Storytime for Grownups – "A Little Princess: Introduction"
Host: Faith Moore
Date: November 3, 2025
Episode Overview
Faith Moore kicks off the "Storytime for Grownups Christmas Spectacular," introducing Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved novel A Little Princess. In this festive Victorian-themed season, listeners are invited to experience the classic story together as a community—complete with built-in notes and historical context to deepen appreciation. Faith shares how this podcast season will channel Victorian Christmas traditions, foster intergenerational connections, and bring in interactive activities, giveaways, and community engagement.
Main Themes and Purpose
- Classic Literature, Cozy Community: The podcast aims to make classic literature approachable and interactive, blending immersive readings with accessible insights and historical context ("It's like an audiobook with built-in notes." [00:17]).
- Victorian Christmas Spirit: This season evokes historical traditions and encourages communal celebration. Faith wants listeners to connect, just as families would gather in the Victorian era—whether in person or virtually.
- Interactive and Inclusive: The host emphasizes inclusivity for both adults and children, and outlines opportunities for participation through comments, activities, and special giveaways.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Setting the Scene: Victorian Christmas
[01:56 – 07:28]
- When does Christmas begin? Faith humorously grants permission to start the Christmas season early for this podcast, despite her usual "strict rules" (usually starts when "Santa Claus reaches Herald Square" in the Macy's Parade [02:50]).
- Atmosphere-building: Faith paints a vivid image of the Victorian setting—garlands, mistletoe, a crackling fire, tea, and hot chocolate, welcoming listeners into a festive, storybook world.
- Victorian Traditions:
- Christmas cards became popular due to an efficient postal system.
- Family gatherings were enabled by expanding railways.
- Christmas trees started as a German custom brought to Britain by Prince Albert.
- Presents shifted from New Year's to Christmas, and the centering of children during the holiday began.
- Literary Context: Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is credited with shaping the Victorian Christmas; listeners are encouraged to revisit last year’s podcast season on this story.
Quote:
“Christmas as we know it...was really invented during the Victorian era and solidified by Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol, but also, it really was there, it really was going on, and now we are bringing it back.” [06:53]
2. Participating in the Victorian Christmas
[07:29 – 20:34]
- The Book Choice:
- A Little Princess is described as Victorian in atmosphere, set just after the era's end, and suited for both children and adults.
- Emphasizes family reading and encourages listeners to share the experience with children or friends.
- Community & Connection:
- Faith urges sharing the podcast to combat isolation and build joyful shared experiences.
- Questions and comments from both kids and adults will be featured in episodes, fostering an ongoing dialogue.
- Interactive Opportunities:
- Victorian-Themed Activities:
- Every two weeks, Faith will announce a new interactive activity tied to a Victorian Christmas tradition, with some activities in the online community ("The Drawing Room") and some open to everyone.
- The first activity will be unveiled in the next episode (Nov 6).
- Giveaways:
- Every two weeks, listeners can win prizes (starting with a Drawing Room membership), with entry open to those buying Faith’s novel, Christmas Carol.
- All entrants receive a signed bookplate (sticker) for their book.
- Full details provided on the Storytime for Grownups website.
- Victorian-Themed Activities:
Quote:
“We, the Storytime for Grown Ups community, are your friends and family and we are all out there listening with you.” [05:06]
3. Logistics: How to Join In
[13:35 – 19:55]
- Giveaway Entry: Buy Faith’s novel Christmas Carol (paperback edition), submit a purchase screenshot per the instructions posted online to join all upcoming prize draws.
- Bookplate Offer: Every purchaser can request a free, signed sticker to personalize their book, “whether you’re giving the book away as a gift...or if you just want it yourself, then it will be signed for you.” [18:59]
- Information Hub: All instructions and details are streamlined on the Storytime for Grownups website, with links in show notes.
4. Introduction to “A Little Princess” and Frances Hodgson Burnett
[21:11 – 39:50]
- Spoiler Policy: Faith pledges no spoilers and encourages listeners to discover the story as it unfolds.
