Good evening and welcome to the sleepy bookshelf.

This season we are reading A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Bennett, a British-American novelist,

best known for her beloved children's classics, such as the secret garden,

which we have already read on the bookshelf, and highly requested after this, a little princess,

which we will begin this evening. Born in Manchester in 1849,

Francis later emigrated to the United States with her family after her father's death.

Her works often explore resilience, transformation,

and the healing power of nature and imagination.

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.

A Little Princess was first published in 1905 and tells the story of Sarah Crewe, a wealthy and imaginative

young girl sent to Miss Minchin's Select Seminary Boarding School in London. After a tragic turn of

events, Sarah is left penniless and is reduced from a pampered student to a servant at the school, unable to afford her fees.

Despite this hardship and the cruelty she faces, Sarah clings to her kindness, dignity, and belief in behaving like a princess in spirit.

Her vivid imagination helps her endure loneliness and poverty and ultimately Sarah's goodness is rewarded.

We hope you will join us for this season. However, if you decide that a little princess isn't your cup of tea,

feel free to explore the rest of the bookshelf.

We're sure you'll 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.

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