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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>Hide and Seek</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hide-and-seek--7088676</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7088676/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/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg</url><title>Hide and Seek</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hide-and-seek--7088676</link></image><lastBuildDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:13:53 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</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/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"><itunes:category text="Places &amp; Travel"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>28aa2dff-aeac-5e2a-a848-03ea0218e6bd</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Wouldbegoods (Version 2 Dramatic Reading)-E. Nesbit</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wouldbegoods-version-2-dramatic-reading-e-nesbit--74944496</link><description><![CDATA["Wouldbegoods" by E. Nesbit is a charming tale that captures the adventures of children as they navigate the complexities of imagination and play. This dramatic reading brings to life the enchanting world where childhood dreams and moral lessons intertwine, making it a delightful listen for both young and old. The themes of creativity, friendship, and the innocence of youth resonate strongly today, reminding us of the importance of embracing our inner child and the power of storytelling. Nesbit's timeless narrative encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences of play and the lessons learned through imaginative adventures, making it a treasure worth revisiting.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74944496</guid><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:01:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74944496/wouldbegoods_version_2_dramatic_reading_e_nesbit.mp3" length="271757877" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Wouldbegoods" by E. Nesbit is a charming tale that captures the adventures of children as they navigate the complexities of imagination and play. This dramatic reading brings to life the enchanting world where childhood dreams and moral lessons...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Wouldbegoods" by E. Nesbit is a charming tale that captures the adventures of children as they navigate the complexities of imagination and play. This dramatic reading brings to life the enchanting world where childhood dreams and moral lessons intertwine, making it a delightful listen for both young and old. The themes of creativity, friendship, and the innocence of youth resonate strongly today, reminding us of the importance of embracing our inner child and the power of storytelling. Nesbit's timeless narrative encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences of play and the lessons learned through imaginative adventures, making it a treasure worth revisiting.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>33935</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Bonne-Marie, a Tale of Normandy and Paris-Henry Gréville</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonne-marie-a-tale-of-normandy-and-paris-henry-greville--74393365</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74393365</guid><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:01:18 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74393365/bonne_marie_a_tale_of_normandy_and_paris_henry_gre_ville.mp3" length="123725045" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>15450</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Collection of Beatrix Potter Stories (Version 2 Dramatic Reading)-Beatrix Potter</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/collection-of-beatrix-potter-stories-version-2-dramatic-reading-beatrix-potter--74364539</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74364539</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:00:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74364539/collection_of_beatrix_potter_stories_version_2_dramatic_reading_beatrix_potter.mp3" length="67220925" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8394</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Picture of Dorian Gray (version 2 dramatic reading)-Oscar Wilde</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/picture-of-dorian-gray-version-2-dramatic-reading-oscar-wilde--74343254</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74343254</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:00:45 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74343254/picture_of_dorian_gray_version_2_dramatic_reading_oscar_wilde.mp3" length="272802370" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34066</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Able McLaughlins-Margaret Wilson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/able-mclaughlins-margaret-wilson--74315518</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74315518</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:00:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74315518/able_mclaughlins_margaret_wilson.mp3" length="234025525" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29224</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Reveries of a Bachelor-Ik Marvel</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/reveries-of-a-bachelor-ik-marvel--74295866</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74295866</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:00:46 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74295866/reveries_of_a_bachelor_ik_marvel.mp3" length="197742807" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24693</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Rain-Girl-Herbert George Jenkins</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/rain-girl-herbert-george-jenkins--74274320</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74274320</guid><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:01:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74274320/rain_girl_herbert_george_jenkins.mp3" length="204347536" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25518</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Underground Railroad, Part 2-William Still</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/underground-railroad-part-2-william-still--74256195</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74256195</guid><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:00:57 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74256195/underground_railroad_part_2_william_still.mp3" length="263047525" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>32848</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Highacres (Dramatic Reading)-Jane