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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>Mayor of Casterbridge (version 2)</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mayor-of-casterbridge-version-2--7065344</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7065344/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Gothic Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg</url><title>Mayor of Casterbridge (version 2)</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mayor-of-casterbridge-version-2--7065344</link></image><lastBuildDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:11:44 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Gothic Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker56@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Fiction"/><itunes:category text="Fiction"><itunes:category text="Drama"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>1e351100-502a-5688-a099-5c0c49c49e35</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Almond-Blossom-Olive Wadsley</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/almond-blossom-olive-wadsley--74635955</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74635955</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:01:29 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74635955/almond_blossom_olive_wadsley.mp3" length="256380475" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>32016</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Knight of the Burning Pestle-Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/knight-of-the-burning-pestle-francis-beaumont-john-fletcher--74598591</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74598591</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:01:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74598591/knight_of_the_burning_pestle_francis_beaumont_john_fletcher.mp3" length="76430251" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9544</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Phillips Brooks-Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/phillips-brooks-mark-antony-de-wolfe-howe--74562158</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74562158</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:01:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74562158/phillips_brooks_mark_antony_de_wolfe_howe.mp3" length="61058060" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7624</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Commonplace Day-Thomas Hardy</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/commonplace-day-thomas-hardy--74525040</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74525040</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:01:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74525040/commonplace_day_thomas_hardy.mp3" length="16156313" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2018</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lady From the Sea-Henrik Ibsen</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lady-from-the-sea-henrik-ibsen--74489005</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74489005</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:01:56 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74489005/lady_from_the_sea_henrik_ibsen.mp3" length="78047930" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9746</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>African Millionaire Episodes in the Life of the Illustrious Colonel Clay-Grant Allen</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/african-millionaire-episodes-in-the-life-of-the-illustrious-colonel-clay-grant-allen--74443470</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74443470</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:01:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74443470/african_millionaire_episodes_in_the_life_of_the_illustrious_colonel_clay_grant_allen.mp3" length="222962792" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27843</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Wonder Clock-Howard Pyle</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wonder-clock-howard-pyle--74400359</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74400359</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:04:21 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74400359/wonder_clock_howard_pyle.mp3" length="201365076" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25146</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Home-Maker-Dorothy Canfield Fisher</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/home-maker-dorothy-canfield-fisher--74349674</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74349674</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:04:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74349674/home_maker_dorothy_canfield_fisher.mp3" length="216585745" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27046</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Wind in the Willows (version 2)-Kenneth Grahame</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wind-in-the-willows-version-2-kenneth-grahame--74201813</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74201813</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:03:31 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74201813/wind_in_the_willows_version_2_kenneth_grahame.mp3" length="195634912" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24430</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Poems of William Blake-William Blake</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/poems-of-william-blake-william-blake--74148337</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74148337</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:03:58 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74148337/poems_of_william_blake_william_blake.mp3" length="26451499" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3303</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Trachiniai (Campbell Translation)-Sophocles</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/trachiniai-campbell-translation-sophocles--74104267</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74104267</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:04:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74104267/10496_trachiniai_campbell_translation_sophocles.mp3" length="34237666" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4275</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji)-Murasaki Shikibu</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/genji-monogatari-the-tale-of-genji-murasaki-shikibu--74069229</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74069229</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:03:50 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74069229/genji_monogatari_the_tale_of_genji_murasaki_shikibu.mp3" length="255865488" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31951</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Alcestis (Way Translation)-Euripides</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/alcestis-way-translation-euripides--74027868</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74027868</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:04:29 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74027868/10519_alcestis_way_translation_euripides.mp3" length="35505226" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4434</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Family Man-John