Classics Out Loud

After a long journey, the Time Traveller finds himself in a dark forest, with a small load of firewood and his companion, Weena. Suddenly, he is surrounded by Morlocks which threaten them both. In a desperate attempt to escape, he lights the firewood, watching as the blaze spreads and drives the Morlocks away. But his success is short-lived, as the fire quickly engulfs the forest and the protagoni...

The Time Traveller and Weena explore  an ancient palace made of green porcelain, which turns out to be a museum of sorts. Inside, they find all sorts of relics from the past, from fossils to weaponry. The Time Traveller realizes that these objects could be of use against the Morlocks, and finds a box of matches and some camphor, which he uses to create a fire to keep them safe through the night. T...

The Time Traveller is travelling with Weena and is searching for a refuge from the Morlocks. He wanders through the valley of the Thames, until he comes upon the Palace of Green Porcelain and is drawn to its tall pinnacles. He is determined to find a safe place to sleep, and armed with a battery of weapons, he and Weena venture into the black wood.    Will our Time Traveller finally find a way to...

When our Time Traveller discovers a clue that could lead him to the Time Machine, he is filled with a sense of dread and apprehension. He begins to explore the area and eventually finds a mysterious palace made of green porcelain. After spending some time there, he discovers a tunnel that leads down to the underworld. As he descends the shaft, he encounters a group of white creatures, the Morlocks...

The Time Traveller explores peculiar circular wells with a thud-thud-thud sound coming from them, and tall towers with a flicker of heat above them. He concludes that there is an extensive system of subterranean ventilation, but is unable to learn much more due to the gap between his own knowledge and that of the society he is visiting. He is also puzzled by the lack of cemeteries, elderly and inf...

When the full moon shone over the land, the Time Traveller stumbled upon a startling discovery - his Time Machine had gone missing! In a fit of fear and desperation, he searched for it, but to no avail. He was left stranded in this strange new world, feeling hopelessly cut off from his own kind. He must now find a way to locate the missing machine and make another if needed.   After a night of ang...

The Time Traveller discovers a future world with advanced technology and what he believes is a utopian society. He notices that all the inhabitants have the same physical appearance and dress, indicating an absence of gender distinctions, and speculates that the strong, secure conditions of the society have led to a decreased need for physical strength and competition. He also concludes that the a...

This chapter follows the Time Traveller as he is confronted by a group of strange creatures from the future. These creatures, which appear to be of a frail nature, take him to a vast, dilapidated grey building. There, he notices peculiarities about their clothing and features, and realises that their level of knowledge is far below what he had expected.   He soon learns their language and discover...

When the inventor of the world's first time travel machine takes it out for the first time, he finds himself catapulted through time, quickly whirling into a grey world of confusion.    Coming to a stop and looking around, he sees a colossal figure of white marble and bronze - a figure that watches him with sightless eyes and a hint of a smile - and then the sun bursts through the clouds, rev...

Feeling sceptical and doubtful of the Time Traveller's 'ingenious paradox and trick', the guests gathered at the Time Traveller's dinner party are shocked when the door opens and a haggard and broken figure limps in.   With dust and dirt streaked on his coat, hair grey and dishevelled, and a cut on his chin, the Time Traveller takes a sip of champagne from the Editor and asks o...

The Time Traveller has created a model of a time machine and invites his guests to examine it; in front of everyone, a lever is pressed and the machine vanishes. He explains that it has travelled into the future or the past and that he intends to travel in a larger machine soon. The guests are sceptical, but the Time Traveller leads them to his laboratory where indeed, there is a larger version of...

Welcome to H.G. Wells' classic time-travelling adventure tale. Written in 1895, and Wells' first full-length work, it is widely credited with introducing the idea of time travel, but is also fascinating due to its Victorian England view point, and Wells' own political and social opinions of the time. This introductory chapter follows a group of friends discussing the possibility of...

