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This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the complexities of human relationships within a richly woven tapestry of historical context and cultural nuance. Join us in discovering a new book with every episode, and let the echoes of the past enrich your understanding of love and status in a changing world.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7129667/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright 1900s genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg</url><title>Ball at Sceaux</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ball-at-sceaux--7129667</link></image><lastBuildDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:18:21 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>1900s genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker77@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Immerse yourself in the captivating world of social ambition and romantic entanglements, as inspired by the title "Ball at Sceaux." This podcast delves into the intricate dynamics of love, class, and the pursuit of societal standing, inviting...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Immerse yourself in the captivating world of social ambition and romantic entanglements, as inspired by the title "Ball at Sceaux." This podcast delves into the intricate dynamics of love, class, and the pursuit of societal standing, inviting listeners to reflect on the delicate balance between personal desires and societal expectations. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, presenting a rotating collection of narratives that explore themes of courtship, identity, and the often ironic twists of fate that accompany the quest for approval and affection. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the complexities of human relationships within a richly woven tapestry of historical context and cultural nuance. Join us in discovering a new book with every episode, and let the echoes of the past enrich your understanding of love and status in a changing world.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Fiction"/><itunes:category text="Fiction"><itunes:category text="Comedy Fiction"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>0aeb7035-b77d-57c5-83ce-d690a6a08fc2</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Orestes-Euripides</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/orestes-euripides--74655420</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74655420</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:02:30 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74655420/orestes_euripides.mp3" length="52771264" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6590</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Shoemaker's Holiday-Thomas Dekker</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/shoemaker-s-holiday-thomas-dekker--74619041</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74619041</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:02:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74619041/shoemaker_s_holiday_thomas_dekker.mp3" length="66468876" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8300</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Night Off; or A Page From Balzac-Augustin Daly, Franz von Schönthan</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/night-off-or-a-page-from-balzac-augustin-daly-franz-von-schonthan--74586433</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74586433</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:02:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74586433/night_off_or_a_page_from_balzac_augustin_daly_franz_von_scho_nthan.mp3" length="95424885" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11916</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.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--74554807</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74554807</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:02:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74554807/one_act_play_collection_015_various.mp3" length="184081051" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></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/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>History Of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Vol. 4-Gaston Maspero</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/history-of-egypt-chaldea-syria-babylonia-and-assyria-vol-4-gaston-maspero--74522606</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. 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Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74522606</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:08:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74522606/history_of_egypt_chaldea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_vol_4_gaston_maspero.mp3" length="286016472" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. 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She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74452121</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:07:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74452121/search_grace_livingston_hill.mp3" length="171215079" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. 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Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74371693</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:08:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74371693/wooden_horse_hugh_walpole.mp3" length="260935271" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. 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Oulton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/watsons-dramatic-reading-jane-austen-l-oulton--74332657</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74332657</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:51:21 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74332657/watsons_dramatic_reading_jane_austen_l_oulton.mp3" length="112077080" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></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/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cradock Nowell Vol. 3-Richard Doddridge Blackmore</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cradock-nowell-vol-3-richard-doddridge-blackmore--74189452</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74189452</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:08:23 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74189452/cradock_nowell_vol_3_richard_doddridge_blackmore.mp3" length="237618610" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29673</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Armand Durand-Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/armand-durand-rosanna-eleanor-leprohon--74142568</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74142568</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:08:40 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74142568/armand_durand_rosanna_eleanor_leprohon.mp3" length="221955412" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27717</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Uncle's Dream-Fyodor Dostoyevsky</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/uncle-s-dream-fyodor-dostoyevsky--74105371</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74105371</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:08:01 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74105371/uncle_s_dream_fyodor_dostoyevsky.mp3" length="175284918" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21889</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Duchess of Langeais-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/duchess-of-langeais-honore-de-balzac--73385169</link><description><![CDATA["Duchess of Langeais" by Honoré de Balzac delves into the complex interplay of love, desire, and societal expectations in 19th-century France. The narrative explores the intricacies of a romantic relationship that is shaped by the characters' ambitions and the rigid structures of their world. Its themes of unfulfilled longing and the tension between personal happiness and social obligation resonate powerfully with contemporary audiences, highlighting the timeless nature of human emotions and relationships. As listeners immerse themselves in Balzac's rich prose, they will find reflections of their own experiences in the pursuit of love and the challenges posed by societal norms.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73385169</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:51:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73385169/duchess_of_langeais_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="208683253" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Duchess of Langeais" by Honoré de Balzac delves into the complex interplay of love, desire, and societal expectations in 19th-century France. The narrative explores the intricacies of a romantic relationship that is shaped by the characters'...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Duchess of Langeais" by Honoré de Balzac delves into the complex interplay of love, desire, and societal expectations in 19th-century France. The narrative explores the intricacies of a romantic relationship that is shaped by the characters' ambitions and the rigid structures of their world. Its themes of unfulfilled longing and the tension between personal happiness and social obligation resonate powerfully with contemporary audiences, highlighting the timeless nature of human emotions and relationships. As listeners immerse themselves in Balzac's rich prose, they will find reflections of their own experiences in the pursuit of love and the challenges posed by societal norms.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26059</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ball at Sceaux - Honore de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ball-at-sceaux-honore-de-balzac--72689434</link><description><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72689434</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:03:34 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72689434/ball_at_sceaux_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="78556096" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/676c5fd5-2478-4696-8906-05c97ba55bd2/676c5fd5-2478-4696-8906-05c97ba55bd2.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/676c5fd5-2478-4696-8906-05c97ba55bd2/676c5fd5-2478-4696-8906-05c97ba55bd2.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/676c5fd5-2478-4696-8906-05c97ba55bd2/676c5fd5-2478-4696-8906-05c97ba55bd2.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Honoré de Balzac</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central character is Émilie de Fontaine, youngest daughter of a noble but impoverished family in post-revolutionary France. Her hapless father hopes to find her a good marriage, but Émilie, spoiled and willful, has repeatedly turned away suitors. She has a list of requirements for any prospective husband, one of which is that he must, of course, be “the son of a peer of France.” (The peerage was an elite aristocratic distinction.) She holds firm to this resolve, but events have a way of turning out surprisingly. Balzac was a master of irony and realism and his writings were hugely influential in the development of European fiction. - Summary by Bruce Pirie]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9820</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>ball,balzac,expansive,france,milie,peer,peerage,prospective,sceaux,willful</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/25fa89aa481684fbff08b0852042b2c6.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
