
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
David is a bright, inquisitive boy who senses that a hidden, fantastical world lies just beneath the ordinary routine of his parents and caregivers. From the moment he questions why adults turn ice into glass or why fire‑cats must wait for darkness, his imagination paints vivid scenes of talking trees, whimsical green men, and mischievous dumpling armies that march through apple‑ and pear‑groves. The narrative follows his relentless attempts to pierce the veil of adult “sleep,” inviting listeners into a realm where ordinary objects become portals to wonder.
Through playful dialogue with his nurse and the bedtime stories his mother weaves, David learns that curiosity can be both a source of frustration and a bridge to magic. The book’s charm rests in its lyrical, child‑like logic, where flame‑cats dance after the electric light goes out and ordinary objects speak their secret lives. Listeners will be drawn into the delicate balance between reality and the extraordinary, sharing the joyous bewilderment of a child who refuses to let the world grow dull.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (185K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2015-03-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1867–1940
Best known for the witty Mapp and Lucia novels, this prolific English writer also delighted readers with ghost stories, memoirs, and sharp social comedy. His books capture the manners, rivalries, and quiet absurdities of late Victorian and Edwardian life with lasting charm.
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by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson