https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-edith-wharton-library--6873438
Each episode offers a full-length chapter reading, patiently and plainly delivered, for listeners who prefer their drama civilized, their comedy edged, and their ghosts the sort that appear most often in daylight.]]>enFictionPublic domainhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/5fcc5683da1cda0ab17549be01d49875.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-edith-wharton-library--6873438Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:30:19 +0000Edith WhartonJonathan Magnussonfeeds@spreaker.comIn The Edith Wharton Library, we open the drawing-room doors of another age and read the novels, tales, and travels in which society’s bright surfaces so often betray a darker design. Here are marriages arranged like treaties, fortunes that tremble at...
Each episode offers a full-length chapter reading, patiently and plainly delivered, for listeners who prefer their drama civilized, their comedy edged, and their ghosts the sort that appear most often in daylight.]]>falseserialhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-01--69878598https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878598Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:38:07 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Lily Bart, momentarily stranded in the teeming heart of New York, encounters the thoughtful Lawrence Selden and accepts his invitation to tea, revealing a delicate dance of social expectations and private yearnings beneath her vivacious...1631false11fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-02--69878599https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878599Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Lily Bart navigates the delicate intricacies of social obligation and personal impulse during a train journey, deftly engaging the shy and innocent Mr. Percy Gryce in conversation while warding off the uneasy attentions of Mr. Simon...1223false12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-03--69878601https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878601Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily Bart confronts the alluring yet exacting world of high society, acutely aware of the precarious balance between appearance and dire financial constraints that shape her existence. Her reflections proceed through memories of family...2005false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-04--69878605https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878605Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Bart, caught between the familiar duties of societal drudgery and the tantalising promise of genteel security, navigates the subtle nuances and whispered manoeuvres of Bellomont’s social tableau. Amidst the genteel afternoon and delicate...1615false14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-05--69878592https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878592Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the observance of Sunday at Bellomont is marked less by devout attendance than by the social rituals and restless moods of its inhabitants, as Miss Bart grapples with the disquietings of her world and the unexpected presence of Lawrence...1686false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-06--69878597https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878597Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a perfect autumn afternoon sets the scene for Lily Bart and Selden’s thoughtful walk, during which they share candid reflections on freedom, ambition, and the nature of success amid the picturesque countryside. Their conversation reveals the...1605false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-07--69878590https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878590Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the tangled social expectations and private anxieties of Miss Bart are laid bare through candid confidences and sharp observations among her acquaintance, revealing the delicate burdens of reputation, finance, and companionship in their...1489false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-08--69878588https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878588Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily Bart navigates the sparkling yet intricate social scene of a prominent wedding, her fortunes momentarily lifted by an unexpected financial gain and the presence of potential suitors, while she quietly observes the strategic marriages and...1705false18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-09--69878589https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878589Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Bart returns to the austere and painstakingly kept household of her aunt Mrs. Peniston, encountering the mundane tedium and undercurrents of society’s whispered scandals. She is unexpectedly confronted by a char-woman bearing a parcel of...1730false19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-10--69878600https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878600Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Bart, temporarily buoyed by newfound independence and a brief flirtation with generosity, navigates the social intricacies of winter society with a keen eye for appearance and advantage. Encounters with persistent suitors and uneasy...1236false110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-11--69878603https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878603Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the bustling onset of the social season is observed with a keen but detached eye, revealing the subtle undercurrents of fortune, fashion, and whispered scandal among New York’s elite. Amidst the glittering façades, intimations of impropriety...1127false111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-12--69878594https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878594Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Bart navigates the precarious social currents of the season, finding both solace and trial in artistic display and the company of varied acquaintances, while grappling with the subtle coldness and whispered judgments of her world. Amidst...1529false112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-13--69878602https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878602Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily awakes to letters from acquaintances, prompting reflections on complicated social entanglements and the precariousness of her position amongst them. She later encounters an unsettling confrontation at the Trenors’, revealing the...1431false113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-14--69878606https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878606Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Gerty Farish, buoyed by the kindness shared with Lawrence Selden and the curious affection they both hold for Lily Bart, finds herself caught between the warmth of friendship and the pangs of jealousy in the small, modest confines of her...2645false114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-one-chapter-15--69878607https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878607Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:30:05 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily wakes to the stark reality of her precarious circumstances and, after a tense reckoning with her aunt over debts incurred through society’s costly demands and card-playing, finds herself grappling with the pressing need for help and the...1688false115fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-01--69878591https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878591Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:30:12 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the restless glamour of Monte Carlo provides a vivid backdrop for Mr. Selden’s reflective encounter with high society, where introductions and social manoeuvres unfold amid a dazzling tableau of leisure and intrigue. Through whispered...1787false116fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-02--69878609https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878609Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:30:13 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Bart finds herself adrift in the sparkling Riviera world, navigating delicate social intrigues and the shifting loyalties of her companions amidst the vivid pleasures and underlying tensions of the Casino and the yacht. As she encounters...1939false117fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-03--69878612https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878612Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:30:09 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the intricate tensions between the Dorsets come to a delicate and uneasy head under the watchful eyes of their acquaintances, while Miss Bart finds herself caught in the shifting currents of loyalty and peril. Lawrence Selden, with a mixture...1751false118fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-04--69878604https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878604Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily Bart confronts the sombre ritual of her aunt’s will-reading, only to find that the anticipated inheritance has been bequeathed elsewhere, leaving her isolated amidst the drawing-room shadows. Seeking solace and counsel from her steadfast...1464false119fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-05--69878596https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878596Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:30:09 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Lily Bart, finding herself adrift from her former social sphere, accepts an invitation to join the lively but less refined Gormer circle, where she contemplates the uneasy balance between pride and expediency amidst new acquaintances and...1403false120fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-06--69878593https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878593Sat, 28 Feb 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Bart, wandering along the seclusion of a country lane, encounters George Dorset, whose desperate entreaties and troubled past reawaken in her a complicated mixture of pity and fear, setting her against the quiet yet insistent pressures...1624false121fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-07--69878587https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878587Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Bart confronts a delicate negotiation of social ambitions and personal entanglements on a luminous November day, endeavouring to navigate the demands and subtle barters of a suitor whose candidness reveals as much as it conceals. Their...1165false122fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-08--69878595https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878595Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which autumn retreats and the social world resumes its fastidious pace, leaving Lily Bart painfully aware of her fading place among the fashionable elite and the harsh demands of maintaining appearances amid dwindling fortune. As she confides in...1702false123fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-09--69878610https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878610Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily Bart finds herself immersed in the dazzling yet vapid world of Mrs. Norma Hatch, where the pursuit of superficial elegance veils a deeper emptiness and social navigation becomes a perplexing endeavour. A surprising visit from Lawrence...1289false124fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-10--69878614https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878614Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily Bart endeavours to carve out a modest independence by apprenticing in a millinery establishment, confronting the humbling realities of labour and social estrangement amid the bustling world of working women. Her encounters, notably with...2048false125fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-11--69878615https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878615Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily, enveloped in the tender ambiguity of spring, finds herself cast adrift by the closing of the social season and her dwindling means, provoking a poignant visit from Mr Rosedale whose practical offer unsettles her pride and stirs a...1115false126fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-12--69878608https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878608Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily Bart seeks a moment of quiet intimacy with Lawrence Selden, revealing the tender complexity of her inner struggles and the delicate, unspoken ties that bind them. Their conversation lingers in a poignant atmosphere of past regrets and...869false127fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-13--69878611https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878611Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lily Bart, wearied and alone, finds unexpected solace in the humble warmth of a working-class home, where the bonds of love and renewal offer her a fleeting glimpse of life’s enduring continuity. Returning to her own solitary apartment, she...1864false128fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-house-of-mirth-book-two-chapter-14--69878613https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69878613Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a radiant morning brings Selden to Lily Bart’s modest lodging, where he confronts the poignant stillness of her presence and unravels the quiet intimacies of her recent past through the contents of her room. The encounter evokes a tender...823false129fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-3--70374526https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374526Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the quiet rhythms of North Dormer life unfold through the routines and tensions surrounding Charity Royall’s new position at the library, her fraught relationship with the taciturn Mr. Royall, and the unexpected visit of a young man whose...674false23fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-2--70374523https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374523Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity Royall, a girl of humble origins and slight education, navigates her constrained existence in the quiet village of North Dormer, finding a measure of solace in the wild air and simple pleasures beyond the library walls. In this...1086false22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-1--70374524https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374524Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young girl of a remote village confronts the narrowness of her life through the unexpected presence of a stranger whose city ways and curious interests rouse in her a restless longing beyond the confines of her sunburnt home. With gentle...1001false21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-5--70374527https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374527Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a languid June day unfolds over Eagle County, inviting Charity Royall to revisit the shadowy edges of her origins with the appearance of Liff Hyatt, a taciturn woodsman whose ties to her past stir a curious unrest. As Charity contemplates