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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Absentee</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/absentee--6885672</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/6885672/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Fiction Classics</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg</url><title>Absentee</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/absentee--6885672</link></image><lastBuildDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 09:16:41 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Fiction Classics</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker27@adfreesounds.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Fiction"/><itunes:category text="History"/><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>serial</itunes:type><item><title>001 - Chapter 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/001-chapter-1--70165949</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165949</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165949/absentee_01_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="13440335" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1679</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>002 - Chapter 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/002-chapter-2--70165950</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165950</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165950/absentee_02_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="18624447" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2326</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>003 - Chapter 3</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/003-chapter-3--70165951</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165951</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165951/absentee_03_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="17682680" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2208</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>004 - Chapter 4</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/004-chapter-4--70165952</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165952</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165952/absentee_04_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="17313253" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2162</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>005 - Chapter 5</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/005-chapter-5--70165953</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165953</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:07 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165953/absentee_05_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="30387748" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3795</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>006 - Chapter 6</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/006-chapter-6--70165954</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165954</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:09 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165954/absentee_06_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="23557531" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2942</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>007 - Chapter 7</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/007-chapter-7--70165955</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165955</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:10 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165955/absentee_07_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="17487717" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2184</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>008 - Chapter 8</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/008-chapter-8--70165956</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165956</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:11 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165956/absentee_08_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="11988358" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/ec22e6f1-7f0b-4457-9ad3-33a143cae4c7/ec22e6f1-7f0b-4457-9ad3-33a143cae4c7.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/ec22e6f1-7f0b-4457-9ad3-33a143cae4c7/ec22e6f1-7f0b-4457-9ad3-33a143cae4c7.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/ec22e6f1-7f0b-4457-9ad3-33a143cae4c7/ec22e6f1-7f0b-4457-9ad3-33a143cae4c7.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1497</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>009 - Chapter 9</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/009-chapter-9--70165957</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165957</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:12 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165957/absentee_09_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="19195322" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/0025051c-42c6-412b-a5af-89cf1ec6a024/0025051c-42c6-412b-a5af-89cf1ec6a024.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/0025051c-42c6-412b-a5af-89cf1ec6a024/0025051c-42c6-412b-a5af-89cf1ec6a024.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/0025051c-42c6-412b-a5af-89cf1ec6a024/0025051c-42c6-412b-a5af-89cf1ec6a024.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2397</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>010 - Chapter 10</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/010-chapter-10--70165958</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165958</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:13 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165958/absentee_10_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="14771196" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/32b643a6-4746-4020-bb29-a3e2ca916f9e/32b643a6-4746-4020-bb29-a3e2ca916f9e.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/32b643a6-4746-4020-bb29-a3e2ca916f9e/32b643a6-4746-4020-bb29-a3e2ca916f9e.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/32b643a6-4746-4020-bb29-a3e2ca916f9e/32b643a6-4746-4020-bb29-a3e2ca916f9e.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1845</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>011 - Chapter 11</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/011-chapter-11--70165959</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165959</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:14 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165959/absentee_11_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="12248800" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/14dd9eae-051e-4b29-ae11-23c750bb164e/14dd9eae-051e-4b29-ae11-23c750bb164e.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/14dd9eae-051e-4b29-ae11-23c750bb164e/14dd9eae-051e-4b29-ae11-23c750bb164e.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/14dd9eae-051e-4b29-ae11-23c750bb164e/14dd9eae-051e-4b29-ae11-23c750bb164e.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1530</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>012 - Chapter 12</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/012-chapter-12--70165960</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165960</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165960/absentee_12_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="16048292" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/cbeef228-3487-42f5-9465-e79b16a0cb03/cbeef228-3487-42f5-9465-e79b16a0cb03.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/cbeef228-3487-42f5-9465-e79b16a0cb03/cbeef228-3487-42f5-9465-e79b16a0cb03.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/cbeef228-3487-42f5-9465-e79b16a0cb03/cbeef228-3487-42f5-9465-e79b16a0cb03.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2004</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>013 - Chapter 13</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/013-chapter-13--70165961</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165961</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165961/absentee_13_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="23486200" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/282d165f-036b-4556-8f37-7b1ebef9f15f/282d165f-036b-4556-8f37-7b1ebef9f15f.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/282d165f-036b-4556-8f37-7b1ebef9f15f/282d165f-036b-4556-8f37-7b1ebef9f15f.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/282d165f-036b-4556-8f37-7b1ebef9f15f/282d165f-036b-4556-8f37-7b1ebef9f15f.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2933</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>014 - Chapter 14</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/014-chapter-14--70165962</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165962</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:19 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165962/absentee_14_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="28859418" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/52eef5c5-12fb-439f-98e8-dc768d49725a/52eef5c5-12fb-439f-98e8-dc768d49725a.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/52eef5c5-12fb-439f-98e8-dc768d49725a/52eef5c5-12fb-439f-98e8-dc768d49725a.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/52eef5c5-12fb-439f-98e8-dc768d49725a/52eef5c5-12fb-439f-98e8-dc768d49725a.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3604</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>015 - Chapter 15</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/015-chapter-15--70165963</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165963</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:20 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165963/absentee_15_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="14453647" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/bc26c46a-f46b-478b-adb2-e6cf8bc37e63/bc26c46a-f46b-478b-adb2-e6cf8bc37e63.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/bc26c46a-f46b-478b-adb2-e6cf8bc37e63/bc26c46a-f46b-478b-adb2-e6cf8bc37e63.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/bc26c46a-f46b-478b-adb2-e6cf8bc37e63/bc26c46a-f46b-478b-adb2-e6cf8bc37e63.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1805</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>016 - Chapter 16</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/016-chapter-16--70165964</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165964</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165964/absentee_16_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="25609255" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/85ac48ab-0a68-4189-8fed-96a444de2445/85ac48ab-0a68-4189-8fed-96a444de2445.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/85ac48ab-0a68-4189-8fed-96a444de2445/85ac48ab-0a68-4189-8fed-96a444de2445.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/85ac48ab-0a68-4189-8fed-96a444de2445/85ac48ab-0a68-4189-8fed-96a444de2445.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3198</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>017 - Chapter 17</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/017-chapter-17--70165965</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70165965</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:05:23 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70165965/absentee_17_edgeworth_64kb.mp3" length="22124801" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/6845ef47-c0c5-4126-ad8a-a511f846f91b/6845ef47-c0c5-4126-ad8a-a511f846f91b.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/6845ef47-c0c5-4126-ad8a-a511f846f91b/6845ef47-c0c5-4126-ad8a-a511f846f91b.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/6845ef47-c0c5-4126-ad8a-a511f846f91b/6845ef47-c0c5-4126-ad8a-a511f846f91b.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth delves into the social injustices that plagued 19th-century Britain. The narrative focuses on the absenteeism of Anglo-Irish landlords, particularly as we follow the lives of Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Struggling with debt, Lord Clonbrony faces the consequences of neglecting his estate, while Lady Clonbrony yearns to distance herself from her Irish roots to gain status among London’s elite, known as “the ton.” Their son, Lord Colambre, however, is skeptical of high societys allure and retreats to the family estate in Ireland, where he uncovers the deep-seated issues caused by their absence. Maria Edgeworth, a trailblazer in realistic fiction and one of her eras most celebrated novelists, provides a keenly satirical look at societal manners and a compassionate portrayal of regional life. Her work earned the admiration of literary giants such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Notably, “The Absentee” is included in the prestigious list of “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2763</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>19th-century,estate,family,injustice,ireland,landlords,literature,realism,satire,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b243a39363fc00168e3f3fa7987f96d2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
