Good evening. Welcome to the Just Sleep podcast. I'm Tasia, your host.

My mission is simple to help you relax, put the stressful day behind you and drift off to sleep.

Every week, I will read an old book in the public domain.

Tonight I will be reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

So lie down, settle into your pillow, close your eyes, and let me read you a story.

Chapter 1 It is a story. Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged

that a single man in possession of a good fortune

must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood.

This truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered as the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.

My dear Mr. Bennett said his lady to him one day.

Have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?

Mr. Bennett replied that he had not. But it is, returned she, for Mrs. Long

has just been here, and she told me all about it. Mr. Bennett made no answer. Do you not want to know

who has taken it? cried his wife impatiently.

You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it. This was invitation enough.

Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of

large fortune from the north of England, that he came down on Monday in a chasen-four to see

the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately,

that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the

house by the end of next week. What is his name? Bingley. Is he married or single? Oh, single, my dear, to be sure.

...