the...1042false25fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-4--70374525https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374525Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young man unexpectedly confronts Charity in her solitary domain, seeking to amend a misunderstanding that threatens her livelihood; their exchange, fraught with local suspicions and personal pride, unveils the tender complexities beneath...472false24fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-6--70374530https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374530Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity Royall sits quietly listening to a conversation that reveals unsettling truths about her origins, stirring a deep turmoil between her pride and heritage. She accompanies Lucius Harney on a journey through the wild countryside, where...1533false26fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-8--70374528https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374528Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity endures the heavy weight of suspicion and strained relations with Mr. Royall, confronting truths and resentments long suppressed between them. Amidst these somber reckonings, an unexpected communication offers a sudden glimmer of...1148false28fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-7--70374534https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374534Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity navigates the uneasy hours at the library, caught between her renewed closeness with Lucius Harney and the shadow of others’ disapproval, while a chance encounter with Mr. Miles stirs uneasy reflections on the complexities of their...1410false27fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-9--70374540https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374540Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity, adorned in a carefully altered hat and new dress, ventures with gentle trepidation to Nettleton on the Fourth of July, discovering the vibrant whirl of a holiday crowd through Harney’s companionable presence. The day unfolds with...1245false29fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-11--70374536https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374536Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity emerges from a night steeped in anguish to confront the oppressive gaze of her small village and makes a desperate, solitary bid for freedom, only to be unexpectedly waylaid by a persistent presence from her past. In the quietude of a...1135false211fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-10--70374529https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374529Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a summer evening by the lake unfolds with shimmering reflections and gentle drifting, as two companions partake in quiet pleasures, interrupted by the animated presence of familiar faces and the spectacle of a grand fireworks display. Amidst...956false210fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-12--70374535https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374535Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the village of North Dormer stirs with an eager preparation for its inaugural Old Home Week, led by the enthusiastic architect Lucius Harney, while Charity Royall finds herself reluctantly drawn into the communal bustle yet remains ensconced...1417false212fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-14--70374532https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374532Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the lingering warmth of a village celebration contrasts with the quiet tension in a secluded room where Charity and Harney meet, their youthful affection shadowed by an unexpected visitor's somber revelations. The evening wanes with tender...845false214fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-13--70374537https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374537Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a summer gathering at the Town Hall brings together familiar faces and old memories, while Charity stands amidst the unfolding ceremony, her thoughts torn between hope and a growing apprehension as she observes the elusive Harney and the...781false213fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-15--70374539https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374539Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity confronts the quiet unraveling of her unspoken hopes and contemplates the barriers of social expectation and personal circumstance that lie between her and Harney. With a stoicism born of youthful resolve and newfound burdens, she...1826false215fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-18--70374538https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374538Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity, laden with a profound weariness and a blurred sense of self, is gently guided through a day of solemn and transformative rites, culminating in her quiet acceptance of a new reality amidst the autumnal landscape of Nettleton. The...1326false218fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-16--70374531https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374531Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity undertakes a weary and solitary journey towards the Mountain, carrying the weight of a secret and a fragile hope of reunion. Upon arrival, she confronts the stark reality of her origins amid a somber gathering, where the clergy's...1549false216fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/summer-chapter-17--70374533https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70374533Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Charity lies in a humble mountain cabin, wrestling with the stark reality of her mother’s life and the bleak prospects before her, torn between retreating to familiar ways and forging a new path for the sake of her unborn child. She...1063false217fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-bolted-door-part-ii--70514119https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514119Sun, 15 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a man haunted by a secret confession finds himself entangled in a web of doubt and disbelief, seeking validation from detached authorities and strangers alike, while the city around him offers indifferent faces and elusive clues. The weary...2336false32fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-bolted-door-part-i--70514120https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514120Sun, 15 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a weary middle-aged playwright, haunted by years of artistic failure and personal despair, summons a trusted lawyer to discuss a sombre confession that intertwines murder, inheritance, and the desperate quest for freedom. The narrative...3362false31fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-his-father-s-son--70514118https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514118Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the widower Mason Grew uproots himself to Brooklyn to delicately balance his desire for closeness with his son Ronald and the careful maintenance of their social boundaries, all the while nurturing secret hopes entwined with his son’s...2314false33fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-daunt-diana--70514123https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514123Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a sensitive connoisseur of antiquities named Humphrey Neave acquires a magnificent collection steeped in history and beauty, only to confront the profound complexities of possession and desire as he wrestles with the intimate bonds between...1792false34fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-full-circle--70514126https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514126Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Geoffrey Betton, a once-celebrated author wearied by the burdens of success and correspondence, enlists the aid of his old acquaintance Duncan Vyse to manage a flood of letters following the publication of his new book. Their uneasy...3087false36fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-debt--70514128https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514128Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a modest and awkward young biologist, nurtured by a venerable professor and his family, gradually emerges from obscurity to take up a distinguished scientific legacy, only to challenge the very doctrines he once reverently upheld. The quiet...1978false35fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-legend--70514122https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514122Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a chance encounter introduces a mysterious and silent stranger whose presence quietly enchants a small circle of friends, stirring questions of identity and intellectual legacy with delicate subtlety. As the nights pass and conversations...3716false37fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-eyes--70514129https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514129Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a group of cultivated friends, gathered in the oak-panelled warmth of an old library, exchange tales of ghostly visitations until their ostensibly sceptical host unexpectedly recounts his own haunting experience of spectral eyes that return...2729false38fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-afterward--70514125https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514125Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the tender pursuit of a long-desired country life at an ancient Dorsetshire house slowly unveils the subtle presence of an unknown ghost, whose identity remains elusive until realized only in retrospect. Amidst the quiet rhythms of...4215false310fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-blond-beast--70514121https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514121Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young man, newly engaged as secretary to a wealthy philanthropist, navigates the complexities of ambition and principle amidst the contrasted characters of father and son, their differing visions of goodness and duty unfolding within the...3589false39fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-letters-part-i--70514124https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514124Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the gentle ascent to a hilltop house unfolds a tenderly wrought connection between a humble teacher and a distinguished artist, where secret meetings and delicate letters weave a quiet narrative of affection and longing. Yet the fragile...2386false311fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-men-and-ghosts-the-letters-part-ii--70514127https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70514127Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Lizzie West navigates the uneasy intersection of newfound fortune and old attachments, encountering in Vincent Deering a changed man whose silent sufferings and unspoken vows cast long shadows over their reunion. The discovery of unopened...3002false312fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-1--70515068https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515068Sat, 21 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which George Darrow, delayed and disheartened by a curt telegram from Mrs Leath, reflects on their renewed acquaintance and the intricate circumstances of her life, only to find himself stranded in foul weather on a crowded pier, where chance...1138false41fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-2--70515069https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515069Sat, 21 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a chance meeting with Miss Viner, a spirited and candid young woman recently estranged from the oppressive household of Mrs. Murrett, reveals the hidden lives and whispered judgements of society’s lesser-known corners. Their conversation,...697false42fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-4--70515063https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515063Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young American woman newly arrived in Paris finds herself under the informal guardianship of a gentleman named Darrow, whose attentiveness reveals both the charm and the vulnerabilities of her situation amidst the city's theatrical allure...1394false44fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-3--70515066https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515066Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young woman’s resilient yet wistful history unfolds during a dimly lit train journey, revealing the quiet stoicism with which she confronts life’s indifferent tides and the subtle grace of her companionship. George Darrow, witnessing her...820false43fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-5--70515062https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515062Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the evening unfolds with subtle hopes and disappointments as Darrow awaits a letter that fails to arrive, while he shares a quietly illuminating night at the theatre with the youthful and perceptive Miss Viner. Their companionship is marked...1029false45fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-6--70515065https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515065Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a spring afternoon at the Théâtre Français reveals the contrasting perceptions of a young man and his companion, as she finds profound life echoed in the ancient drama while he wrestles with an air of stale performance. Their shared hours...710false46fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-8--70515067https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515067Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the relentless rain confines George Darrow to a dreary and impersonal lodgings, where the oppressive atmosphere of the room gnaws at his spirits and unsettles his thoughts. Amidst his solitary reverie, an unexpected intrusion brings a letter...570false48fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-1-chapter-7--70515064https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515064Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Darrow, caught in a moment of weakness, confesses to withholding a letter and invites a young woman to share a brief respite from her troubles, offering companionship and kindness amid their mutual disquiet. Their frank and tentative exchange...689false47fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-10--70515070https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515070Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs Leath reflects tenderly on her complex relationship with her step-son Owen, noting in him echoes of both his father and his absent mother, whose portrait lingers sadly in the house. As they meet in the fading autumn light, an unspoken...848false410fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-9--70515071https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515071Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Leath, returning to her ancestral home at Givre, experiences a poignant awakening to the enduring complexities of her life and emotions, caught between the conventions of her social world and the stirrings of unfulfilled desires. The...1343false49fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-12--70515075https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515075Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna