Jane Austen Bedtime Stories

The Dashwoods' visit to London continues, and Marianne is still writing to Willoughby and desperately awaiting his reply. Yet, he is nowhere to be seen. There's still time for socialization with plenty of their old friends, from the Middletons to the Palmers to Colonel Brandon. Elinor really feels for Colonel Brandon; she can see his pain, even as he tries to wish Marianne well. In fact, h...

Mr. Knightley has joined the family at Hartfield for dinner, to meet his newly-arrived brother and sister-in-law and their children. It's the perfect opportunity for him and Emma to make up after their disagreement about Harriet and Mr. Martin, which is good news, because it will take both of them to ensure that Mr. Woodhouse and Mr. John Knightley don't rub each other the wrong way. Lucki...

Elinor and Marianne have arrived in London with Mrs. Jennings, and it soon becomes clear that Marianne's focus will be single-minded while she is in town. She's waiting for a letter, a note, or even a visit from Willoughby, and nothing will shake her, whether it is the return of Colonel Brandon, or an excursion with Mrs. Palmer. Elinor is concerned, but there's really very little they...

Christmas is approaching, and Mr. Elton and Harriet will have to wait, because Emma's sister is coming to town! Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley, along with their five children, have just arrived to spend the holidays at Hartfield, and the Woodhouses are delighted to see them. While Isabella's temper resembles her father's, Mr. John Knightley is a little sharper around the edges -- sometime...

It's January, and the Dashwood sisters have an exciting offer to help them get through the doldrums of winter: Mrs. Jennings has invited them to accompany her on a trip to London. Marianne is immediately on board with the idea, ready to overlook her objections to Mrs. Jennings in the hopes of finally reuniting with Willoughby. Elinor, on the other hand, is less enthused. But her mother and sis...

Friday Favorites is returning to Highbury, as Emma Woodhouse and Harriet Smith find themselves on a very noble outing to help the poor. Though their minds are naturally filled with charitable thoughts, when they happen to run into Mr. Elton on the road back into town, Emma knows it's the perfect chance to engineer a one-on-one conversation between Mr. Elton and Harriet, complete with a trip to...

Ever since Lucy Steele revealed her secret engagement to Edward Ferrars, Elinor has had questions, and it's finally time for her to get some answers. It turns out Lucy has been wanting to talk to Elinor too, and the two of them have a lot to say about their common love. Lucy's plans to overcome the many barriers to her marriage seem woefully insufficient to Elinor, and her heart aches as s...

It's the first day of spring! As the weather gets warmer and the nights get shorter, getting a good night's sleep is more important than ever. That's why we're bringing you one more extended bonus episode with a full-length Jane Austen classic. This week, we're revisiting the entirety of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet's stay at Netherfield, from Jane traveling there on horseback...

Elinor has learned the truth about Edward Ferrars and Lucy Steele's engagement, and her mind is full of thoughts as she carefully considers and processes the news. She is sure that Edward's affection for her is real, but she also believes the veracity of Lucy's claims. Elinor has been asked to keep the news a secret, so she does, even from her own mother and sisters; she trusts herself...

It's Sleep Awareness Week! In honor of this special week dedicated to promoting the connection between sleep, health, and well-being, we're releasing a bonus episode featuring an full-length Jane Austen classic. This extended episode brings us back to the Bennets, as we revisit the first six chapters of Pride and Prejudice. It's pure comfort, and the extra length is perfect to help you...

Marianne can't stand the Steeles, so it's up to Elinor to manage them. It's a task she soon regrets, for on an afternoon walk with Lucy Steele, Elinor learns something that shakes her to her core. It turns out that Lucy Steele has been secretly engaged for the past four years, to none other than Edward Ferrars. At first, Elinor cannot possibly believe it, but Lucy has all the evidence...

Harriet is on a new mission, to collect a book of riddles and charades from all her friends in Highbury. Emma has the perfect person in mind to aid Harriet's quest: Mr. Elton, of course. And once he is asked, he certainly delivers. There can be no doubt that the charade he offers is one of love, and Emma is delighted at his budding affection for Harriet. Everything is falling into place just a...

The Palmers may have left, but the parade of visitors at Barton Park never ends. On a visit to Exeter, the Middletons find themselves getting acquainted with two young ladies who just happen to be their distant cousins, Miss Anne and Miss Lucy Steele. The Steele sisters are soon at Barton, and Sir John is eager to introduce them to the Dashwood sisters. But the two sets of sisters do not get on ne...

