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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>Ruth</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ruth--7127854</link><description><![CDATA[Explore the intricate tapestry of societal norms and personal redemption in "Ruth," a podcast dedicated to the exploration of themes surrounding morality, stigma, and resilience. This rotating collection invites listeners to engage with a variety of audiobooks that delve into the lives of characters grappling with the weight of societal judgment and the quest for dignity in the face of adversity. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, offering rich narratives that illuminate the struggles and triumphs of those marginalized by their circumstances. Through these unique explorations, listeners will encounter the complexities of human relationships, the impact of societal expectations, and the enduring spirit of individuals striving for a second chance. Discover a new book with every episode, and immerse yourself in stories that challenge perceptions and inspire empathy.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7127854/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright 1800s Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg</url><title>Ruth</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ruth--7127854</link></image><lastBuildDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:15:33 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>1800s Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker76@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Explore the intricate tapestry of societal norms and personal redemption in "Ruth," a podcast dedicated to the exploration of themes surrounding morality, stigma, and resilience. This rotating collection invites listeners to engage with a variety of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Explore the intricate tapestry of societal norms and personal redemption in "Ruth," a podcast dedicated to the exploration of themes surrounding morality, stigma, and resilience. This rotating collection invites listeners to engage with a variety of audiobooks that delve into the lives of characters grappling with the weight of societal judgment and the quest for dignity in the face of adversity. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, offering rich narratives that illuminate the struggles and triumphs of those marginalized by their circumstances. Through these unique explorations, listeners will encounter the complexities of human relationships, the impact of societal expectations, and the enduring spirit of individuals striving for a second chance. Discover a new book with every episode, and immerse yourself in stories that challenge perceptions and inspire empathy.]]></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>5722b1ec-15d3-549f-8b59-4c8579d39930</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Dorothy Deane; A Children's Story-Ellen W. Olney Kirk</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dorothy-deane-a-children-s-story-ellen-w-olney-kirk--74653254</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74653254</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:02:15 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74653254/dorothy_deane_a_children_s_story_ellen_w_olney_kirk.mp3" length="203976006" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25472</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Little Princess (version 4 dramatic reading)-Frances Hodgson Burnett</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/little-princess-version-4-dramatic-reading-frances-hodgson-burnett--74617529</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74617529</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:02:29 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74617529/6360_little_princess_version_4_dramatic_reading_frances_hodgson_burnett.mp3" length="190810024" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23827</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Crux-Charlotte Perkins Gilman</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/crux-charlotte-perkins-gilman--74584833</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74584833</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:02:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74584833/crux_charlotte_perkins_gilman.mp3" length="167012030" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>20856</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood-George MacDonald</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ranald-bannerman-s-boyhood-george-macdonald--74553476</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74553476</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:02:19 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74553476/ranald_bannerman_s_boyhood_george_macdonald.mp3" length="204247427" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25505</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Rangy Pete-Guy Morton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/rangy-pete-guy-morton--74520738</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74520738</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:08:20 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74520738/7277_rangy_pete_guy_morton.mp3" length="278763718" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34811</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Court and Character of King James, with the Court of King Charles-Anthony Weldon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/court-and-character-of-king-james-with-the-court-of-king-charles-anthony-weldon--74491380</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74491380</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:08:21 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74491380/court_and_character_of_king_james_with_the_court_of_king_charles_anthony_weldon.mp3" length="108207645" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>13512</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Three Girls in a Flat-Laura Hayes, Jean Loughborough, Enid Yandell</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/three-girls-in-a-flat-laura-hayes-jean-loughborough-enid-yandell--74450508</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74450508</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:07:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74450508/three_girls_in_a_flat_laura_hayes_jean_loughborough_enid_yandell.mp3" length="98934948" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12354</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ghost Girl-Henry Kitchell Webster</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ghost-girl-henry-kitchell-webster--74417821</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74417821</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:08:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74417821/ghost_girl_henry_kitchell_webster.mp3" length="242107286" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30233</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Story of Young Abraham Lincoln-Wayne Whipple</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/story-of-young-abraham-lincoln-wayne-whipple--74369638</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74369638</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:08:25 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74369638/story_of_young_abraham_lincoln_wayne_whipple.mp3" length="143795288" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>17956</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Mark Twain's (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance-Mark Twain</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mark-twain-s-burlesque-autobiography-and-first-romance-mark-twain--74330719</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74330719</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:19:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74330719/mark_twain_s_burlesque_autobiography_and_first_romance_mark_twain.mp3" length="16624811" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2076</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Purple Springs-Nellie McClung</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/purple-springs-nellie-mcclung--74187259</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74187259</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:08:28 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74187259/purple_springs_nellie_mcclung.mp3" length="250554670" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31288</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Arsène Lupin-Maurice Leblanc</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/arsene-lupin-maurice-leblanc--74140502</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74140502</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:08:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74140502/arse_ne_lupin_maurice_leblanc.mp3" length="224112434" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27986</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Oblomov-Ivan Goncharov</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/oblomov-ivan-goncharov--74103932</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. Ruth, pregnant and alone, is taken in by a minister and his sister. They conceal her single status under the pretense of widowhood in order to protect her child from the social stigma of illegitimacy. Ruth goes on to gain a respectable position in society as a governess, which is threatened by the return of Bellingham and the revelation of her secret. (Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74103932</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:07:45 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74103932/oblomov_ivan_goncharov.mp3" length="188636744" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. 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(Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23556</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Astrophel and Stella-Sir Philip Sidney</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/astrophel-and-stella-sir-philip-sidney--73383816</link><description><![CDATA[Astrophel and Stella by Sir Philip Sidney is a poignant collection of sonnets that explores the depths of love and longing through the eyes of Astrophel, who yearns for the unattainable Stella. This timeless work delves into themes of unrequited love, the complexities of desire, and the interplay between personal emotion and artistic expression. Its lyrical beauty and emotional resonance continue to captivate listeners today, reminding us of the universal struggles of the heart. 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Sidney's masterful use of language and form not only showcases the intricacies of love but also invites reflection on the enduring nature of human experience, making it a compelling listen for anyone seeking insight into the power of love and poetry.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6054</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ruth - Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell - Part 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ruth-elizabeth-cleghorn-gaskell-part-2--72675274</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. 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(Wikipedia)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72675274</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72675274/ruth_elizabeth_cleghorn_gaskell_part_2.mp3" length="262396065" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. 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(Wikipedia)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>32800</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>bellingham,gaskell,hilton,illegitimacy,pretense,respectable,ruth,seamstress,stigma,widowhood</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51bf837c0dfa928b30f1166de7d606a3.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ruth - Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell - Part 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ruth-elizabeth-cleghorn-gaskell-part-1--72675271</link><description><![CDATA[The book is a social novel, dealing with Victorian views about sin and illegitimacy. It is a surprisingly compassionate portrayal of a 'fallen woman', a type of person normally outcast from respectable society. The title of the novel refers to the main character Ruth Hilton, an orphaned young seamstress who is seduced and then abandoned by gentleman Henry Bellingham. 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