and Darrow, walking through the garden's golden light, ponder the delicate future of their intertwined lives, marked by tender hopes and the intricate responsibilities toward those they hold dear. Amidst whispered confidences and the...754false412fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-11--70515080https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515080Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna and Darrow take a reflective walk through the sunlit grounds of her family estate, navigating delicate memories and unspoken tensions that have long lingered between them. Their conversation unfolds with a tender candour, as each seeks...890false411fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-14--70515073https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515073Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Darrow becomes a visitor enmeshed in the genteel yet quietly tense atmosphere of the Leath household, engaging with Madame de Chantelle’s delicate old-world prejudices and the careful presentation of family ties, while observing the spirited...762false414fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-13--70515079https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515079Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Darrow, seated before a kindly fire, reflects upon the fleeting joys and deep stirrings of a recent day spent with Anna Summers amidst autumnal landscapes and evening intimacy, sensing the profound rightness of their connection and the...713false413fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-16--70515082https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515082Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the evening’s peaceful domesticity is gently illuminated by quiet confidences and the tender attentions of family and friends gathered about the tea-table, while subtle undercurrents of concern and curiosity ripple beneath the surface. Amidst...722false416fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-2-chapter-15--70515090https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515090Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Darrow seeks escape and clarity in the woods and study, navigating his uneasy thoughts and the quiet desperation of Miss Viner, whose courage and candour reveal a stark reality beneath their delicate surroundings. His reflections are coloured...999false415fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-3-chapter-17--70515077https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515077Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the delicate interplay of unspoken thoughts and shifting alliances at Givre lends a curious tension to the morning’s encounter between Darrow and Sophy Viner, revealing more through silences and glances than words. As they walk beneath the...1195false417fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-3-chapter-18--70515085https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515085Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a serene morning gathers a trio whose unspoken understanding hints at deeper currents beneath the genial surface, while Anna contemplates the richness of her present felicity alongside the delicate considerations of disclosure and trust. The...934false418fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-3-chapter-20--70515081https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515081Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a delicate and rainy afternoon provides the setting for a quietly intense conversation between Darrow and Sophy, as they navigate the shadows of prior confidences and unspoken doubts about her forthcoming marriage. Their measured words and...918false420fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-3-chapter-19--70515078https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515078Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Darrow, amidst the lingering storm and encroaching dusk, wrestles with the uneasy revelations concerning Sophy Viner, whose presence at Givre has stirred a complex web of loyalty, suspicion, and forbidden sentiment among the household. Madame...1159false419fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-3-chapter-21--70515074https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515074Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the arrival of Miss Adelaide Painter stirs the household with her brisk, unaffected presence, challenging the delicate tensions surrounding Owen and Sophy Viner's engagement and Madame de Chantelle's disapproval. Darrow finds himself...1189false421fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-3-chapter-22--70515099https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515099Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the uneasy harmonies of engagement and reconciliation swirl gently through the household at Givre, as Darrow and Anna navigate the delicate progress of their impending marriage amidst tender family exchanges and subtle undercurrents of...1052false422fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-4-chapter-24--70515088https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515088Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a sudden confrontation lays bare tensions and unspoken suspicions among the household, revealing subtle shifts in relationships that unsettle the observers. The arrival of a composed and thoughtful visitor contrasts with the youthful...881false424fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-4-chapter-23--70515094https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515094Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the quiet certainties of Givre are unsettled by Sophy Viner’s sudden urgency to leave and the delicate tensions that unfurl between her and Owen, casting a shadow over their impending union. Anna, ever the gentle observer, finds herself...1049false423fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-4-chapter-25--70515084https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515084Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna, caught in the delicate conundrum of youthful affections and misunderstandings, seeks to disentangle suspicions and soothe wounded pride by enlisting Darrow's help to bridge a troubling silence. With the gentle resolve of one who...753false425fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-4-chapter-26--70515076https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515076Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Darrow, ensnared in a web of past intimacies and present complications, seeks a quiet but fraught conversation with Sophy Viner in a room heavy with memories and unspoken regrets. Their exchange unravels tender and turbulent emotions,...1147false426fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-4-chapter-28--70515092https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515092Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna wrestles with the painful revelation of a secret that alters her understanding of those around her, confronting feelings of doubt, compassion, and guarded resolve. She meets with Sophy Viner before the latter’s departure, seeking clarity...1273false428fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-4-chapter-27--70515083https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515083Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a delicate conversation unfolds between Darrow and Anna, revealing tender confessions and the intricate emotions entangling their lives, as misunderstandings gently dissolve and new hopes quietly emerge. The air is thick with the poignant...1029false427fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-4-chapter-29--70515086https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515086Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a poignant encounter unfolds between Anna and Darrow, as they confront the raw pangs of revelation and the heavy weight of unspoken truths that bind their sorrowed hearts. Their exchange, marked by pride and despair, delicately reveals the...945false429fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-30--70515087https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515087Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna Leath, driven by a sudden awareness of her step-son’s secret departure, seeks refuge and clarity in a friend's austere Parisian apartment, wrestling with a tumult of sorrow and duty that clouds her thoughts with a sombre resolve. Alone...626false430fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-31--70515093https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515093Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a visit from an unexpected caller brings forth a quiet yet charged exchange between two women, each carrying burdens of love, hope, and despair, as they navigate tangled sentiments and the delicate need for truth. Amidst the sombre...529false431fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-32--70515100https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515100Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna, weary and lone, finds herself drawn into a fraught nocturnal encounter with Darrow in her secluded Paris apartment, their conversation a tender but troubled dance around the past and the intricacies of the heart. The unexpected arrival...702false432fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-34--70515095https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515095Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a morning of renewed lightness reveals the tender, uneasy interplay of past and present affections as Anna and Darrow navigate their unspoken tensions amid the calm surroundings of Givre. Their silent struggles and guarded conversations,...720false434fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-33--70515089https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515089Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the delicate intricacies of tender attachments and lingering doubts entwine themselves around Anna Leath as she contemplates the shifting tides of her heart and the quiet complexities of those close to her. Amidst reflective solitude and...746false433fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-35--70515096https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515096Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a restless morning finds Anna wrestling quietly with the realisation that she must relinquish a cherished hope, reflecting on a past filled with poignant regrets and a future shadowed by unspoken renunciations. As she and Darrow share a...491false435fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-36--70515098https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515098Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna and Darrow confront the tender yet painful necessity of final truths, each holding fast to the quiet dignity of their shared past even as the evening’s shadows deepen between them. The intimate space of his room becomes a sanctuary and a...530false436fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-38--70515072https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515072Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna contemplates the silent knowledge and unspoken tensions that have crept between herself, Owen, and Darrow, poignantly sensing the walls of silence these shadows have wrought among them. Amidst stormy Parisian evenings and delicate dances...882false438fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-37--70515091https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515091Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna and Darrow travel together to Paris, navigating the tender and complex emotions that bind them, while Anna wrestles quietly with her past and present loyalties. Their meeting with Owen, on the eve of his departure, is marked by...741false437fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-reef-book-5-chapter-39--70515097https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515097Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Anna, burdened by a sense of humiliation and an urgent need for resolution, seeks out Sophy Viner only to find herself navigating the tangled and somewhat theatrical world of Sophy’s sister, Mrs. McTarvie-Birch, whose bohemian lifestyle and...839false439fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-1--70515853https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515853Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the serene winter night in a snow-blanketed village sets the scene for a young man’s quiet contemplation as he watches a lively dance through a frosted church window, caught between the warmth within and the cold silence outside. His thoughts...953false52fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-prologue--70515861https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515861Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a curious outsider, gathering his evidence as one gathers gossip in a small New England town, becomes increasingly preoccupied by the grave, broken figure of Ethan Frome, whose silence seems less a habit than the last expression of a life...1539false51fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-3--70515852https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515852Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Ethan rises early to engage in the laborious task of hauling lumber amid the pristine winter landscape, his thoughts wandering to the quiet tensions within his household and the delicate presence of Mattie Silver. The narrative softly reveals...681false54fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-2--70515856https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515856Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a wintry evening after the village dance finds Ethan Frome sharing a poignant walk home with Mattie, steeped in the silent promise and subtle tension of their companionship under the frosty stars. They return to a house shadowed by illness...1003false53fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-4--70515854https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515854Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Ethan returns to the homely kitchen, warmed by Mattie’s presence and the absence of his wife, and navigates the quiet tensions of daily life with a mixture of hope and restraint. In the stillness of the Starkfield evening, a broken pickle...1351false55fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-5--70515857https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515857Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a quiet winter evening unfolds with tender simplicity as Ethan and Mattie share a domestic tableau suffused with gentle warmth and unspoken sentiment. Their conversation, punctuated by everyday observations and shy intimacies, reveals the...657false56fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-6--70515855https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515855Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Ethan experiences a quiet, tender joy amid the drudgery of a wintry morning, punctuated by the simple companionship of Mattie and the slow, stubborn progress of labour on the icy roads. Yet the arrival of Zeena casts an unspoken shadow over...565false57fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-7--70515859https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515859Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Ethan