Mr. Knightley has called at Hartfield, and he has news that he's sure will excite Emma. Her little friend Harriet is about to be proposed to by Mr. Robert Martin. But Emma has one better, for she informs him that Harriet has already refused Mr. Martin's proposal. What follows is a vigorous disagreement between the two over the merits of Harriet marrying Mr. Martin. Though the sparring feel...

The Palmers are still at Barton Park, and their presence remains a distraction for Elinor and Marianne. Despite Mrs. Palmer's eccentricities, Elinor finds herself enjoying her conversation with her. Though Mrs. Palmer seems a little too certain of Marianne and Willoughby's engagement, Elinor is at least pleased with her warm and favorable impression of Willoughby, since the Palmers live in...

Harriet has arrived at Hartfield with a dilemma: the charming farmer Mr. Robert Martin has sent her a letter with an offer of marriage. Emma has to give him credit; the letter is much better-written than she was expecting. Nonetheless, she can't imagine her dear little friend Harriet married to a farmer. Of course, Emma knows she mustn't influence Harriet's decision. It should be all h...

Edward's week at Barton Cottage comes to a close, though he doesn't seem too enthusiastic about leaving. His departure leaves Elinor plenty of time to contemplate his feelings, and her own. But before she can get too carried away, the Dashwoods are interrupted by the arrival of new guests: the Palmers. Mrs. Palmer is Mrs. Jennings's other daughter, and shares Mrs. Jennings's boiste...

Both Harriet and Mr. Elton have been spending more time at Hartfield, and Emma has the perfect idea to bring them both together: she will draw Harriet's portrait for Mr. Elton. Emma has a great fondness for taking likenesses, and is very experienced, though none of her previous portraits were ever finished. That doesn't seem to bother Mr. Elton, who is highly complimentary of all of Emma&#...

Edward's visit to Barton continues, and his old comfort with the Dashwoods is slowly returning. As he discusses the rolling landscapes of Devonshire with Marianne and Elinor, Marianne spots a new accessory on Edward's finger: a ring containing a lock of hair. It's not the right color to be his sister's hair, so the sisters are sure it must be Elinor's. But when could he have go...

Emma is taken with Harriet Smith, and her intimacy at Hartfield soon becomes a settled thing. As their friendship deepens and Emma learns more about Harriet's life, the more opportunities she sees to impart her wisdom. When Emma learns of Harriet's intimacy with the Martins, and especially Harriet's attachment to farmer Robert Martin, she quickly sees an area where she can be of use. A...

Edward Ferrars is at Barton Cottage, and all it takes is some time in the presence of the warmth of the Dashwoods to (mostly) restore him to his former friendly self. After all, for the Dashwoods, this is the visit of a future intimate family member. Yet, as much as Edward begins to open up, there is still something different about him that Elinor just can't put her finger on. As Edward is wel...

With Mrs. Weston settling into her new home, Emma and her father are welcoming their other Highbury friends into their home for company: people like former vicar's widow Mrs. Bates and her chatty daughter Miss Bates, and proprietor of a local school Mrs. Goddard. When Mrs. Goddard asks if she can bring one of her students, Harriet Smith, Emma is delighted. Harriet is pretty, friendly, and defe...

Marianne's sorrow continues, nourished by her own sensibility, and her sense of what her feelings require of her. When Elinor finally convinces Marianne to join her sisters for a walk, they are met by a pleasant surprise: Edward Ferrars has arrived in Devonshire to visit the Dashwoods. But his manner is different than when they last saw him. He seems colder and more reserved, to the extent tha...

Highbury is a cozy place, and as we settle in with Emma, it's time to get to know some of the inhabitants of her little town. Mr. Weston, her governess's new husband, is a warm and friendly neighbor. He lost his first wife many years ago, and his son, one Frank Churchill, was adopted by his late wife's brother and sister-in-law. Though Mr. Frank Churchill has never visited Highbury, th...

The Dashwoods' peaceful life at Barton Cottage has been upended - Willoughby has to make a sudden departure, and nobody knows why. It's clear to Elinor that there's more to the story than what he told the Dashwoods on his way out, but her mother is convinced it's simply a minor setback in Willoughby and Marianne's love story. Marianne, meanwhile, sees it as her duty to consign...