The concluding episode of The Blue Castle, Valancy and Barney take one last look at The Blue Castle before embarking on their overseas adventures. "But she knew perfectly well that no spot or place or home in the world could ever possess the sorcery of her Blue Castle." We have been pleased to present this new audio recording of L.M. Montgomery's beautiful work.

In this extract from a letter, Olive Stirling comments on her cousin's adventures, which have ended up much to Valancy's advantage.  Of course, the family is now making a fuss over Valancy as she settles into her new life.

In this chapter of The Blue Castle, Barney and Valancy discuss their future together. Valancy is hesitant in accepting Barney's proposal as she is not sure if she is fit for his lifestyle. Barney reassures her that she will not have to live the life of a society woman, but rather they will have a little house in the countryside near Montreal, and spend their summers at Mistawis. He also promi...

Barney arrives to the brick house on Elm Street in a dreadful old car. Uncle Benjamin had predicted his arrival, and welcomed him into the parlour, where Valancy had been staying. Valancy was reluctant to see him, and believed he had only married her out of pity. When Barney told his story, she found out his childhood torment, due to his father's business, and his his fiancé had not in fact l...

Valancy is in anguish as she looks at her old room and is reminded of her old life and the changes that have come to her. She longs for her time spent at the Blue Castle with Barney, recalling their many moments together and the beauty of the island. At the same time however, she hates and envies Ethel Traverse, the woman Barney still loves, who will ultimately be the one to share his life. Valanc...

Valancy returns to her home in Elm Street, where her mother, Uncle Benjamin and Cousin Stickles are waiting for her. After her mother's icy welcome, Valancy reveals that she has been married to Dr Redfern's son, who is now revealed to be a millionaire. She feels he has been tricked into the marriage by a false diagnosis of her health. Uncle Benjamin takes charge of the situation, assurin...

Valancy has written a note to her husband Barney and leaves the Blue Castle, reflecting on all the experiences she had there. She tried to reason with him and expressed her gratitude for his kindness. She also left a postscript, urging him to go back to his father who was lonely and missing him. Her final thought on leaving the Blue Castle was regretfully remembering the sound of the wind crying o...

Valancy is walking through the back streets of a village, trying to avoid being seen due to her confusion and distress. She eventually meets Dr. Redfern, the father of her husband Barney, who is surprised to find out that his son is married. She takes him to  their home, and tells her the story of Barney's past. He reveals that Barney had left home eleven years prior due to a quarrel with a g...

Valancy discovers that Dr Trent has made a serious mistake in her diagnosis. Dr Trent was ashamed that he caused Valancy a year of needless distress, and was shocked to find that she had married a rapscallion from 'up back'. But where does that leave Valency now, who is shocked that her entire marriage has been based on false pretences? 

Valancy is unable to sleep and can sense that Barney is not either. She has a dream of him being made of glass and shatters, which she wakes up from with horror and relief. When she wakes up, Barney is gone, and she knows he has gone to the wilds. She forces herself to eat breakfast and tidy the house and then goes to Deerwood to see Dr Trent, to find out the truth.

Barney and Valancy experience a close call when Valancy gets her shoe stuck in a train switch. As a result of the excitement, Valancy realizes that the heart specialist that told her she had a serious heart condition was incorrect. The chapter ends with her feeling lost and scared since the basis for her marriage proposal, that she would die in a year, wasn't true. She feels she has trapped B...

Valancy had two wonderful moments that spring. She met the renowned painter Allan Tierney, who wanted to paint her, and she discovered her husband Barney actually liked her. Despite not wanting to be painted, the thought that Allan Tierney wanted to paint her and the knowledge that Barney liked her made Valancy incredibly happy, and she wished she could die in that very moment. Later, however, she...

Valancy and Barney experience the beauty of spring in Mistawis, including wild plum trees, dandelions and other wildflowers, accompanied by John Foster-esque musings. On their way back home through Deerwood, Valancy takes a moment to visit her old home but decides against it upon seeing her mother and cousin knitting, still as dreary and uninviting as ever.