returns home to find Zeena cloaked in a new and troubling illness that demands unwelcome changes within their household, stirring a rare and bitter conflict between husband and wife. The quiet kitchen witnesses the fragile bonds and...1435false58fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-8--70515858https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515858Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Ethan seeks solace in a humble retreat fashioned from fragments of past kindness and contemplates the heavy confines of his life and hopes amidst a deepening winter chill. The quiet morning unveils a tender, unspoken closeness and the...985false59fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ethan-frome-chapter-9--70515860https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70515860Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Ethan Frome confronts the painful necessity of parting with Mattie Silver and undertakes a final, bittersweet excursion through the stark winter landscape, suffused with memories and unspoken yearnings. The sombre aftermath reveals the...2381false510fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-1--70516262https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516262Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a solitary boy of noble descent, neglected and ragged, seeks solace in the ancient and dust-covered chapel of a forsaken manor, finding in its faded saints and warriors a silent companionship amidst his hardships. The quietude of the winter...1064false61fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-2--70516263https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516263Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:30:05 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young boy, newly arrived at his mother's illuminated palace amidst the silent ducal streets, encounters the bustling life and the subtle tensions of a house marked by loss and troubled finances. Guided by a sharp-faced hunchback servant, he...1080false62fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-3--70516264https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516264Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the young Odo, freshly installed in his mother’s ducal household, is guided through the splendid yet shadowy precincts of palace life, encountering murmurs of intrigue and the curious figures that orbit the Duke’s court. His first...837false63fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-4--70516265https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516265Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young boy, accompanied by his distant mother, journeys through stark and somber landscapes to an ancient, fortress-like family castle, where the austere household and shadowed mysteries of its walls unveil a world both forbidding and deeply...1251false64fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-5--70516267https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516267Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the long, cold winters at the Donnaz castle unfold a quiet tapestry of isolation and courtly reminiscence, with the youthful Odo finding solace in ancient tales and the shifting moods of his family’s fortunes. The arrival of a neighbouring...1024false65fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-6--70516269https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516269Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which young Odo embarks on a solemn pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Oropa, encountering a faded prima donna whose poignant tale of lost glory and hardship stirs both compassion and reflection amidst the mingled piety and gaiety of the devotees. The...1480false66fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-7--70516268https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516268Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young heir presumptive is abruptly withdrawn from the contemplative stillness of his mountain home to enter the polished intrigues and vivid pageantry of courtly life, escorted by a turn of fortune and well-meaning yet divided guardians;...1121false67fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-8--70516271https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516271Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young nobleman awakens to the charms and challenges of Turin, entering a world where society’s delicate courtesies mask financial constraints and the strictures of discretion. Amidst the splendour of the royal theatre and the stirrings of...1698false68fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-i-the-old-order-section-1-9--70516270https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516270Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young Odo forms a stimulating friendship with the passionate and complex Vittorio Alfieri, finding both companionship and inspiration amid the austere yet stirring world of classical art and ideas. Their encounters, especially under the...1029false69fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-1--70516272https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516272Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the young Italian nobleman Odo Valsecca finds himself caught between an evocative appreciation of the tranquil spring landscapes of Piedmont and the stirring, new literary ideas that challenge the conventions of his time. As he contemplates...1072false610fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-2--70516266https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516266Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the restless young Odo finds his life in Turin stirred by the return of the spirited Alfieri, whose daring escapades and bold ideas lend a thrilling breadth to their companionship despite contrasting worldviews. Amidst the pomp and...746false611fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-3--70516274https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516274Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young nobleman is ushered into the discreet gathering of scholars and thinkers in eighteenth-century Turin, where scientific curiosities and passionate debates illuminate a shared yearning for intellectual liberty. Amongst fossils,...1107false612fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-4--70516273https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516273Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young nobleman is drawn into the concealed gatherings of a secretive society of enlightened thinkers, where he encounters the learned and enigmatic daughter of their revered leader amidst a stirring discourse on reason and liberty. Their...1786false613fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-5--70516275https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516275Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young man, poised between youthful folly and the delicate intrigues of courtly life, wrestles with the consequences of his actions and the weight of expectation thrust upon him by circumstance. Amidst a vivid tapestry of family ambitions...1212false614fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-6--70516276https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516276Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young gentleman hastens through lush spring landscapes to revisit his ancestral home, where the weight of tradition and the stirrings of new thought create a poignant tension in the ancient castle’s shadowed halls. Amid stirring reflections...1209false615fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-7--70516278https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516278Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a chance encounter with a beleaguered philosopher and his veiled daughter reveals hidden perils and cautious alliances amid the unrest of Piedmont, compelling a young cavalier to show unexpected generosity despite personal reservations. The...1324false616fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-8--70516277https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516277Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Odo is introduced to the lively yet somewhat tarnished company of Signorina Miranda and her eccentric cousin, the Count of Castelrovinato, as they exchange playful banter amidst the disarray caused by Miranda’s spirited pets. The conversation...394false617fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-mirandolina-s-story--70516279https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516279Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a spirited young actress recounts her adventurous rise from hardship to renown, deftly navigating the perils of disguise and ecclesiastical authority in pursuit of her art. Through her vivid narration, we glimpse the fragile interplay of...959false618fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-9--70516280https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516280Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young Cavaliere awakens to find his plans thwarted and sets out on a journey through a starkly divided countryside, where he encounters old acquaintances and witnesses the harsh realities imposed by oppressive feudal and ecclesiastical...1898false619fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-10--70516285https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516285Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the Cavaliere Valsecca returns to the ancient palace of his kin to find it a somber monument to fading grandeur, where the duke, his ailing cousin, is tormented by spiritual doubts that reveal the heavy burdens of dynastic duty and piety. As...1564false620fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-12--70516282https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516282Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a wary visitor navigates the intricate and duplicitous politics of a small duchy, guided by a cautious informant who reveals the delicate balance of power held by Church and court alike, as well as the personal foibles and intrigues that...1382false622fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-11--70516298https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516298Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Odo is introduced to the intricate and often contradictory court society surrounding the Duchess, whose spirited conversation and the varied characters about her reveal the delicate balance of power and influence in Pianura. His subsequent...1702false621fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-13--70516281https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516281Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the young Duke’s exile acquaints him with the contrasting rhythms of courtly debauchery and scholarly retreat, set against the curious backdrop of crumbling faith and simmering satire that colours the city’s social fabric. In these varied...1365false623fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-14--70516284https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516284Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the young kinsman Odo navigates the complex intrigues of Pianura’s court, balancing cautious alliances with reformist thinkers and the wary attentions of the Duke’s faction, all beneath the shadow of political and spiritual unrest. Amidst...1988false624fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iii-the-choice-section-3-1--70516283https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516283Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Odo Valsecca finds himself amid the vibrant and contrasting worlds of Naples and Monte Alloro, engaging with a variety of figures whose interplay of faith, intellect, and society reveals the complexities of their age. As he navigates...2617false626fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-ii-the-new-light-section-2-15--70516286https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516286Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the delicate intrigues of court life conceal both political machinations and enigmatic rituals, leading a young man into a perilous engagement with mysterious forces and wary alliances. Against a backdrop of shadowed loyalties and unfolding...2489false625fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iii-the-choice-section-3-3--70516287https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516287Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the cavaliere Odo finds himself unexpectedly immersed in the sparkling, theatrical splendour and complex social intrigues of Venetian high society, from the dazzling festivities at the Procuratessa Bra’s villa to the disarming contradictions...2926false628fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iii-the-choice-section-3-2--70516295https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516295Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Odo, newly arrived in Rome, finds himself both bewitched and burdened by the city's magnificent contradictions and ancient grandeur, wandering through its layers of history and the clouded complacency of its society. His travels then carry...1285false627fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iii-the-choice-section-3-5--70516290https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516290Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Odo carefully orchestrates Fulvia’s daring escape from the convent, navigating the complexities of their secretive world with a measured blend of resolve and tender companionship. Their flight is shadowed by unexpected allies and concealed...1381false630fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iii-the-choice-section-3-4--70516304https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516304Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the fragile hope of a clandestine meeting between two kindred spirits unravels beneath the brooding walls of a Venetian convent, revealing the harsh confines of a life imposed rather than chosen. Amidst whispered confessions and veiled...1369false629fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iii-the-choice-section-3-6--70516303https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516303Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Fulvia and Odo, enveloped in the quiet urgency of their flight, seek refuge and passage through a night-wrapped Italian landscape, where the natural world’s beauty contrasts with the shadowy presence of pursuit and the weight of destiny....1952false631fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iii-the-choice-section-3-7--70516288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516288Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young nobleman named Odo confronts the heavy burdens of duty and love amid political intrigue and shifting loyalties, as a devoted woman named Fulvia guides him towards a solemn resolve. Their quiet but poignant exchange illuminates the...1306false632fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-2--70516292https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516292Fri, 01 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the newly appointed Duke wrestles with the departure of his trusted tutor and advisor, de Crucis, and the daunting weight of governance amid the complex interplay of reform and tradition. Meanwhile, his marriage to the Duchess reveals