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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Farewell</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/farewell--6841334</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/6841334/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Fiction</category><copyright>Copyright Plays and Dramas</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg</url><title>Farewell</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/farewell--6841334</link></image><lastBuildDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:23:39 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Public Domain</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker18@adfreesounds.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Fiction"/><itunes:category text="History"/><itunes:category text="Science"><itunes:category text="Social Sciences"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>a043cd09-de16-58a6-80c0-4457a6bf6a61</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>The Tables of the Law; &amp; The Adoration of the Magi</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-tables-of-the-law-the-adoration-of-the-magi--74533103</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74533103</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:08:59 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74533103/the_tables_of_the_law_the_adoration_of_the_magi.mp3" length="20458489" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2555</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lucky Piece A Story of the North Woods-Albert Bigelow Paine</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lucky-piece-a-story-of-the-north-woods-albert-bigelow-paine--74469121</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74469121</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:08:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74469121/10233_lucky_piece_a_story_of_the_north_woods_albert_bigelow_paine.mp3" length="174722480" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. 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The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74407075</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:07:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74407075/david_poindexter_s_disappearance_and_other_tales_julian_hawthorne.mp3" length="192900308" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. 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Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74211713</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:05:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74211713/wise_woman_george_macdonald.mp3" length="85298999" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10652</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lear of the Steppes, etc-Ivan Turgenev</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lear-of-the-steppes-etc-ivan-turgenev--74149331</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. 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Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74149331</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:06:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74149331/lear_of_the_steppes_etc_ivan_turgenev.mp3" length="209837403" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26204</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Living on Half a Dime a Day-Sarah Elizabeth Harper Monmouth</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/living-on-half-a-dime-a-day-sarah-elizabeth-harper-monmouth--74099354</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. 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The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4579</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Mary Louise-L. Frank Baum</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mary-louise-l-frank-baum--74056620</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. 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Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74056620</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:06:54 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74056620/mary_louise_l_frank_baum.mp3" length="121362982" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. 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Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74003439</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:06:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74003439/love_in_a_mask_or_imprudence_and_happiness_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="51049972" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6375</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>All Else Is Folly-Peregrine Acland</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/all-else-is-folly-peregrine-acland--73938098</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73938098</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:05:39 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73938098/all_else_is_folly_peregrine_acland.mp3" length="195566630" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24422</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Second Home-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/second-home-honore-de-balzac--73887368</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73887368</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:07:34 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73887368/second_home_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="97169247" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12134</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Custer Battlefield A History And Guide To The Battle Of The Little Bighorn-Robert Marshall Utley</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/custer-battlefield-a-history-and-guide-to-the-battle-of-the-little-bighorn-robert-marshall-utley--73810173</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73810173</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:03:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73810173/custer_battlefield_a_history_and_guide_to_the_battle_of_the_little_bighorn_robert_marshall_utley.mp3" length="85598567" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10689</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Master Mind of Mars-Edgar Rice