
A quiet breakfast in an immaculate London dining‑room sets the stage for a contemplative tale of belonging. Surrounded by polished silver, heavy chairs and a crackling fire, the narrator feels a subtle dissonance, as if the elegant surroundings mask something deeper. The opening invites listeners to share that uneasy wonder—how did these genteel people come to sit there, and what lies beyond the polished façade?
Through a pair of windows the scene expands to a sweeping, windswept coastline, rolling heather, and distant snow‑capped peaks. The landscape awakens a yearning for the wild, for a world unshaped by convention. As the narrator’s gaze drifts from the ordered interior to the untamed horizon, a gentle tension builds between the comforts of society and the pull of a simpler, more elemental life.
The story gently unfolds as the narrator steps beyond the familiar room, encountering village life, work, and the rhythms of nature. Listeners will be drawn into a reflective journey that balances the constraints of class with the restless spirit of the countryside, promising thoughtful moments and quiet discovery.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (273K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1824–1905
A Scottish writer, poet, and preacher, he helped shape modern fantasy long before the genre had a name. His stories of wonder and spiritual searching went on to influence writers including C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.
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