D. Abbott</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/highacres-dramatic-reading-jane-d-abbott--74238954</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74238954</guid><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:00:55 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74238954/highacres_dramatic_reading_jane_d_abbott.mp3" length="203626887" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25428</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>One-Act Play Collection 015-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/one-act-play-collection-015-various--74223107</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74223107</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:00:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74223107/one_act_play_collection_015_various.mp3" length="184081051" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22986</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Salome and the Head-E. Nesbit</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/salome-and-the-head-e-nesbit--74197862</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74197862</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:00:56 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74197862/salome_and_the_head_e_nesbit.mp3" length="224636119" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>28052</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Plea for Ragged Schools; or, Prevention Better than Cure-Thomas Guthrie</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/plea-for-ragged-schools-or-prevention-better-than-cure-thomas-guthrie--74168893</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74168893</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:00:55 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74168893/plea_for_ragged_schools_or_prevention_better_than_cure_thomas_guthrie.mp3" length="49347047" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6162</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 01 October 1895-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/black-cat-vol-01-no-01-october-1895-various--74140222</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74140222</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:00:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74140222/black_cat_vol_01_no_01_october_1895_various.mp3" length="57849210" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7224</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Watsons (Dramatic Reading)-Jane Austen, L. Oulton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/watsons-dramatic-reading-jane-austen-l-oulton--74087274</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74087274</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:01:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74087274/watsons_dramatic_reading_jane_austen_l_oulton.mp3" length="112077080" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>13995</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Alice Adams-Booth Tarkington</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/alice-adams-booth-tarkington--74063069</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74063069</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:41 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74063069/alice_adams_booth_tarkington.mp3" length="217733183" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27190</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Rainbow Valley (version 3 Dramatic Reading)-Lucy Maud Montgomery</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/rainbow-valley-version-3-dramatic-reading-lucy-maud-montgomery--74038438</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74038438</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:02:12 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74038438/rainbow_valley_version_3_dramatic_reading_lucy_maud_montgomery.mp3" length="219997395" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27472</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lesley Castle (Dramatic Reading)-Jane Austen</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lesley-castle-dramatic-reading-jane-austen--74016465</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74016465</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:01:55 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74016465/lesley_castle_dramatic_reading_jane_austen.mp3" length="35548036" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4439</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Unknown Masterpiece-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/unknown-masterpiece-honore-de-balzac--73991800</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73991800</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:01:33 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73991800/20981_unknown_masterpiece_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="41407466" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5171</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Little Lord Fauntleroy (Version 3 Dramatic Reading)-Frances Hodgson Burnett</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/little-lord-fauntleroy-version-3-dramatic-reading-frances-hodgson-burnett--73968699</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73968699</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:01:36 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73968699/little_lord_fauntleroy_version_3_dramatic_reading_frances_hodgson_burnett.mp3" length="337905675" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21119</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Mothering on Perilous-Lucy S. Furman</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mothering-on-perilous-lucy-s-furman--73946061</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73946061</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:01:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73946061/4922_mothering_on_perilous_lucy_s_furman.mp3" length="43660387" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5452</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Dramatic Reading)-Lewis Carroll</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland-dramatic-reading-lewis-carroll--73921326</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73921326</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:01:12 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73921326/alice_s_adventures_in_wonderland_dramatic_reading_lewis_carroll.mp3" length="76558735" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9560</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Sylvie and Bruno (Version 2 Dramatic Reading)-Lewis Carroll</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/sylvie-and-bruno-version-2-dramatic-reading-lewis-carroll--73896516</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73896516</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:01:40 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73896516/sylvie_and_bruno_version_2_dramatic_reading_lewis_carroll.mp3" length="205766072" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25695</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Orange-Yellow Diamond-J. S. Fletcher</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/orange-yellow-diamond-j-s-fletcher--73872227</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73872227</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:01:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73872227/6210_orange_yellow_diamond_j_s_fletcher.mp3" length="239440771" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29900</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Trailin'!