the...1399false634fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-1--70516299https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516299Fri, 01 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the city of Pianura, adorned with rich banners and festoons, prepares a grand and heartfelt welcome for the young Duke Odo as he returns to claim his throne after a period of turmoil and mourning. Amid the pageantry and popular acclaim, Odo...1672false633fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-4--70516289https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516289Sat, 02 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the Duke learns of Signorina Fulvia Vivaldi's perilous situation as a political refugee fleeing the censure of the Holy Office, and resolves to provide her sanctuary within his own dominions. A chance reunion ensues at the deserted...534false636fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-3--70516296https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516296Sat, 02 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the new Duke, wearied by the ceremonial duties and elusive nature of power, reflects on his reform efforts and the distant encouragement of Fulvia Vivaldi, whose presence lingers like a light in his solitary pursuit. Meanwhile, the arrival of...1421false635fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-5--70516297https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516297Sun, 03 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which an English traveller’s diary unfolds a discerning journey through the duchy of Pianura, revealing a land poised between the austere realities of rural neglect and the lofty ambitions of enlightened reform under a troubled sovereign....1325false637fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-6--70516301https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516301Sun, 03 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Fulvia, living with austere grace in a former convent, stands as both confidante and symbol beside the Duke amid the austere twilight of political and personal struggle. Their converse, shaded by hope and disquiet, reveals the intricate...1240false638fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-8--70516293https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516293Mon, 04 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the solemn jubilee of the Mountain Madonna brings together a sprawling assembly of clergy and pilgrims beneath a glowing sky, illustrating the enduring power of faith and spectacle amid shifting tides of belief. Amid whispered rumours and the...1582false640fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-7--70516300https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516300Mon, 04 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the Duke, wrestling with the stark realities of governance and reform, finds his ideals challenged not only by the complexities of political change but also by the poignant counsel of his Duchess, whose fears for his safety and the realm’s...997false639fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-9--70516291https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516291Tue, 05 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the Duke confronts the uneasy quiet before the proclamation of a new constitution, sensing undercurrents of opposition and resignation among his ministers, while grappling with the complexities of ambition and loyalty that colour the...1423false641fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-10--70516294https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516294Tue, 05 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the solemn ceremony of conferring doctorates at the University of Pianura unfolds amid a city tense with political unrest, where the young Signorina Fulvia Vivaldi’s eloquence on liberty stirs both admiration and disturbance. The Duke...1319false642fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valley-of-decision-book-iv-the-reward-section-4-11--70516302https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70516302Wed, 06 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the Duke awakens from a prolonged illness to a changed world, finding himself both estranged from his past passions and drawn into the calm yet inexorable currents of political upheaval sweeping Italy and France. As old alliances crumble and...2144false643fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-introduction--70907912https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907912Thu, 07 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the author gently laments the modern detachment of interior decoration from architectural design, tracing the historical evolution from the functional ornamentation of medieval times to the often disjointed embellishments of the present day....468false71fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-i-the-historical-tradition--70907913https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907913Thu, 07 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the evolution of architecture and decoration is thoughtfully examined, emphasising the significance of historical styles—particularly those flourishing in Italy, France, and England—as vital guides to modern house-planning suited to our...1663false72fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-iii-walls--70907915https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907915Fri, 08 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the delicate art of proportion and symmetry is revealed as the subtle backbone of architectural grace, influencing not only the aesthetic but also the comfort of a room's interior design. The chapter further explores the noble traditions and...2740false74fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-ii-rooms-in-general--70907921https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907921Fri, 08 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the thoughtful art of furnishing is explored with a genteel insistence on individuality and comfort, rather than mere novelty or fashion, emphasising the importance of purpose, proportion, and privacy within the rooms of a house. The...1461false73fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-v-windows--70907925https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907925Sat, 09 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the subtle art of window design is elucidated as not merely functional, but as a principal architectonic element essential to the harmonious balance and grace of interior spaces. The discourse gently revives old-world reverence for...952false76fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-iv-doors--70907916https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907916Sat, 09 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the peculiar history and evolving treatment of doors in American and European houses is explored, highlighting the balance between practical convenience and architectural grace. The discourse ranges from sliding and hinged doors to the...2218false75fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-vii-ceilings-and-floors--70907914https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907914Sun, 10 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the gentle evolution of ceilings and floors is explored through the lens of varied architectural traditions, revealing the delicate balance between structural truth and ornamental grace that has shaped interiors from Renaissance Italy to...1450false78fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-vi-fireplaces--70907922https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907922Sun, 10 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the fireplace is revealed as the architectural heart of a room, evolving through history from grand medieval hoods to more restrained Renaissance and classic designs that balance utility with aesthetic harmony. The chapter gently enquires...1536false77fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-viii-entrance-and-vestibule--70907926https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907926Mon, 11 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the approach to a house’s entrance is thoughtfully considered, balancing strength and simplicity to impart security while gracefully transitioning from the outside world to the sheltered interior. The vestibule, adorned with weather-resistant...407false79fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-ix-hall-and-stairs--70907929https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907929Mon, 11 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the intricate evolution of the staircase and hall is gently unravelled, revealing their distinctive roles and the varied traditions across Europe that have shaped their forms and functions. A contemplative discourse follows on the wise...1619false710fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-xi-gala-rooms-ball-room-saloon-music-room-and-gallery--70907917https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907917Tue, 12 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the distinction and decorum appropriate to gala rooms—such as ball-rooms, saloons, music-rooms, and galleries—are explored with an eye to their historical origins and architectural necessities, emphasising the grandeur and purposeful...1144false712fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-x-the-drawing-room-boudoir-and-morning-room--70907923https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907923Tue, 12 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the subtle evolution of the drawing-room traces its lineage from medieval withdrawal chambers and Renaissance salons, revealing a dual ancestry that influences its use as either a formal space of ceremony or a cosy family retreat. The...1154false711fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-xii-the-library-smoking-room-and-den--70907919https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907919Wed, 13 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the evolution and arrangement of libraries are tenderly examined, revealing the transition from portable chests to integral book-lined walls that both protect and aesthetically enhance the beloved volumes within. Alongside this, the more...948false713fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-xiii-the-dining-room--70907928https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907928Wed, 13 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the evolution of the dining-room is gently traced from its medieval origins to its eighteenth-century refinement, illuminating the subtle distinctions between family and state dining spaces in both French and English households. The...767false714fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-xiv-bedrooms--70907924https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907924Thu, 14 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the evolution of the bedroom is explored with a delicate attention to historical detail, tracing its transformation from multifunctional chamber to refined suite, and reflecting the shifting tastes and hygienic sensibilities that have shaped...1205false715fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-xv-the-school-room-and-nurseries--70907927https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907927Thu, 14 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the thoughtful arrangement and decoration of children’s rooms are presented as a subtle yet powerful influence on the development of their aesthetic sensibility and intellectual growth. The chapter gently advocates for surroundings that...1645false716fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-chapter-xvi-bric-a-brac--70907918https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907918Fri, 15 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the careful distinction between mere knick-knacks and true objects of art is gently explored, emphasising the importance of quality, proportion, and tasteful restraint in the tasteful adornment of a room. The chapter reflects on the decline...1235false717fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-decoration-of-houses-conclusion--70907920https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70907920Fri, 15 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Edith Wharton reflects upon the evolution from classical architectural integrity to the more ornamental excesses of modern decoration, advocating for the enduring virtues of simplicity, moderation, and unity. She gently urges a renewed...336false718fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-ii-the-other-two--71841835https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841835Sat, 16 May 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Waythorn navigates the delicate and often awkward coexistence with his wife’s former husbands, encountering the complex social and personal challenges that attend their intertwined lives. As illness and legal entanglements bring old ties...2777false82fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-i-the-descent-of-man--71841836https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841836Sat, 16 May 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a diligent scholar finds himself caught between the earnest pursuit of scientific truth and the bewildering tides of popular acclaim, as a serious work of his is embraced as a heartfelt creed by the masses. The narrative gently explores the...2747false81fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-iii-expiation--71841838https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841838Sun, 17 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Fetherel, a newly published author anxious about the reception of her provocative novel, navigates the dilemmas of literary ambition, social expectation, and familial opinion amid the genteel confines of New York society. Her...3174false83fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-iv-the-lady-s-maid-s-bell--71841841https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841841Sun, 17 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a recovering lady’s maid takes up service in a remote and somber country house governed by a kindly but ailing mistress and her disagreeable husband, and soon encounters an unsettling atmosphere marked by a locked room and a mysterious...2865false84fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-v-the-mission-of-jane--71841843https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841843Mon, 18 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a modest household is transformed by the adoption of a foundling, whose presence kindles dormant affections and rekindles connections previously thought irreparable. The quiet rhythms of domestic life are gently stirred by the delicate...2585false85fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-vi-the-reckoning--71841840https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841840Mon, 18 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a series of unconventional social gatherings and earnest discussions reveal the fraught tensions underlying a marriage built on modern theories of personal freedom, yet complicated by deeper emotional bonds and unspoken fears. Julia Westall’s...2989false86fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-viii-the-dilettante--71841839https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841839Tue, 19 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Thursdale, caught between past affections and present promises, seeks counsel from the astute