Burroughs</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/master-mind-of-mars-edgar-rice-burroughs--73773444</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73773444</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:01:56 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73773444/18764_master_mind_of_mars_edgar_rice_burroughs.mp3" length="184092936" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22989</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>First Love-Ivan Turgenev</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/first-love-ivan-turgenev--73740258</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73740258</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 05:17:15 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73740258/first_love_ivan_turgenev.mp3" length="88099494" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11002</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Metamorphosis (version 3)-Franz Kafka</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/metamorphosis-version-3-franz-kafka--73677403</link><description><![CDATA[Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" presents a surreal and thought-provoking tale of transformation that delves into the human condition and the complexities of identity. This unsettling narrative invites listeners to explore themes of alienation, family dynamics, and the struggle for acceptance in a world that often feels indifferent. The story's enduring relevance lies in its ability to resonate with contemporary feelings of isolation and the search for meaning in an increasingly fragmented society. Kafka's masterful prose and poignant exploration of existential themes make this audiobook a compelling experience that echoes through time, reminding us of the profound challenges of self-identity and belonging.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73677403</guid><pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:51:45 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73677403/metamorphosis_version_3_franz_kafka.mp3" length="66025493" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" presents a surreal and thought-provoking tale of transformation that delves into the human condition and the complexities of identity. This unsettling narrative invites listeners to explore themes of alienation, family...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" presents a surreal and thought-provoking tale of transformation that delves into the human condition and the complexities of identity. This unsettling narrative invites listeners to explore themes of alienation, family dynamics, and the struggle for acceptance in a world that often feels indifferent. The story's enduring relevance lies in its ability to resonate with contemporary feelings of isolation and the search for meaning in an increasingly fragmented society. Kafka's masterful prose and poignant exploration of existential themes make this audiobook a compelling experience that echoes through time, reminding us of the profound challenges of self-identity and belonging.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8245</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Immortal Moment-May Sinclair</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/immortal-moment-may-sinclair--73641815</link><description><![CDATA["Immortal Moment" by May Sinclair invites listeners into a profound exploration of existence and the nature of time. This thought-provoking narrative delves into themes of consciousness and the fleeting nature of life, prompting reflections on what it means to truly live in the moment. Sinclair's lyrical prose captures the essence of human experience, making it a timeless piece that resonates with contemporary audiences. The exploration of life's transience and the quest for meaning remains relevant today, encouraging listeners to embrace the present and find beauty in the ephemeral. This audiobook is a compelling reminder of the immortal moments that shape our lives.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73641815</guid><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:19:54 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73641815/immortal_moment_may_sinclair.mp3" length="185080122" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Immortal Moment" by May Sinclair invites listeners into a profound exploration of existence and the nature of time. This thought-provoking narrative delves into themes of consciousness and the fleeting nature of life, prompting reflections on what it...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Immortal Moment" by May Sinclair invites listeners into a profound exploration of existence and the nature of time. This thought-provoking narrative delves into themes of consciousness and the fleeting nature of life, prompting reflections on what it means to truly live in the moment. Sinclair's lyrical prose captures the essence of human experience, making it a timeless piece that resonates with contemporary audiences. The exploration of life's transience and the quest for meaning remains relevant today, encouraging listeners to embrace the present and find beauty in the ephemeral. This audiobook is a compelling reminder of the immortal moments that shape our lives.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23112</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Six Characters in Search of an Author-Luigi Pirandello</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/six-characters-in-search-of-an-author-luigi-pirandello--73598432</link><description><![CDATA["Six Characters in Search of an Author" by Luigi Pirandello delves into the complex relationship between reality and fiction, as six characters confront a theater company in their quest for an author to complete their unfinished story. This groundbreaking play challenges the boundaries of identity and existence, prompting audiences to reflect on the nature of creativity and the role of the artist. Its themes of self-exploration and the search for meaning resonate deeply in today's world, where individuals often grapple with their own narratives in an ever-changing society.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73598432</guid><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:52:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73598432/six_characters_in_search_of_an_author_luigi_pirandello.mp3" length="61992381" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Six Characters in Search of an Author" by Luigi Pirandello delves into the complex relationship between reality and fiction, as six characters confront a theater company in their quest for an author to complete their unfinished story. This...