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He is considered one of the finest European novelists of his century and a significant influence on the development of literary realism. 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(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="Comedy Fiction"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>c079f3c6-1828-5e2d-8542-32c854e4f9af</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Story of a Modern Woman (Version 2)-Ella Hepworth Dixon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/story-of-a-modern-woman-version-2-ella-hepworth-dixon--74062129</link><description><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24214</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/02cdc11569853f4a1bee005e5a92c7fb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Pierrot, Dog Of Belgium-Walter Alden Dyer</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/pierrot-dog-of-belgium-walter-alden-dyer--74015702</link><description><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26621</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/02cdc11569853f4a1bee005e5a92c7fb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>The Tables of the Law; &amp; The Adoration of the Magi</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-tables-of-the-law-the-adoration-of-the-magi--73851535</link><description><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. While Cousin Betty tells the story of a bitter woman who seeks revenge on her wealthier relations, in Cousin Pons, Balzac turns to the story of an timid, innocent man who is exploited and victimized by the wealthier members of his extended family.Balzac offers probing character portraits and an indictment of greed and materialism in this detailed portrait of mid-19th-century French life. He is considered one of the finest European novelists of his century and a significant influence on the development of literary realism. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73851535</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:01:29 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73851535/the_tables_of_the_law_the_adoration_of_the_magi.mp3" length="20458489" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. While Cousin Betty tells the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. While Cousin Betty tells the story of a bitter woman who seeks revenge on her wealthier relations, in Cousin Pons, Balzac turns to the story of an timid, innocent man who is exploited and victimized by the wealthier members of his extended family.Balzac offers probing character portraits and an indictment of greed and materialism in this detailed portrait of mid-19th-century French life. He is considered one of the finest European novelists of his century and a significant influence on the development of literary realism. (Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2555</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/02cdc11569853f4a1bee005e5a92c7fb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Life and Doctrine of St. Catherine of Genoa-Unknown</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-and-doctrine-of-st-catherine-of-genoa-unknown--73834819</link><description><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>14575</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/02cdc11569853f4a1bee005e5a92c7fb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Jeremy And Hamlet A Chronicle Of Certain Incidents In The Lives Of A Boy, A Dog, And A Country Town-Hugh Walpole</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/jeremy-and-hamlet-a-chronicle-of-certain-incidents-in-the-lives-of-a-boy-a-dog-and-a-country-town-hugh-walpole--73797974</link><description><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73797974</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:39:40 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73797974/jeremy_and_hamlet_a_chronicle_of_certain_incidents_in_the_lives_of_a_boy_a_dog_and_a_country_town_hugh_walpole.mp3" length="206901559" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. While Cousin Betty tells the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25837</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/02cdc11569853f4a1bee005e5a92c7fb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lost Illusions Ève and David-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lost-illusions-eve-and-david-honore-de-balzac--73342500</link><description><![CDATA["Lost Illusions" by Honoré de Balzac explores the tumultuous journey of ambition, disillusionment, and the harsh realities of artistic life. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, it delves into the struggles of aspiring writers and the societal pressures they face, making it a timeless reflection on the pursuit of success and the price of dreams. 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Balzac's keen observations and rich characterizations ensure that this classic remains relevant, inviting listeners to reflect on their own dreams and the illusions that accompany them.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30016</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/02cdc11569853f4a1bee005e5a92c7fb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cousin Pons - Honore de Balzac - Part 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cousin-pons-honore-de-balzac-part-2--72389396</link><description><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. While Cousin Betty tells the story of a bitter woman who seeks revenge on her wealthier relations, in Cousin Pons, Balzac turns to the story of an timid, innocent man who is exploited and victimized by the wealthier members of his extended family.Balzac offers probing character portraits and an indictment of greed and materialism in this detailed portrait of mid-19th-century French life. He is considered one of the finest European novelists of his century and a significant influence on the development of literary realism. 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(Summary by Bruce Pirie)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10234</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>balzac,betty,complementary,cousin,literary,pons,probing,relations,titled,wealthier</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/02cdc11569853f4a1bee005e5a92c7fb.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cousin Pons - Honore de Balzac - Part 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cousin-pons-honore-de-balzac-part-1--72389395</link><description><![CDATA[Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Betty, as one of a complementary pair of novels, collectively titled Poor Relations. While Cousin Betty tells the story of a bitter woman who seeks revenge on her wealthier relations, in Cousin Pons, Balzac turns to the story of an timid, innocent man who is exploited and victimized by the wealthier members of his extended family.Balzac offers probing character portraits and an indictment of greed and materialism in this detailed portrait of mid-19th-century French life. He is considered one of the finest European novelists of his century and a significant influence on the development of literary realism. 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