-Max Brand</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/trailin-max-brand--73851950</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73851950</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:01:39 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73851950/trailin_max_brand.mp3" length="211795233" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26448</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Short Plays from Dickens-Horace Baker Browne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/short-plays-from-dickens-horace-baker-browne--73835215</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73835215</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:02:18 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73835215/short_plays_from_dickens_horace_baker_browne.mp3" length="190012074" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23726</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Letters on an Elk Hunt-Elinore Pruitt Stewart</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/letters-on-an-elk-hunt-elinore-pruitt-stewart--73798794</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73798794</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:54:31 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73798794/letters_on_an_elk_hunt_elinore_pruitt_stewart.mp3" length="88179762" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11011</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Rilla of Ingleside (version 3 Dramatic reading)-Lucy Maud Montgomery</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/rilla-of-ingleside-version-3-dramatic-reading-lucy-maud-montgomery--73343025</link><description><![CDATA[Rilla of Ingleside is a poignant tale by Lucy Maud Montgomery that captures the trials and tribulations of a young girl coming of age during the tumultuous times of World War I. As Rilla navigates the challenges of love, family, and loss, the story delves into themes of resilience, courage, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. This dramatic reading brings to life the emotional depth of Rilla's journey, making it a timeless exploration of personal growth against a backdrop of global conflict. Listening to this audiobook now allows audiences to reflect on the universal experiences of youth and the sacrifices made for the greater good, resonating deeply with contemporary themes of hope and perseverance.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73343025</guid><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:09:15 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73343025/rilla_of_ingleside_version_3_dramatic_reading_lucy_maud_montgomery.mp3" length="284683055" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Rilla of Ingleside is a poignant tale by Lucy Maud Montgomery that captures the trials and tribulations of a young girl coming of age during the tumultuous times of World War I. As Rilla navigates the challenges of love, family, and loss, the story...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Rilla of Ingleside is a poignant tale by Lucy Maud Montgomery that captures the trials and tribulations of a young girl coming of age during the tumultuous times of World War I. As Rilla navigates the challenges of love, family, and loss, the story delves into themes of resilience, courage, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. This dramatic reading brings to life the emotional depth of Rilla's journey, making it a timeless exploration of personal growth against a backdrop of global conflict. Listening to this audiobook now allows audiences to reflect on the universal experiences of youth and the sacrifices made for the greater good, resonating deeply with contemporary themes of hope and perseverance.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>35550</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Hide and Seek - Wilkie Collins - Part 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/hide-and-seek-wilkie-collins-part-2--72390260</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72390260</guid><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:00:18 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72390260/hide_and_seek_wilkie_collins_part_2.mp3" length="171370827" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21422</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>blyth,collins,hide,literary,madonna,maltreatment,mentors,seek,valentine,zack</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Hide and Seek - Wilkie Collins - Part 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/hide-and-seek-wilkie-collins-part-1--72390259</link><description><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72390259</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:52:07 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72390259/hide_and_seek_wilkie_collins_part_1.mp3" length="277912171" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Wilkie Collins</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The artist Valentine Blyth has a very generous heart. He lovingly cares for his invalid wife, rescues a deaf orphan girl from maltreatment in a traveling circus and adopts her, and mentors a young man who gets in trouble with his tyrannical father. The girl, who received the nickname ‚Madonna’, falls in love with the young man, Zack. Because one of Valentine’s biggest fears is that Madonna’s blood relations will one day trace her and take her away from his home, he keeps the little that he knows of her origins a strict secret. One day, Zack befriends a mysterious stranger, who has just returned from years of rough life in the American wilderness. From that moment, the plot thickens, in mid-19th century dramatic style. This is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854, read from the 1861 edition). Summary by Anna Simon]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34739</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>blyth,collins,hide,literary,madonna,maltreatment,mentors,seek,valentine,zack</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/0b618b5199200b2888f0d8cbd25a693e.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