and tactful Mrs. Vervain, whose graceful mastery of evasion and truth unfolds the delicate complexities of his relationships. Their measured...1333false88fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-vii-the-letter--71841842https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841842Tue, 19 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a retired English officer, steeped in the quiet study of Tuscan art, recounts his encounters with the passionate and clandestine world of Italian patriots during the tumultuous struggle for independence. Through delicate and painful...2285false87fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-x-a-venetian-night-s-entertainment--71841834https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841834Wed, 20 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young American gentleman arrives in Venice and is swiftly entangled in the intrigues and glittering complexities of Venetian society, encountering noble families, secret correspondences, and unexpected dangers in the shadow of the Carnival....2516false810fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-descent-of-man-and-other-stories-chapter-ix-the-quicksand--71841837https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841837Wed, 20 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a mother discerns the disquiet of her son’s heart and seeks to bridge the chasm wrought by love and principle, navigating the fraught terrain where idealism clashes with the practicalities of life and legacy. Amidst art and quiet confession,...2438false89fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-01--71841979https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841979Thu, 21 May 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the refined world of New York society assembles at the venerable Academy of Music to witness a brilliant opera performance, where the delicate interplay of social conventions and personal musings unfolds amidst an audience steeped in...845false91fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-02--71841985https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841985Thu, 21 May 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer finds himself unsettled by the unexpected public appearance of his fiancée’s unconventional cousin at the opera, a delicate breach of society’s fastidious codes that sets tongues wagging and compels him to assert his...703false92fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-03--71841990https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841990Fri, 22 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the annual ball at the Beaufort mansion unfolds with its customary splendour and discreet social manoeuvring, revealing the subtle interplay of New York's high society amid glittering gowns and whispered expectations. Newland Archer and May...801false93fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-04--71841982https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841982Fri, 22 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer navigates the delicate formalities of his engagement, paying ceremonial visits to the venerable Mrs. Manson Mingott and absorbing the quaint yet commanding charm of her historic residence. The air is tinged with a subtle...641false94fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-05--71841991https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841991Sat, 23 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a quiet domestic evening at the Archer household is enlivened by the arrival of the ever-observant Mr. Sillerton Jackson, whose tales and reflections on society ripple gently beneath the polished surface of polite conversation. Through...1064false95fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-06--71841997https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841997Sat, 23 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer, on the eve of his engagement, contemplates the intricate social codes and delicate hypocrisies that shape his world and the artificial innocence expected of his betrothed, May Welland. Soon after, the arrival of the Countess...908false96fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-07--71841973https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841973Sun, 24 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the austere and venerable van der Luydens, embodying the quiet majesty of old New York society, deliberate upon a delicate social indiscretion conveyed by Mrs. Archer, their measured judgment punctuated by the graceful ritual of consultation...744false97fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-08--71841974https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841974Sun, 24 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the Countess Olenska returns to New York bearing the softened grace and quiet dignity of a life far from home, stirring both curiosity and restrained admiration among the city's most select circles. At a formal dinner hosted by the venerable...887false98fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-09--71841975https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841975Mon, 25 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer visits the Countess Olenska in her modest and quietly foreign home far from the polished avenue of his social circle, finding himself drawn into the gentle strangeness of her world and the subtle melancholy beneath her poised...1388false99fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-10--71841976https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841976Mon, 25 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer persuades May Welland to enjoy a leisurely winter walk in the Park, their innocent conversation revealing the delicate intertwining of affection and societal expectation that colours their engagement. Subsequently, tensions...1099false910fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-12--71841978https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841978Tue, 26 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer moves through the familiar yet divided terrain of old New York society, reflecting on its customs and the uneasy boundaries that separate its genteel world from the bohemian quarters of artists and writers. He visits the...1341false912fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-11--71841981https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841981Tue, 26 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer is discreetly drawn into the delicate matter of the Countess Olenska’s intentions to seek a divorce, an unwelcome intrusion that unsettles his composure amidst the rigid expectations of New York society. As he contemplates the...948false911fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-14--71841977https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841977Wed, 27 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Archer encounters his thoughtful friend Ned Winsett and reflects on the social worlds they inhabit, while receiving a letter from Madame Olenska that hints at her elusive and troubled presence among them. The narrative softly unfolds the...789false914fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-13--71842004https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842004Wed, 27 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the evening’s theatrical spectacle at Wallack's serves as a gentle backdrop to Newland Archer’s introspective musings on a recent poignant farewell and the subtle complexities of Madame Olenska’s situation and character. As society’s...755false913fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-15--71841980https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841980Thu, 28 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer dutifully participates in the leisurely amusements of a country weekend before seeking out the elusive Countess Olenska at her family estate, where their encounter reveals layers of unspoken tensions and subtle disruptions...1200false915fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-16--71841984https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841984Thu, 28 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer finds himself amidst the warm sunlight and languid charms of St. Augustine, seeking the company of May Welland and engaging in tender yet tentative conversation that reveals the complexities beneath their youthful composure....1086false916fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-18--71841987https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841987Fri, 29 May 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer and Countess Ellen Olenska confront the delicate complexities of their intertwined pasts and present obligations amidst society’s unspoken expectations, their candid conversation suffused with both restraint and unexpected...1328false918fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-1-chapter-17--71841993https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841993Fri, 29 May 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer returns to find Madame Olenska drawing renewed attention within his family and social circle, while an unexpected visit from a peculiar trio and an enigmatic Marchioness introduces him to new intimations concerning her past and...1112false917fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-20--71841989https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841989Sat, 30 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the newlywed Archers navigate the peculiar social codes of expatriate life in London, encountering unexpected hospitality that challenges their carefully maintained reserve, and May Archer faces the delicate uncertainties of fitting into...1343false920fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-19--71841983https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841983Sat, 30 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the rituals and intricate formalities of a New York wedding unfold with a graceful blend of tradition and social spectacle, culminating in the quiet departure of the newlyweds on a journey to a secluded country retreat. The bride and groom,...1215false919fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-22--71841986https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841986Sun, 31 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a luncheon conversation reveals the peculiar social dynamics of Newport society, centred on the eccentric Sillertons and the enigmatic Blenker family, while Archer contemplates the choreography of his afternoon with a mixture of domestic duty...1011false922fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-21--71841996https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841996Sun, 31 May 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer observes the genteel ritual of an archery match at a summer garden-party in Newport, where the familiar routines of society contrast sharply with his inner disquiet and shifting perceptions of the life he leads with his wife,...1480false921fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-24--71841988https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841988Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which two old acquaintances reunite by the sea and reflect with delicate candour on the contrasting worlds they inhabit and the subtle burdens borne beneath society’s polished surface. Their conversation lingers in silences charged with meaning,...644false924fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-23--71841995https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841995Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which an unexpected encounter in the sultry bustle of Boston leads two familiar souls to seek refuge on the breeze-swept waters of the bay, their conversation unfolding in silences and stolen moments away from the watchful world. The quiet intimacy...1122false923fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-25--71841992https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841992Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer, after a tender yet restrained encounter with Countess Olenska, unexpectedly meets M. Rivière, a loyal emissary with grave news concerning the Countess’s future and the pressures of her family. This conversation untangles new...997false925fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-26--71841994https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841994Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the annual unfolding of New York society’s season reveals subtle yet unmistakable shifts in its habits and loyalties, as whispers of financial scandal and social decline mingle with discreet family tensions. As the Archer household...1204false926fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-28--71842000https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842000Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which New York society grapples with the devastating news of the Beauforts' disgrace and Mrs. Mingott's health crisis stirs new attentions and family tensions, while preparations are quietly made for the arrival of a much-discussed visitor. Amidst...718false928fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-27--71842003https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842003Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the palpable tensions of financial ruin ripple through the genteel circles of New York society, bringing to light the steadfast demands of honour and the burdens of familial allegiance. Amidst the unfolding crisis, old loyalties and quiet...761false927fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-29--71842001https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842001Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer’s long-anticipated meeting with Madame Olenska unfolds amid a snowy cityscape, their delicate conversation revealing the constraints and complexities that govern their lives. The carriage ride becomes a poignant space where...802false929fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-30--71842006https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842006Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer navigates the quiet tensions of married life and family expectations, feeling the weight of unspoken grievances and the stifling routine that envelopes him and his wife, May. A visit to the formidable Mrs. Mingott reveals...1034false930fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-31--71841998https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841998Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Archer confronts the complexities of social expectations and personal desires as he seeks a clandestine meeting with Madame Olenska, whose reluctant return to her grandmother’s home stirs unresolved tensions and a quiet battle between duty...1284false931fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-32--71842005https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842005Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a genteel gathering at the van der Luydens’ home explores the delicate fissures of high society, notably stirred by the whisper of imprudent visits and social expectations, while the grand Opera provides a silent stage for private...1015false932fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-33--71841999https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71841999Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the preparations for an elegant farewell dinner evoke the intricate rituals and tacit understandings of New York society, while