Hello, welcome to the Bore You to Sleep podcast, the podcast that will hopefully help you get to sleep.

I am going to read an open source book, one that is not particularly interesting, but one that is

hopefully boring enough to get you to sleep.

Celebrated women travellers of the 19th century, written by W. H. Davenport Adams, who lived between 1828 and 1891.

This book was written during their lifetime.

The 19th century saw the expansion and popularity of travel among the wealthy.

Add to this, the independent small women were enjoying as they were released from work in the

home, and we have the recipe for some intrepid female travellers.

We will cover off some of the stories of such adventurous women.

Countess Dora de Istria The Princess Helena Koltov Malkaski, better known by her pseudonym of Dora de Listeria, came of the family of the Gikas, formerly princess of Wallachia, and was born at Bucharest on the 22nd of January 1829.

Through the care and consciousness of her instructor Mons, Papadopoulos and her own remarkable capacity,

she acquired a very complete and comprehensive education.

When but 11 years old, she composed a charming little story, and before she had reached

womanhood, undertook a translation of the Iliad. She showed no inclination for the frivolous amusements of a frivolous

society. Her view of life and its responsibilities was a serious one, and she addressed

all her energies to work of self-improvement and self-culture.

She read and re-read the literary masterpieces of England, France and Germany.

As a linguist, she earned special distinction.

Her intellectual faculties, says her master, M. Papadopoulos,

expanded with so much rapidity that the professors charged with her instruction

could not keep any other pupil abreast of her in the same studies.

Not only did she make a wholly unexpected

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