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Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - The True History of the Hare and the Tortoise - By Lord Dunsany
Published 8 hours ago
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The True History of the Hare and the Tortoise by Lord Dunsany — A Funny Short Fable for Sleep | Books at Bedtime
Drift off with The True History of the Hare and the Tortoise by Lord Dunsany, a wickedly witty retelling of Aesop's most famous fable, read aloud by Martin Hewlett on Books at Bedtime, the sleep story series from Calming Anxiety.
For a long time there had been bitter argument among the beasts over who was the swifter, the hare or the tortoise. Some said the hare, because he had such long ears. Others said the tortoise, because anyone whose shell was that hard should surely be able to run hard too. With feelings running so high that there was nearly war among the beasts, a race of five hundred yards is finally arranged so that everyone can see who is right.
The tortoise declares himself absolutely confident of success. The hare looks bored and thinks the whole thing ridiculous. On the day of the race the crowd takes sides, the goose very nearly pecks the fox, and two rousing catchphrases sweep through the animal kingdom: "Run hard!" and "Let him rest!" You may think you know how this one ends, but Dunsany has a few surprises in store, right up to the very last line.
This classic short story for adults is a light-hearted wind-down for a busy mind, with Dunsany's dry, playful humour and Martin's calm, unhurried narration. It's perfect for anyone who loves a clever twist on a childhood favourite as they drift towards sleep.
If you enjoyed it, you'll find more Lord Dunsany on Books at Bedtime, including The Hen, Alone the Immortals and The Messengers, all from the same collection.
The True History of the Hare and the Tortoise was first published in Fifty-One Tales (London: Elkin Mathews; New York: Mitchell Kennerley, 1915). Lord Dunsany (1878–1957).
Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett.
📱 Listen to Books at Bedtime in the Anchored app, offline and with the screen off, so you can fall asleep without a bright phone in your hand:
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored
🧡 For Martin's calming tips, visit: https://calminganxiety.org/calm
🌱 Try Thole, Martin's new health and wellness app, in beta on iPhone: https://testflight.apple.com/join/aUKB8W7N
Sleep well, my friend. And in everything, be kind.
Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners!
YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1
Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/
Music: All music by Chris Collins at Indie Music Box
Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
Drift off with The True History of the Hare and the Tortoise by Lord Dunsany, a wickedly witty retelling of Aesop's most famous fable, read aloud by Martin Hewlett on Books at Bedtime, the sleep story series from Calming Anxiety.
For a long time there had been bitter argument among the beasts over who was the swifter, the hare or the tortoise. Some said the hare, because he had such long ears. Others said the tortoise, because anyone whose shell was that hard should surely be able to run hard too. With feelings running so high that there was nearly war among the beasts, a race of five hundred yards is finally arranged so that everyone can see who is right.
The tortoise declares himself absolutely confident of success. The hare looks bored and thinks the whole thing ridiculous. On the day of the race the crowd takes sides, the goose very nearly pecks the fox, and two rousing catchphrases sweep through the animal kingdom: "Run hard!" and "Let him rest!" You may think you know how this one ends, but Dunsany has a few surprises in store, right up to the very last line.
This classic short story for adults is a light-hearted wind-down for a busy mind, with Dunsany's dry, playful humour and Martin's calm, unhurried narration. It's perfect for anyone who loves a clever twist on a childhood favourite as they drift towards sleep.
If you enjoyed it, you'll find more Lord Dunsany on Books at Bedtime, including The Hen, Alone the Immortals and The Messengers, all from the same collection.
The True History of the Hare and the Tortoise was first published in Fifty-One Tales (London: Elkin Mathews; New York: Mitchell Kennerley, 1915). Lord Dunsany (1878–1957).
Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett.
📱 Listen to Books at Bedtime in the Anchored app, offline and with the screen off, so you can fall asleep without a bright phone in your hand:
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored
🧡 For Martin's calming tips, visit: https://calminganxiety.org/calm
🌱 Try Thole, Martin's new health and wellness app, in beta on iPhone: https://testflight.apple.com/join/aUKB8W7N
Sleep well, my friend. And in everything, be kind.
Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners!
YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1
Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/
Music: All music by Chris Collins at Indie Music Box
Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.