the guests engage in delicate discourse that shrouds deeper emotions and unspoken alliances. Amidst this carefully...1691false933fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-age-of-innocence-book-2-chapter-34--71842002https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842002Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Newland Archer, reflecting on the significant moments and steadfast duties that have shaped his life, contemplates the passage of time and the changing world around him as he prepares to journey to Paris with his son. Amidst the luminous...1893false934fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-ii--71842106https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842106Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a visit to a once-familiar drawing-room stirs uneasy reflections on the shifting weight of allegiance and parental concern amid the looming shadow of war. The characters grapple with the tension between whispered fears and the outward calm of...1082false102fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-i--71842107https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842107Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mr. Campton, an American painter residing in Paris, reflects on his unexpectedly rising reputation amid the uneasy atmosphere preceding a looming conflict, all the while cherishing the imminent arrival of his son for a long-anticipated...978false101fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-iii--71842108https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842108Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a father and son, reunited in the stirring atmosphere of Paris on the eve of uncertain times, savour the fleeting joys of art, conversation, and the city's vivid life before the looming shadow of war. Amid their gentle discourse and the...1224false103fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-iv--71842114https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842114Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a father, struggling with the failures and sacrifices of his artistic life and personal relationships, reflects with a wistful mixture of regret and resignation on his past and the looming shadow of war that threatens to alter everything. His...1457false104fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-v--71842109https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842109Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the quiet rhythms of a summer day in Paris are disturbed by the shadow of impending war, as a father grapples with the surreal disruption it brings to his familiar world and his relationships. Amidst the city's indifferent beauty and growing...1030false105fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-vi--71842116https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842116Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the narrator visits the home of a distinguished doctor to seek advice about his own son, encountering a family united by intellectual and wartime bonds that contrast with his own solitude. The quiet dignity of the physician and his relatives...386false106fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-vii--71842111https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842111Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a father and son navigate the uneasy twilight of peace abruptly darkened by the imminent shadow of war, their conversations mingling the intellectual and the tender as they confront the impossible prospect of separation. Amidst social...991false107fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-viii--71842121https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842121Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the sombre reality of war darkens the bright streets of Paris, stirring anxieties and complicated farewells as George prepares to leave for the front, while conversations reveal the delicate interplay of hope, fear, and social pretence amid...1312false108fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-ix--71842110https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842110Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the station thrums with the poignant mixture of bravery and quiet dread as soldiers depart for the front, revealing the tender, steadfast faces of those left behind in their patient sorrow. Meanwhile, Campton encounters a determined young...1234false109fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-x--71842112https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842112Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the grim reality of war steadily imprints itself upon the lives of Parisian society, as a father grapples with the cruel irony of his son’s enforced military service far from home while society stoically endures the relentless tide of...1041false1010fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xii--71842115https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842115Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Campton visits the once-glittering Nouveau Luxe hotel to find it emptied of its old-world charm and meets his cousin, Mr. Mayhew, whose impassioned account of captivity and resolve to combat wartime atrocities introduces a grim urgency to...1312false1012fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xi--71842118https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842118Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a painter, residing modestly in his studio amidst the wartime shadows of lost servants and distant loved ones, wrestles with his own impotence and detachment from the great conflict that clouds the world outside. His reflections wander...1367false1011fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xiv--71842113https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842113Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Campton navigates a world transformed by war, encountering the troubled lives of artists and their families while grappling with the burdens of charity and the complexities of human generosity. His reflections deepen as he observes the quiet...1487false1014fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xiii--71842123https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842123Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the sombre realities of war are brought poignantly to life through the tragedy of a young artist’s death and the fragile communities rallying to support their bereaved families and wounded soldiers. Campton encounters the tireless efforts and...1033false1013fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xvi--71842119https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842119Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a gathering of friends, bound by war’s shadow, contemplates the complex duties and conflicts of conscience that weigh upon those spared the front yet haunted by its stark realities. Their discourse wanders through lingering doubts, the slow...880false1016fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xv--71842120https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842120Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Campton encounters his former wife in his modest studio, where a grave conversation unfolds concerning the dangers faced by their son and others at the front, revealing the heartbroken realities shadowed by the war. The episode gently...905false1015fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xviii--71842122https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842122Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mr Campton, overwhelmed by the weight of tragic news and the uncertainty surrounding his son George's military posting, seeks solace in the steadfast presence of Miss Anthony, whose measured calm offers a rare comfort amid his turmoil. Their...759false1018fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xvii--71842124https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842124Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the quiet burden of war reveals itself in the poignant letters of a son stationed on the front, and the somber realities of loss and sorrow ripple through the lives of those left behind. Against a backdrop of charity efforts and stoic...1182false1017fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xix--71842125https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842125Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the tender stirrings of spring awaken in Campton a reluctant yearning to reclaim the fragile threads of beauty and life amid the relentless shadows of war, as he encounters the restless Mrs. Talkett, herself striving to revive the creative...1116false1019fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xx--71842134https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842134Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Campton rediscovers a transcendent joy in his painting while immersing himself in the eclectic and subversive milieu of Mrs. Talkett’s drawing-room, where art, society, and war mingle in curious and often paradoxical ways. His encounter with...1067false1020fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxi--71842126https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842126Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a tense meeting in a somber studio reveals a son’s mysterious absence from the front, prompting his anxious parents to seek solace in the curious ministrations of a clairvoyante, whose visions mingle the spectral with the tangible. The...947false1021fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxii--71842129https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842129Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a reluctant visitor ventures into the painter’s studio under the wary gaze of the artist, bringing news that stirs a quiet but restless reckoning between two men intertwined by their hopes and claims upon a young life. Their conversation,...467false1022fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxiv--71842117https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842117Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mr. Campton, bound by a solemn journey through a landscape haunted by the ceaseless roar of war, travels with the inscrutable Mr. Brant towards a frontier where the fragile threads of hope and despair intertwine. The passage is steeped in...1403false1024fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxiii--71842127https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842127Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the sombre stirrings of war cast a long shadow over quiet lives, revealing inward struggles of pride, obligation, and alienation amidst the relentless tide of news and loss. Campton’s heart is caught between hope and despair as he navigates a...658false1023fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxvi--71842130https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842130Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a father contemplates the quietude and fragility of his son’s recovery in a tranquil hospital cloister, where the seeming peace is punctuated by the faint roar of the sea that echoes past devastations. The arrival of the boy’s mother...980false1026fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxv--71842131https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842131Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a father visits his wounded son in a crowded and grim hospital, confronting the harrowing realities of war and the fragile line between hope and despair. The narrative gently unfolds the silent struggles of those waiting and watching, caught...1089false1025fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxvii--71842128https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842128Sat, 20 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a tender yet strained watchfulness enfolds George’s days at the hospital, revealing the quiet tensions and unspoken mysteries threading through his family’s grief and hopes. Amidst whispered revelations and secret letters, Campton discovers...1169false1027fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxviii--71842133https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842133Sat, 20 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the air of Paris hums with the stirring concept of "Preparedness," as young American men grapple with their duties and ideals amid the tides of war, and Campton watches over his convalescing son, whose future is intertwined with both old...1021false1028fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxix--71842132https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842132Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Campton finds himself amidst a glittering gathering of Parisian society, where beneath the veneer of gaiety and elegant distraction, the stark reality of war and its disquieting effects linger palpably. Observing the delicate interplay of...1033false1029fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxx--71842141https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842141Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the weight of uncertain affections and elusive intentions settles upon Campton’s thoughts as he grapples with the complexities of his son’s changed demeanor and entangled relationships, seeking solace in art yet finding no easy refuge. Amidst...1122false1030fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxxi--71842135https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842135Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a father seeks counsel from a prudent banker regarding his son’s precarious romantic entanglement, uncovering the complex webs of love, duty, and societal expectation that bind them all as the War's shadow looms near. Alongside the mournful...1334false1031fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxxii--71842142https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842142Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the slow passage of time amidst the tumult of war weighs heavily on those left behind, as old comrades grapple with the loss and fragile hope embodied in an enduring Idea of France. Meanwhile, Campton, caught between artistic idealism and...878false1032fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxxiii--71842138https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842138Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the artist Campton seeks refuge in his work amidst the somber realities faced by his family and acquaintances, revealing the quiet heroism and poignant bonds shaped by war's relentless presence. As George prepares to return to the front with...1192false1033fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxiv--71842139https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842139Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the painter Campton grapples with the haunting image of his son George, now a distant figure shaped by war, while unexpected visitors bring both heartfelt pleas and shifting currents of hope into his studio. As the somber weight of conflict...1348false1034fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxxv--71842137https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842137Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a father finds himself caught between hope and a haunting distance as he watches over his wounded son in a Paris hospital, amidst the stirring news that America has entered the war. The quiet moments