If you are already a premium supporter, we thank you so much. So if it's time for bed, why not choose an episode, get cozy, and you will be asleep in no time. Otherwise I hope to see you very soon, at the Sleepy Bookshelf.
