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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>Cloister and the Hearth</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cloister-and-the-hearth--7069244</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7069244/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Historical Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg</url><title>Cloister and the Hearth</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cloister-and-the-hearth--7069244</link></image><lastBuildDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:33:26 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Historical Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker57@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"/><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"><itunes:category text="Religion"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>b7d8051e-8f70-5df3-8b51-0e3b0930e5a7</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Pinocchio-Carlo Collodi</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/pinocchio-carlo-collodi--74404877</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74404877</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:04:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74404877/pinocchio_carlo_collodi.mp3" length="145605549" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18183</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Gigolo-Edna Ferber</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/gigolo-edna-ferber--74352549</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74352549</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:04:08 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74352549/gigolo_edna_ferber.mp3" length="253304858" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31631</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>War and Peace, Book 06 1808-1810-Leo Tolstoy</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/war-and-peace-book-06-1808-1810-leo-tolstoy--74206153</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>14551</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Fortune Hunter A Novel of New York Society-Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/fortune-hunter-a-novel-of-new-york-society-anna-cora-mowatt-ritchie--74152392</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26948</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lady of Blossholme-H. Rider Haggard</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lady-of-blossholme-h-rider-haggard--74106965</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22384</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table (version 2)-Andrew Lang</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tales-of-king-arthur-and-the-round-table-version-2-andrew-lang--74031458</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>16126</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Bladys of the Stewponey-Sabine Baring-Gould</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bladys-of-the-stewponey-sabine-baring-gould--73969842</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73969842</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:04:48 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73969842/bladys_of_the_stewponey_sabine_baring_gould.mp3" length="195102065" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24363</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>True Love A Story of English Domestic Life-Sarah Farro</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/true-love-a-story-of-english-domestic-life-sarah-farro--73926662</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73926662</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:04:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73926662/true_love_a_story_of_english_domestic_life_sarah_farro.mp3" length="84108317" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10503</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Stories by English Authors London-F. Anstey, J. M. Barrie, Marie Corelli, Beatrice Harraden, Arthur Morrison</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/stories-by-english-authors-london-f-anstey-j-m-barrie-marie-corelli-beatrice-harraden-arthur-morrison--73884193</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73884193</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:06:58 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73884193/stories_by_english_authors_london_f_anstey_j_m_barrie_marie_corelli_beatrice_harraden_arthur_morrison.mp3" length="122902106" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>15347</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Neighbourhood – A Year’s Life in and About an English Village-Tickner Edwardes</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/neighbourhood-a-year-s-life-in-and-about-an-english-village-tickner-edwardes--73798887</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73798887</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:57:20 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73798887/neighbourhood_a_year_s_life_in_and_about_an_english_village_tickner_edwardes.mp3" length="283132204" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>35356</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ivory Tower-Henry James</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ivory-tower-henry-james--73768363</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73768363</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:57:44 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73768363/ivory_tower_henry_james.mp3" length="245790273" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30693</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>War and Peace, Book 08 1811-1812-Leo Tolstoy</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/war-and-peace-book-08-1811-1812-leo-tolstoy--73740103</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. 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This work is not only a testament to the early Christian effort to unify diverse perspectives but also invites listeners to explore the foundational stories of faith that continue to shape spiritual discourse today. The enduring nature of the themes within the gospels, such as compassion, redemption, and the search for truth, resonates profoundly in a world still grappling with similar questions.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73318757</guid><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:08:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73318757/diatessaron_a_harmony_of_the_four_gospels_tatian.mp3" length="187974101" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Diatessaron: A Harmony of the Four Gospels" by Tatian presents a unique synthesis of the four canonical gospels, weaving together their narratives into a single, cohesive account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. 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The enduring nature of the themes within the gospels, such as compassion, redemption, and the search for truth, resonates profoundly in a world still grappling with similar questions.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23473</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cloister and the Hearth - Charles Reade - Part 4</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cloister-and-the-hearth-charles-reade-part-4--72246682</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72246682</guid><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:00:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72246682/cloister_and_the_hearth_charles_reade_part_4.mp3" length="204790421" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. 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Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25599</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>brandt,cloister,eliason,hearth,historical,medieval,overdue,reade,strays,tantalise</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cloister and the Hearth - Charles Reade - Part 3</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cloister-and-the-hearth-charles-reade-part-3--72246678</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72246678</guid><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:19 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72246678/cloister_and_the_hearth_charles_reade_part_3.mp3" length="284660536" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>35583</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>brandt,cloister,eliason,hearth,historical,medieval,overdue,reade,strays,tantalise</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cloister and the Hearth - Charles Reade - Part 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cloister-and-the-hearth-charles-reade-part-2--72246673</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72246673</guid><pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 09:00:18 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72246673/cloister_and_the_hearth_charles_reade_part_2.mp3" length="276936444" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34618</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>brandt,cloister,eliason,hearth,historical,medieval,overdue,reade,strays,tantalise</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cloister and the Hearth - Charles Reade - Part 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cloister-and-the-hearth-charles-reade-part-1--72246667</link><description><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72246667</guid><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 14:07:13 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72246667/cloister_and_the_hearth_charles_reade_part_1.mp3" length="278426880" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Charles Reade</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The Cloister and the Hearth', by Charles Reade, was published in 1861. It's a long and winding picaresque novel set in 15th century Europe, telling the story of the love between Gerard Eliason, an artist turned priest, and Margaret Brandt, the daughter of a poor scholar, and reflects the conflict between family and church which overshadowed the lives of so many in medieval times. Its uniqueness lies in the way Reade, having meticulously researched his subject and the period, gives us insights more detailed than any other writer of fiction into medieval lifestyles and morals, combined with vivid descriptions of his characters – many based on real historical figures – and locations. He deliberately strays towards a medieval writing style, with many an archaic word to tantalise the reader or listener (an education in itself). Until well into the twentieth century, ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. Its popularity may have faded, but those who have read it will tell you of the enduring power of Reade’s tour de force. A revival is long overdue, and is deserved: it’s an exceptional book. - Summary by Tom Denholm]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34804</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>brandt,cloister,eliason,hearth,historical,medieval,overdue,reade,strays,tantalise</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c6fd918918fb57329089a5a12547d359.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
