Hypnotic Bedtime Story: The City of Beautiful Nonsense
1Digest
Jessica Porter, the host of Sleep Magic, expresses her gratitude to listeners for their support and shares how the podcast helps her stay creative and relaxed. She then introduces the sponsor for the episode and begins reading from "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" by Ernest Temple Thurston. The novel tells the story of an impoverished writer named John Gray who gives his last penny to a girl in a church so she can buy a candle. They then begin meeting in Kensington Gardens. The reading focuses on the setting of the story, a green grocer shop in Fetter Lane, and the character of John Gray, who is described as a mysterious and idealistic writer. The episode concludes with a brief discussion of the importance of Kensington Gardens as a place for romance and a reminder that the city of beautiful nonsense is not far away.
Outlines
Introduction and Gratitude
This Chapter begins with Jessica Porter, the host of Sleep Magic, expressing her gratitude to listeners for their support. She shares how the podcast helps her stay creative and relaxed, and how it gives her life purpose and meaning. She also mentions that the podcast helps her to think up creative things and stay in a relaxed state.
Sponsor Announcement and Book Introduction
This Chapter features a brief sponsor announcement and an introduction to the book that will be read during the episode, "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" by Ernest Temple Thurston. Jessica describes the book as a sentimental novel about an impoverished writer who gives his last penny to a girl in a church so she can buy a candle. They then begin meeting in Kensington Gardens. She also mentions that the book was published in 1909 and that she finds the details in the novel simple and sensuous, making it perfect for falling asleep to.
Guided Relaxation and Preparation for Reading
This Chapter guides listeners through a relaxation exercise, starting with bringing awareness to the breath and then focusing on relaxing the eyelids, head, neck, and chest. The exercise culminates in imagining a warm mist of relaxation moving through the body, easing tension and preparing listeners for the reading.
Chapter 3: The Green Grocers, Fetter Lane
This Chapter begins the reading from "The City of Beautiful Nonsense." It describes the setting of the story, a green grocer shop in Fetter Lane, London. The shop is described in detail, with its colorful display of fruits and vegetables, and its wholesome smell of good mother earth. The chapter also introduces Mrs. Meacon, the owner of the shop, who is described as a good woman of business with a capable way of explaining how poor the season was for whatever fruit or vegetable her customers wished to purchase.
Chapter 4: What to Call a Hero?
This Chapter continues the reading from "The City of Beautiful Nonsense." It focuses on the character of John Gray, the impoverished writer who is the protagonist of the story. John Gray is described as a mysterious and idealistic writer who lives above the green grocer shop. The chapter explores the mystery surrounding John Gray's life and his choice to live in such a humble dwelling despite his apparent wealth and sophistication.
Chapter 5: The Ballad-Monger, Fetter Lane
This Chapter continues the reading from "The City of Beautiful Nonsense." It discusses the importance of Kensington Gardens as a place for romance and how it is a setting for many real and legendary love stories. The chapter also explores the reasons why Kensington Gardens is a more romantic place than other parks in London, and how it is a place where romance can always be found.
Keywords
The City of Beautiful Nonsense
A sentimental novel written by British writer Ernest Temple Thurston and published in 1909. The novel tells the story of an impoverished writer who gives his last penny to a girl in a church so she can buy a candle, leading to a series of encounters in Kensington Gardens. The novel is described as having simple and sensuous details, making it perfect for falling asleep to.
Ernest Temple Thurston
A British writer who wrote "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" and other novels and poems. He started writing early and had two books of poems published by the time he was 16. He experienced financial stability as a writer after the publication of "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" and went on to write a total of 40 books.
Kensington Gardens
A large park in central London, known for its beautiful gardens, lakes, and statues. It is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike, and is often considered a romantic place. The park is mentioned in "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" as a place where the protagonist and the girl he meets in the church begin to meet.
John Gray
The protagonist of "The City of Beautiful Nonsense." He is an impoverished writer who gives his last penny to a girl in a church so she can buy a candle. He is described as a mysterious and idealistic writer who lives above a green grocer shop in Fetter Lane. He is also described as a gentleman who dresses well and often drives away in a handsome, presumably up west.
Fetter Lane
A street in London, mentioned in "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" as the location of the green grocer shop where the story takes place. The street is described as being drab and gray, with the green grocer shop being a welcome oasis of color and wholesomeness.
Green Grocer
A shop that sells fruits and vegetables. The green grocer shop in "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" is described in detail, with its colorful display of fruits and vegetables, and its wholesome smell of good mother earth. The shop is also a place where the protagonist, John Gray, often passes through to smell the wholesome smell of good mother earth and to say just a few words to the good lady of the shop.
Mrs. Meacon
The owner of the green grocer shop in "The City of Beautiful Nonsense." She is described as a good woman of business with a capable way of explaining how poor the season was for whatever fruit or vegetable her customers wished to purchase. She is also described as having a face like an apple, not an apple just picked, but one that had been lying on the straw in a loft through the winter, well preserved, losing none of its flavor, but the skin of which is wrinkled and shriveled with age.
Q&A
What is the name of the book that Jessica Porter reads from in this episode?
The book is called "The City of Beautiful Nonsense" by Ernest Temple Thurston.
What is the setting of the story in "The City of Beautiful Nonsense"?
The story takes place in Fetter Lane, London, and focuses on a green grocer shop and the surrounding neighborhood.
Who is John Gray?
John Gray is the protagonist of "The City of Beautiful Nonsense." He is an impoverished writer who gives his last penny to a girl in a church so she can buy a candle. He is described as a mysterious and idealistic writer who lives above the green grocer shop.
Why does John Gray choose to live in such a humble dwelling despite his apparent wealth and sophistication?
The episode suggests that John Gray is an idealist who values the simple things in life, such as the wholesome smell of good mother earth and the beauty of nature, more than material possessions. He is also a writer who struggles to make a living, and the rent of his rooms is a significant expense for him.
What is the significance of Kensington Gardens in the story?
Kensington Gardens is a place where the protagonist and the girl he meets in the church begin to meet. It is also a place where romance can always be found, and it is described as a place where many real and legendary love stories have taken place.
Show Notes
In tonight's Sleep Hypnosis with Jessica, we dive into another story - this time, The City of Beautiful Nonsense, by Ernest Temple Thurston. So just lay back, relax, and let Jessica's words lull you to a different time, a different place… as you drift into your own inner novel.
As always, tonight's episode will start with a relaxing introduction from Jessica, before we sink into tonight’s Sleep Hypnosis.
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About Sleep Magic
✨ Sleep Magic ✨ is a podcast from the creators of Sleep Wave, and hosted by hypnotherapist Jessica Porter.Sleep magic harnesses the power of Hypnosis to help you fall into a deep, restorative sleep easily, just like magic.
Beyond helping you drift off into a deep sleep, Jessica will also spend time talking about all the different things that go into being, well, human! From releasing worries to building self-love, she’ll dive deep into how we can improve our relationship with ourselves, as well as our sleep, one night at a time.
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