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Good evening and welcome to the sleepy bookshelf where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good book.

I'm Elizabeth, your host, and it's lovely to have you here with me tonight.

This evening I'm really excited to be beginning our highly requested new season, The Great Gatsby, by Ev Scott Fitzgerald.

Often referred to as the great American novel, many people hold this story dear to their hearts as their favorite book of all time, which is why we were so keen to feature

it here on the bookshelf.

It follows the story of a self-made millionaire

and his pursuit of his long-lost love,

set in the hedonistic jazz era of 1920s New York against the backdrop of a country in crisis.

If you missed the preview episode, I would like to mention before we begin that while we

always endeavor to remove anything too startling or upsetting, if you're not familiar with the novel, you should be aware that it does explore a number of adult themes that may

upset some listeners namely sexism, and domestic abuse.

With that in mind, if you feel the Great Gatsby may not be your cup of tea,

we're sure you'll find something else on the bookshelf that will help you drift off into a peaceful sleep.

However, if you were as excited to continue as I am, we can get started.

If this is your first visit to the sleepy bookshelf, don't worry if you fall asleep before I finish this part of the story.

At the beginning of the next episode, I'll give you a thorough recap.

That way, you can rest easy without worrying about missing anything important.

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