- Basic Context:
- A Little Princess was published in 1905 (the "latest" novel featured so far), set in late-Victorian/Edwardian London.
- Themes include class differences—echoing Dickens—and life at a girls' boarding school, inviting parallels to Jane Eyre and Bronte’s work.
- Background Primer for Children:
- Setting: Candle-lit homes, fire-warmed rooms, horse-drawn carriages, crowded, muddy cities.
- Class System: Society was divided; people believed class was “sort of part of your blood almost” [32:37].
- The British Empire & India: The British Raj context will be relevant—English colonists in India often employed locals as servants; this background features in the story.
Quote:
“People tended to believe back then that there was something inherent inside of you that made you upper class or lower class, even if your circumstances didn't show that.” [33:08]
- Origins: The book originated from Burnett’s earlier short story, Sara Crew, or What Happened at Miss Minchin's.
- Name Pronunciation: The main character’s name is pronounced “Sara” (British), not “Sarah,” and Faith will use this on the podcast.
- Seasonal Relevance: Although not overtly a Christmas book, the story’s tone and themes make it “a kind of Christmas story, even though it’s not specifically about Christmas.” [37:07]
5. About Frances Hodgson Burnett
[39:50 – 44:37]
- Author Biography:
- Born 1849 in Manchester, England. Father died when she was 4, leading to financial hardship and eventual emigration to Tennessee, USA at 16.
- Wrote for magazines to help support her family at 19; her career blossomed from there.
- Known works: The Secret Garden (more famous, but Faith prefers A Little Princess), Little Lord Fauntleroy.
- Her novels often blend English settings with transatlantic perspective.
- Personal life was marked by hardship—two unhappy marriages, the loss of a child, and a “lavish lifestyle” contrasting with the family-oriented themes of her books.
- Authored over 50 novels, most for adults, but is best remembered for her children’s classics.
Quote:
“You wouldn’t really know [about Burnett's lavish lifestyle] from her books, which I think have kind of family and connection and good morals and things like that at the heart of them, which is why I chose this book for Our Victorian Christmas.” [44:09]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- “So gather your family together, brew a pot of tea or a mug of hot chocolate, find a cozy chair, and settle in. It’s story time.” (Faith Moore, [00:18])
- “I hope that you have found people to bring to your Victorian Christmas here on Storytime for Grown Ups. Or if that is not the case and you don’t have anyone to celebrate this Christmas time with, please take us, adopt us.” [05:03]
- “I want us to connect with each other. This is one of the ways that we can do it.” [09:53]
- “Critics at least have made a connection between the opening chapters of Jane Eyre and the book A Little Princess. Because this book takes place in large part at a boarding school for girls…” [27:13]
- “For those of you who haven’t heard of this book before... you may know another book by Frances Hodgson Burnett which is called The Secret Garden. That book is a lot more famous, but in my opinion A Little Princess is better.” [36:40]
Timeline of Key Segments
- 00:02 – 02:50 | Welcome, holiday setting, Faith’s Christmas “rules”
- 02:51 – 07:28 | The Victorian Christmas: atmosphere & traditions
- 07:29 – 13:20 | Invitation to join the community, reading with children, importance of sharing
- 13:21 – 20:34 | Podcast logistics: activities, giveaways, instructions for participation
- 21:11 – 26:01 | Book context: why A Little Princess, themes, spoiler policy
- 26:02 – 37:07 | Historical background: class system, British Empire, setting for kids
- 37:08 – 39:50 | Book origins, character name, Christmas relevance
- 39:51 – 44:37 | Author biography, Burnett’s personal history, connection to her books
Summary & Listener Takeaways
Faith Moore’s introduction establishes a festive and welcoming tone for the upcoming read-aloud of A Little Princess. Listeners are encouraged to immerse themselves in Victorian culture, cherish intergenerational conversation, and forge communal connections—mirroring the evolution of Christmas during the Victorian era. The episode outlines clear instructions for joining in on seasonal fun and reveals insightful historical and literary background to enrich listeners’ experience with the novel.
Next up: The first chapter reading and the announcement of the initial Victorian activity!