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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>Second Home</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/second-home--7088451</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7088451/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Literary Fiction Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg</url><title>Second Home</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/second-home--7088451</link></image><lastBuildDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:04:29 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Literary Fiction Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker64@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Fiction"/><itunes:category text="Fiction"><itunes:category text="Drama"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>8e546c22-7357-5335-9d94-f07d5d2344b2</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Commission in Lunacy-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/commission-in-lunacy-honore-de-balzac--74064900</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74064900</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74064900/commission_in_lunacy_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="103727665" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12953</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Poems of William Blake-William Blake</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/poems-of-william-blake-william-blake--74040481</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74040481</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:02:11 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74040481/poems_of_william_blake_william_blake.mp3" length="26451499" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3303</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Colonel Chabert (Version 2)-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/colonel-chabert-version-2-honore-de-balzac--74017984</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74017984</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:02:01 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74017984/colonel_chabert_version_2_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="87423413" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10917</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Eugénie Grandet-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/eugenie-grandet-honore-de-balzac--73993988</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73993988</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:01:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73993988/euge_nie_grandet_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="210070181" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26233</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Fate of Fenella-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/fate-of-fenella-various--73970638</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73970638</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:01:45 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73970638/fate_of_fenella_various.mp3" length="213211756" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26625</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Sexes in Science and History-Eliza Burt Gamble</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/sexes-in-science-and-history-eliza-burt-gamble--73947858</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73947858</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:01:41 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73947858/sexes_in_science_and_history_eliza_burt_gamble.mp3" length="273185906" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34114</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Joseph in the Snow, and The Clockmaker. Vol. III-Berthold Auerbach</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/joseph-in-the-snow-and-the-clockmaker-vol-iii-berthold-auerbach--73923202</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73923202</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:01:30 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73923202/joseph_in_the_snow_and_the_clockmaker_vol_iii_berthold_auerbach.mp3" length="152676240" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). 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The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19066</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Running Water-A. E. W. Mason</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/running-water-a-e-w-mason--73898195</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73898195</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:01:46 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73898195/5569_running_water_a_e_w_mason.mp3" length="248837065" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). 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The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31073</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cradock Nowell Vol. 3-Richard Doddridge Blackmore</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cradock-nowell-vol-3-richard-doddridge-blackmore--73873894</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. 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In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29673</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lost Illusions Two Poets-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lost-illusions-two-poets-honore-de-balzac--73853002</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73853002</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:01:32 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73853002/lost_illusions_two_poets_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="183844181" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22958</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Second Home-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/second-home-honore-de-balzac--73836202</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73836202</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:02:28 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73836202/second_home_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="97169247" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12134</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lucky Piece A Story of the North Woods-Albert Bigelow Paine</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lucky-piece-a-story-of-the-north-woods-albert-bigelow-paine--73800180</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73800180</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:27:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73800180/10233_lucky_piece_a_story_of_the_north_woods_albert_bigelow_paine.mp3" length="174722480" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21819</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ball at Sceaux-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ball-at-sceaux-honore-de-balzac--73344381</link><description><![CDATA["Ball at Sceaux" by Honoré de Balzac captures the intricate social dynamics of the Parisian elite through the lens of a lavish ball. This novella delves into themes of ambition, love, and the pursuit of status, exploring how these desires shape human relationships and societal interactions. The allure of wealth and the complexities of social maneuvering remain relevant today, reminding us of the timeless nature of aspiration and the lengths individuals will go to achieve their dreams. Balzac's keen observations and rich characterizations make this story a compelling listen, inviting reflection on the enduring nature of societal ambition and personal desire.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73344381</guid><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:51:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73344381/ball_at_sceaux_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="78637454" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Ball at Sceaux" by Honoré de Balzac captures the intricate social dynamics of the Parisian elite through the lens of a lavish ball. This novella delves into themes of ambition, love, and the pursuit of status, exploring how these desires shape human...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Ball at Sceaux" by Honoré de Balzac captures the intricate social dynamics of the Parisian elite through the lens of a lavish ball. This novella delves into themes of ambition, love, and the pursuit of status, exploring how these desires shape human relationships and societal interactions. The allure of wealth and the complexities of social maneuvering remain relevant today, reminding us of the timeless nature of aspiration and the lengths individuals will go to achieve their dreams. Balzac's keen observations and rich characterizations make this story a compelling listen, inviting reflection on the enduring nature of societal ambition and personal desire.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9820</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Second Home - Honore de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/second-home-honore-de-balzac--72389442</link><description><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72389442</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:55:32 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72389442/second_home_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="97069390" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novella was first published in French in 1830, with the title “La femme vertueuse” (“The virtuous woman”). In an 1842 edition, the title was changed to “Une double famille” (“A double family”). For Balzac, success in marital relations depended on partners being well matched both in temperament and in social class. In this story, a young lawyer marries a childhood friend, only to discover too late that she has become narrow-mindedly religious. She is described as a “bigot.” (In French, the word specifically suggests religious prudery more than it does in English.) To escape the sanctimonious chill of this marital home, the lawyer sets up an impoverished seamstress as his mistress. The story explores the plight of women and the pathology of marriage. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12134</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>balzac,double,famille,femme,home,lawyer,literary,marital,sanctimonious,vertueuse</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c76cbb5422d8caf834586284dbca2439.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
