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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>On the Red Staircase</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/on-the-red-staircase--7070962</link><description><![CDATA["“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7070962/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright History Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg</url><title>On the Red Staircase</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/on-the-red-staircase--7070962</link></image><lastBuildDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:20:34 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>History Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker58@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>"“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="History"/><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>79123c98-89fb-5943-b760-d5fd5772bb8c</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/charles-simeon-handley-carr-glyn-moule--74055016</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74055016</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:02:48 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74055016/charles_simeon_handley_carr_glyn_moule.mp3" length="215575010" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26919</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>In the Days of Queen Elizabeth-Eva March Tappan</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-the-days-of-queen-elizabeth-eva-march-tappan--74027824</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74027824</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:02:32 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74027824/in_the_days_of_queen_elizabeth_eva_march_tappan.mp3" length="164977969" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>20602</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Aladore-Sir Henry Newbolt</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/aladore-sir-henry-newbolt--74003571</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74003571</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:01:57 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74003571/aladore_sir_henry_newbolt.mp3" length="175200278" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21878</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Second Chance-Nellie McClung</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/second-chance-nellie-mcclung--73976706</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73976706</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:02:08 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73976706/second_chance_nellie_mcclung.mp3" length="256300528" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>32006</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Set of Six-Joseph Conrad</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/set-of-six-joseph-conrad--73951015</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73951015</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:02:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73951015/set_of_six_joseph_conrad.mp3" length="241220297" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30122</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Island Pharisees-John Galsworthy</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/island-pharisees-john-galsworthy--73924237</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73924237</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:01:40 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73924237/island_pharisees_john_galsworthy.mp3" length="206299844" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25762</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Point of Honor-Joseph Conrad</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/point-of-honor-joseph-conrad--73896908</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73896908</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:01:44 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73896908/point_of_honor_joseph_conrad.mp3" length="100852841" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12594</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Katharine von Bora Dr. Martin Luther's Wife-Armin Stein</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/katharine-von-bora-dr-martin-luther-s-wife-armin-stein--73870912</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73870912</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:01:34 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73870912/katharine_von_bora_dr_martin_luther_s_wife_armin_stein.mp3" length="158290061" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19767</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Atala-François-René de Chateaubriand</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/atala-francois-rene-de-chateaubriand--73847661</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73847661</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:01:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73847661/atala_franc_ois_rene_de_chateaubriand.mp3" length="94044363" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11744</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ginx's Baby His Birth and Other Misfortunes-Edward Jenkins</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ginx-s-baby-his-birth-and-other-misfortunes-edward-jenkins--73832861</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73832861</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:02:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73832861/ginx_s_baby_his_birth_and_other_misfortunes_edward_jenkins.mp3" length="101163028" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12633</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Satan's Diary-Leonid Nikolayevich Andreyev</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/satan-s-diary-leonid-nikolayevich-andreyev--73807522</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73807522</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:00:45 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73807522/satan_s_diary_leonid_nikolayevich_andreyev.mp3" length="254926852" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31834</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Leonora-Arnold Bennett</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/leonora-arnold-bennett--73778917</link><description><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73778917</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:20:25 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73778917/leonora_arnold_bennett.mp3" length="224667459" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>28056</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>On the Red Staircase - Mary Imlay Taylor</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-the-red-staircase-mary-imlay-taylor--73323013</link><description><![CDATA[On the Red Staircase by Mary Imlay Taylor invites listeners into a compelling narrative that explores themes of growth, resilience, and the human experience. This audiobook resonates with anyone seeking inspiration and reflection, as it delves into the complexities of life and the journey we all undertake. The story's enduring message about overcoming obstacles and the importance of faith in oneself makes it a timeless listen. As listeners navigate their own red staircases in life, the insights offered in this work provide comfort and encouragement, reminding us that every step forward is a testament to our strength and determination.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73323013</guid><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 18:55:07 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73323013/on_the_red_staircase_mary_imlay_taylor.mp3" length="198488145" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>On the Red Staircase by Mary Imlay Taylor invites listeners into a compelling narrative that explores themes of growth, resilience, and the human experience. This audiobook resonates with anyone seeking inspiration and reflection, as it delves into...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[On the Red Staircase by Mary Imlay Taylor invites listeners into a compelling narrative that explores themes of growth, resilience, and the human experience. This audiobook resonates with anyone seeking inspiration and reflection, as it delves into the complexities of life and the journey we all undertake. The story's enduring message about overcoming obstacles and the importance of faith in oneself makes it a timeless listen. As listeners navigate their own red staircases in life, the insights offered in this work provide comfort and encouragement, reminding us that every step forward is a testament to our strength and determination.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24786</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>On the Red Staircase - Mary Imlay Taylor</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-the-red-staircase-mary-imlay-taylor--72254067</link><description><![CDATA["“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72254067</guid><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 21:15:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72254067/on_the_red_staircase_mary_imlay_taylor.mp3" length="198286973" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Mary Imlay Taylor</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.” “Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”" A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24786</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>czar,elected,historical,ivan,primogeniture,red,romanof,shuisky,staircase,taylor</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4560751e01146135c8eb2a7c1eaa41cb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
