Good evening and welcome to this sleepy big shelf.

This season, as we approach the month of St Patrick's Day,

we will celebrate in our own little way with an Irish novel,

The Char Woman's Daughter by James Stevens.

James Stevens was an Irish novelist, poet, and author of short stories in the early 20th century,

known for his lyrical and sometimes fantastical prose.

He grew up in Dublin,

and his early life was marked by poverty,

which influenced much of his writing.

His works often explored themes of Irish folklore,

mysticism, and the struggles of ordinary people.

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 lull you into a deep sleep.

The following is a preview to give you an idea of what to expect from this season.

The Char Woman's Daughter was published in 1912,

and it tells the story of Mary, the daughter of a poor, hard-working charwoman

or housekeeper, and Mary's journey to improve her life through education and ambition.

Mary faces the harsh realities of her socio-economic position.

But the novel is also about her resilience, her emotional struggles,

and her desire to escape the limitations placed on her by society and her upbringing.

The story is a rich portrayal of working-class life in Dublin at the time,

...