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Six Characters in Search of an Author" by Luigi Pirandello delves into the complex relationship between reality and fiction, as six characters confront a theater company in their quest for an author to complete their unfinished story. This groundbreaking play challenges the boundaries of identity and existence, prompting audiences to reflect on the nature of creativity and the role of the artist. Its themes of self-exploration and the search for meaning resonate deeply in today's world, where individuals often grapple with their own narratives in an ever-changing society.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7741</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>At the Sign of the Cat and Racket-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/at-the-sign-of-the-cat-and-racket-honore-de-balzac--73551584</link><description><![CDATA[At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honoré de Balzac invites listeners into a vivid tableau of 19th-century Parisian life, exploring the intricate social dynamics and relationships that define its characters. This work delves into themes of ambition, desire, and the often tumultuous nature of human connections, making it a timeless reflection on the complexities of society. Balzac's keen observations and rich characterizations ensure that the story resonates with contemporary audiences, as the struggles for identity and belonging remain ever relevant. Experience the allure of Balzac's prose and the captivating world he creates, where every interaction holds the potential for drama and transformation.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73551584</guid><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:50:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73551584/at_the_sign_of_the_cat_and_racket_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="79798819" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honoré de Balzac invites listeners into a vivid tableau of 19th-century Parisian life, exploring the intricate social dynamics and relationships that define its characters. This work delves into themes of ambition,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honoré de Balzac invites listeners into a vivid tableau of 19th-century Parisian life, exploring the intricate social dynamics and relationships that define its characters. This work delves into themes of ambition, desire, and the often tumultuous nature of human connections, making it a timeless reflection on the complexities of society. Balzac's keen observations and rich characterizations ensure that the story resonates with contemporary audiences, as the struggles for identity and belonging remain ever relevant. Experience the allure of Balzac's prose and the captivating world he creates, where every interaction holds the potential for drama and transformation.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9965</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Bransford Of Rainbow Range-Eugene Manlove Rhodes</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bransford-of-rainbow-range-eugene-manlove-rhodes--73497866</link><description><![CDATA[Bransford of Rainbow Range by Eugene Manlove Rhodes transports listeners to a vibrant landscape where themes of adventure, resilience, and the human spirit come to life. This classic tale captures the essence of frontier life, exploring the challenges and triumphs of its characters as they navigate the complexities of their world. Its enduring appeal lies in its rich storytelling and vivid imagery, which resonate with anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature and the strength found in community. As listeners embark on this journey, they will find themselves immersed in a narrative that celebrates the timeless values of courage and camaraderie, making it a perfect choice for those seeking inspiration and connection.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73497866</guid><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:22:30 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73497866/15060_bransford_of_rainbow_range_eugene_manlove_rhodes.mp3" length="160326147" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Bransford of Rainbow Range by Eugene Manlove Rhodes transports listeners to a vibrant landscape where themes of adventure, resilience, and the human spirit come to life. This classic tale captures the essence of frontier life, exploring the challenges...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Bransford of Rainbow Range by Eugene Manlove Rhodes transports listeners to a vibrant landscape where themes of adventure, resilience, and the human spirit come to life. This classic tale captures the essence of frontier life, exploring the challenges and triumphs of its characters as they navigate the complexities of their world. Its enduring appeal lies in its rich storytelling and vivid imagery, which resonate with anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature and the strength found in community. As listeners embark on this journey, they will find themselves immersed in a narrative that celebrates the timeless values of courage and camaraderie, making it a perfect choice for those seeking inspiration and connection.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>20021</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>008 - Chapter 8</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/008-chapter-8--69319478</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319478</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:04:33 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319478/008_chapter_8.mp3" length="8161026" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/5bb5c53b-f969-4b2f-b86f-db6101d4b10e/5bb5c53b-f969-4b2f-b86f-db6101d4b10e.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/5bb5c53b-f969-4b2f-b86f-db6101d4b10e/5bb5c53b-f969-4b2f-b86f-db6101d4b10e.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/5bb5c53b-f969-4b2f-b86f-db6101d4b10e/5bb5c53b-f969-4b2f-b86f-db6101d4b10e.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1021</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>007 - Chapter 7</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/007-chapter-7--69319477</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319477</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:04:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319477/farewell_7_balzac_64kb.mp3" length="6535150" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/3685c906-cad1-4499-a88b-736d5e763b7a/3685c906-cad1-4499-a88b-736d5e763b7a.