Shortly after a horrible scolding by her aunt, Jem stares moodily into the fire. Suddenly, she notices that a bit of soot has fallen from the side of the chimney, revealing an incredibly white brick. Before she knows it, Jem finds herself on an imaginative journey where toys can talk, babies do the scolding, and Santa Claus shows you his wonderful workshop. Frances Hodgson Burnett, today, on The Classic Tales Podcast.
Welcome to the Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. 
This week marks the Classic Tales debut of Frances Hodgson Burnett. She is perhaps best known for her imaginative novels, The Secret Garden, and A Little Princess. 
"A Princess of Mars", by Edgar Rice Burroughs is now on sale for the low price of $6.99. The entire audiobook will be released in 12 episodic installments, with two episodes released every week. This novel was first published episodically in 1912, a year before Burroughs released "Tarzan of the Apes", which would catapult him to international fame. This novel helped to define an emerging genre: science fiction. John Carter, Confederate Civil War veteran, is mysteriously transported to Mars, where he finds that the new environment gives him seemingly supernatural powers. We are introduced to several different alien cultures, and we follow Carter as he seeks to rescue the elusive Martian Princess, with whom he has fallen in love.  It's a fantastic science fiction novel, and is sure to be a great gateway into the Classics for younger readers. The first episode of this premium podcast can be heard at the end of today's story. Enjoy!