between them are filled with unspoken...862false1035fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-son-at-the-front-chapter-xxxvi--71842136https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842136Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the quiet grief of a father unfolds against the bustling backdrop of Paris during wartime, as he grapples with sorrow, memories, and the shifting tides of loss and remembrance among those who fought beside his son. Amidst encounters with...1711false1036fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-one-chapter-2--71842275https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842275Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a woman, weighed down by years of separation and social confinement, walks the Riviera streets wrestling with a sudden shift in her life’s purpose and refrains from announcing her profound news among the uncomprehending company of...2335false112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-one-chapter-1--71842283https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842283Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Kate Clephane awakens to the Riviera sunshine in her modest hotel room, reflecting wistfully on past joys and the illusions of youth while receiving startling news that stirs the fragile hope of reconnection with her daughter. Amidst the...1024false111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-one-chapter-3--71842274https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842274Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:30:06 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Kate Clephane returns to a changed New York and is tenderly reunited with her daughter Anne and the steady Fred Landers, whose quiet presence offers a balm to her unsettled spirit. As she settles into the old family house and converses with...2334false113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-one-chapter-4--71842295https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842295Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:30:06 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a mother weary from travel is tenderly tended by her daughter, whose firm yet gentle care recalls the manner of a gentler past while ushering her into the unfamiliar rhythms of contemporary New York society. The mother encounters a lively...1343false114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-one-chapter-5--71842276https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842276Sat, 27 Jun 2026 18:30:06 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane discovers the serene relief of a life unburdened by past anxieties amid the polished ease of her renewed existence, finding quiet joy in her daughter Anne’s steadfast presence and the gentle intimacies of shared jewels. As the...1427false115fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-one-chapter-6--71842286https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842286Sat, 27 Jun 2026 18:30:06 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane grapples gently with the unsettling prospect of change, clinging tenderly to the quiet companionship with her daughter while navigating social intricacies and youthful mysteries that slip just beyond her understanding. Amidst a...971false116fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-one-chapter-7--71842279https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842279Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane finds herself gradually woven into the delicate tapestry of her daughter Anne’s world, from the charming unveiling of a new studio to the cautious navigation of their social circles and intimacies. Amidst the subtle interplay of...1112false117fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-two-chapter-8--71842281https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842281Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane encounters Chris after many years, recognising in him both a familiar past and an enigmatic present that unsettles her newfound composure. Alone in the quiet of her room, she wrestles with lingering fears and the complex...871false118fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-two-chapter-9--71842289https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842289Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane, roused from uneasy slumber by a vision of Lilla and Chris in the Park, wrestles with dark suspicions and the stirring complexities of concealed pasts and future possibilities. Amidst quiet domestic scenes and fleeting...1390false119fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-two-chapter-10--71842292https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842292Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane wrestles quietly with the complexities of her place within her daughter's family and the veiled truths surrounding Chris and Lilla, while seeking to preserve her dignity and understanding of their lives. She navigates tender...694false1110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-two-chapter-11--71842280https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842280Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Kate Clephane visits her sister-in-law Enid Drover’s unchangingly prim drawing-room and navigates the intricate social currents surrounding young Lilla’s engagement, revealing hints of undercurrents beneath the polished surfaces. As...952false1111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-two-chapter-12--71842297https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842297Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the long-anticipated return of Anne breathes new warmth and hope into her mother’s life, even as the ghosts of old social conventions haunt a glittering celebratory evening. Their quiet reunion is marked by tender confidences and the dawning...713false1112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-two-chapter-14--71842288https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842288Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Kate Clephane returns home burdened by fraught reflections on a delicate family secret and the fragile bonds that intertwine mother and daughter. Her quiet vigil is interrupted by Anne’s radiant presence and the tender weight of hopes and...611false1114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-two-chapter-13--71842303https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842303Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a mother, burdened with a heavy secret and newly aware of the vast gulf between herself and her daughter, seeks out a man haunted by his past to confront a grim reality that binds them both. Their fraught encounter unfolds with a delicate...1781false1113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-16--71842299https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842299Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a homeward journey kindles a fragile, unspoken tension between mother and daughter, revealing the quiet complexities of affection and misunderstanding that distance them. Their evening is marked by a painful confession and a yearning for...943false1116fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-15--71842298https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842298Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a mother and daughter traverse sunlit foreign lands, yet remain shadowed by a silent sorrow that hangs stubbornly between them, their bond strained by unspoken grief and quiet defiance. Amidst the splendour of their journey, a fragile...787false1115fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-17--71842277https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842277Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs Clephane seeks refuge and counsel with old family friend Fred Landers, revealing the delicate and strained realities of her relations with her daughter Anne and the troubled circumstances surrounding Anne’s intended marriage. The...698false1117fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-18--71842284https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842284Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a mother's anxious vigil is marked by uneasy conversations and restrained confidences as she awaits her daughter's uncertain return, while alliances and apprehensions weave intricate patterns around the question of a troubled engagement. The...768false1118fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-19--71842278https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842278Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a confrontation unfolds between two figures marked by past agreements and present betrayals, their dialogue heavy with regret, anger, and a fragile hope that cannot quite overcome years of mistrust. The air is thick with unspoken truths and...641false1119fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-20--71842294https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842294Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane, nursing a troubled heart and a secret, journeys to her sister-in-law’s bustling estate to seek a private moment with her daughter Anne, only to find her absent amidst a lively house party. Yet when they reunite, tender words...1059false1120fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-21--71842290https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842290Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a quiet Sunday unfolds with Kate Clephane grappling silently against the impending marriage of her daughter, while the congenial Mrs. Drover discusses domestic arrangements with a gentle optimism that masks underlying tensions. The evening...881false1121fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-22--71842293https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842293Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane confronts the stark reality of her daughter Anne's announced engagement to Major Fenno, navigating the delicate tensions between maternal hope, social expectation, and personal sacrifice. Amidst a family gathering laden with...1052false1122fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-24--71842291https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842291Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane grapples with the unbearable weight of a secret that threatens to shatter the delicate fabric of her daughter’s impending happiness, wandering through quiet streets and shadowed thoughts as she seeks guidance and solace. Amidst...1366false1124fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-23--71842296https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842296Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane, weighed down by exhaustion and foreboding, navigates the tense aftermath of her daughter's engagement and seeks counsel in a solemn rectory at a moment of profound uncertainty. The conversation with Dr. Arklow delicately...1008false1123fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-26--71842285https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842285Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the swift approach of a wedding stirs a flurry of preparations and social engagements, while quietly unfolding the delicate tensions and unspoken hopes dwelling within the hearts of those involved. Observing a moment of quiet intimacy and...381false1126fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-25--71842300https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842300Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane wrestles quietly with the burdens of her heart amidst tender family hopes and the pressing expectations of those she loves. Through a fraught morning dialogue with her daughter Anne, the fragile chains of past secrets and future...537false1125fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-27--71842282https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842282Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the delicate gaiety of impending nuptials is tempered by quiet uncertainties amid the careful arrangements and tender attentions exchanged within a family on the brink of separation. A poignant conversation between old acquaintances reveals...897false1127fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-28--71842301https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842301Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a mother, restless and beset by a haunting premonition, endures the cruel vigil of a cold winter dawn as she watches her daughter approach a momentous and irrevocable step. The quiet grandeur of the church and the late arrival of the...659false1128fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-29--71842287https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842287Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which the twilight after a wedding reveals Mrs. Clephane alone amidst the scattered remnants of celebration, her internal struggles quietly laid bare in conversation with Fred Landers, whose gentle understanding opens a fragile space of confession...1703false1129fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mother-s-recompense-book-three-chapter-30--71842302https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71842302Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:30:02 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Mrs. Clephane, retreating to a more refined hotel on the Riviera, navigates the subtle social currents and old acquaintances that both comfort and confine her, while quietly wrestling with the enduring shadows of her past. Amid the genteel...1453false1130fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-custom-of-the-country-chapter-1--72844139https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72844139Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which an eager young girl, Undine Spragg, receives an unexpected dinner invitation that stirs social hopes within her family, while her mother and their longtime acquaintance, Mrs. Heeny, gently navigate the intricacies of New York society’s...1363false121fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-custom-of-the-country-chapter-2--72844141https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72844141Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:30:04 +0000Edith WhartonIn which a young woman of striking beauty and ardent social ambition prepares for an important dinner invitation, navigating the delicate intricacies of etiquette and societal hierarchies in New York, all the while reflecting on past misadventures and...1234false122fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-custom-of-the-country-chapter-4--72844140https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72844140Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Undine Spragg confronts the everyday frictions of familial obligation and social aspiration, negotiating the cost of an opera box as a symbol of her yearning for acceptance and status in New York society. Her restless reflections on past...1749false124fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-custom-of-the-country-chapter-3--72844142https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72844142Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:30:03 +0000Edith WhartonIn which Miss Spragg attends an understated dinner at the Fairford residence, finding the company and surroundings far less dazzling than her anticipations of New York society would suggest, while navigating a subtle dance of social signals and veiled...744false123full