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/3685c906-cad1-4499-a88b-736d5e763b7a/3685c906-cad1-4499-a88b-736d5e763b7a.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/3685c906-cad1-4499-a88b-736d5e763b7a/3685c906-cad1-4499-a88b-736d5e763b7a.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>817</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>006 - Chapter 6</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/006-chapter-6--69319475</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319475</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:04:21 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319475/006_chapter_6.mp3" length="9379574" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a3bb87b5-f256-4e07-9c6c-9deca47eeda9/a3bb87b5-f256-4e07-9c6c-9deca47eeda9.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a3bb87b5-f256-4e07-9c6c-9deca47eeda9/a3bb87b5-f256-4e07-9c6c-9deca47eeda9.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a3bb87b5-f256-4e07-9c6c-9deca47eeda9/a3bb87b5-f256-4e07-9c6c-9deca47eeda9.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1173</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>005 - Chapter 5</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/005-chapter-5--69319474</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319474</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:04:14 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319474/005_chapter_5.mp3" length="9394420" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/11b5346e-c3e8-4db9-a21d-af9e9d5742b9/11b5346e-c3e8-4db9-a21d-af9e9d5742b9.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/11b5346e-c3e8-4db9-a21d-af9e9d5742b9/11b5346e-c3e8-4db9-a21d-af9e9d5742b9.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/11b5346e-c3e8-4db9-a21d-af9e9d5742b9/11b5346e-c3e8-4db9-a21d-af9e9d5742b9.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1175</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>004 - Chapter 4</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/004-chapter-4--69319473</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319473</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:04:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319473/004_chapter_4.mp3" length="9835786" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/2c344019-65c5-49cd-9c84-1b3ee3e7a189/2c344019-65c5-49cd-9c84-1b3ee3e7a189.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/2c344019-65c5-49cd-9c84-1b3ee3e7a189/2c344019-65c5-49cd-9c84-1b3ee3e7a189.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/2c344019-65c5-49cd-9c84-1b3ee3e7a189/2c344019-65c5-49cd-9c84-1b3ee3e7a189.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1230</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>003 - Chapter 3</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/003-chapter-3--69319472</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319472</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:03:58 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319472/003_chapter_3.mp3" length="9920423" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/ed1919f6-ad48-42a6-bee1-cb85a108fbf9/ed1919f6-ad48-42a6-bee1-cb85a108fbf9.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/ed1919f6-ad48-42a6-bee1-cb85a108fbf9/ed1919f6-ad48-42a6-bee1-cb85a108fbf9.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/ed1919f6-ad48-42a6-bee1-cb85a108fbf9/ed1919f6-ad48-42a6-bee1-cb85a108fbf9.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1240</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>002 - Chapter 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/002-chapter-2--69319471</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319471</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:03:50 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319471/002_chapter_2.mp3" length="9905579" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/293fa32f-aedc-4b5d-baf1-2a1099fce499/293fa32f-aedc-4b5d-baf1-2a1099fce499.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/293fa32f-aedc-4b5d-baf1-2a1099fce499/293fa32f-aedc-4b5d-baf1-2a1099fce499.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/293fa32f-aedc-4b5d-baf1-2a1099fce499/293fa32f-aedc-4b5d-baf1-2a1099fce499.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1239</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>001 - Chapter 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/001-chapter-1--69319469</link><description><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319469</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:03:41 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319469/001_chapter_1.mp3" length="8201139" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/60c3270a-d9f7-46f2-a6cb-40991f80c517/60c3270a-d9f7-46f2-a6cb-40991f80c517.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/60c3270a-d9f7-46f2-a6cb-40991f80c517/60c3270a-d9f7-46f2-a6cb-40991f80c517.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/60c3270a-d9f7-46f2-a6cb-40991f80c517/60c3270a-d9f7-46f2-a6cb-40991f80c517.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In his haunting and poignant novella Farewell (Adieu), Balzac delves into the 19th-century literary landscape of the hysterical woman—sequestered, confined within her madness; voiceless, or eerily reciting chants in her isolated haven. The specter of the first Mrs. Rochester lingers, while the Lady of Shalott awaits the moment when the fragile illusion of her world will shatter. Soon, Freuds earliest patients will find themselves in the waiting room of the mind. During a hunting excursion, two friends stumble upon a mysterious, waif-like woman imprisoned in a crumbling chateau, whimsically named “the Palace of the Sleeping Beauty.” As the tale unfolds, we are plunged back into the grim reality of Napoleon’s 1812 retreat from Moscow, where a grotesque massacre haunts the heroine, separating her from her beloved. Their reunion becomes a desperate and tragic endeavor, mirroring past events in a bizarre attempt to confront madness and restore lost happiness… (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1026</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,balzac,confinement,history,illusion,love,madness,reunion,tragedy,trauma</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/cb479f7c5babc25167665647f636b4e4.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