Galsworthy</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/family-man-john-galsworthy--73966884</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73966884</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:04:46 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73966884/family_man_john_galsworthy.mp3" length="67892531" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8478</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Astrophel and Stella-Sir Philip Sidney</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/astrophel-and-stella-sir-philip-sidney--73923312</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73923312</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:04:32 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73923312/astrophel_and_stella_sir_philip_sidney.mp3" length="48482480" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6054</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>In New England Fields and Woods-Rowland E. Robinson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-new-england-fields-and-woods-rowland-e-robinson--73881291</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73881291</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:07:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73881291/in_new_england_fields_and_woods_rowland_e_robinson.mp3" length="162762181" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>20325</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Borough-George Crabbe</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/borough-george-crabbe--73796449</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73796449</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:02:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73796449/borough_george_crabbe.mp3" length="247388211" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30893</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Reign of King Edward the Third-William Shakespeare</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/reign-of-king-edward-the-third-william-shakespeare--73766224</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73766224</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:03:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73766224/reign_of_king_edward_the_third_william_shakespeare.mp3" length="75415780" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9417</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Recollections of Life in Ohio, from 1813-1840-William Cooper Howells</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/recollections-of-life-in-ohio-from-1813-1840-william-cooper-howells--73738236</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73738236</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:19:40 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73738236/recollections_of_life_in_ohio_from_1813_1840_william_cooper_howells.mp3" length="189716772" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23691</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Armand Durand - Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/armand-durand-rosanna-eleanor-leprohon--73316762</link><description><![CDATA[Armand Durand by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon is a compelling exploration of identity and the human experience. This poignant narrative delves into the complexities of personal choices and the consequences that shape our lives. Its themes of self-discovery and resilience resonate powerfully in today's world, reminding listeners of the enduring struggle between societal expectations and individual desires. Leprohon's insightful portrayal of her characters invites reflection on the universal quest for authenticity, making this audiobook a timeless addition to any literary collection. Engaging and thought-provoking, Armand Durand continues to captivate audiences with its rich emotional depth and relevance.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73316762</guid><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:59:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73316762/armand_durand_rosanna_eleanor_leprohon.mp3" length="221955412" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Armand Durand by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon is a compelling exploration of identity and the human experience. This poignant narrative delves into the complexities of personal choices and the consequences that shape our lives. Its themes of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Armand Durand by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon is a compelling exploration of identity and the human experience. This poignant narrative delves into the complexities of personal choices and the consequences that shape our lives. Its themes of self-discovery and resilience resonate powerfully in today's world, reminding listeners of the enduring struggle between societal expectations and individual desires. Leprohon's insightful portrayal of her characters invites reflection on the universal quest for authenticity, making this audiobook a timeless addition to any literary collection. Engaging and thought-provoking, Armand Durand continues to captivate audiences with its rich emotional depth and relevance.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27717</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Mayor of Casterbridge version 2 - Thomas Hardy - Part 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mayor-of-casterbridge-version-2-thomas-hardy-part-2--72219096</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72219096</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:25 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72219096/mayor_of_casterbridge_version_2_thomas_hardy_part_2.mp3" length="93538886" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11693</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>casterbridge,character,general,hardy,henchard,huge,irritated,itinerant,mayor,shakespearean</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Mayor of Casterbridge version 2 - Thomas Hardy - Part 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mayor-of-casterbridge-version-2-thomas-hardy-part-1--72219093</link><description><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72219093</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 03:30:23 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72219093/mayor_of_casterbridge_version_2_thomas_hardy_part_1.mp3" length="276872490" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Irritated and drunken, an itinerant farm-worker sells his wife and child to a stranger. Thus begins The Mayor of Casterbridge, set in rural and small-town England in the mid-1800s. In the original subtitle, Hardy called this the story of "a man of character," and the central character, Michael Henchard, is one of English fiction's greatest creations. Henchard is deeply developed as a realistic character, but also larger-than-life in the manner of a Greek or Shakespearean tragic hero — huge in his determination and huge in his failings. The novel deals with the struggles between individual will, the hold of the past, and the relentless control of circumstances in a changing society. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34610</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>casterbridge,character,general,hardy,henchard,huge,irritated,itinerant,mayor,shakespearean</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a9eeccbd052253b4dd5c83afbde27ae1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
