<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<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>Absentee</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/absentee--7129714</link><description><![CDATA[Explore the complex themes of absence, neglect, and societal expectation in "Absentee," a podcast dedicated to a rotating collection of audiobooks that examine the repercussions of disengagement in various forms. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that invites listeners to reflect on the impact of individuals who turn away from their responsibilities, whether in personal relationships, familial duties, or societal roles. The stories delve into the lives of characters grappling with the consequences of their choices, revealing the intricate connections between identity, heritage, and the quest for acceptance. This series is not a single narrative but a tapestry of unique explorations, each shedding light on the profound effects of being emotionally or physically absent. Join us as we uncover a new book with every episode, expanding our understanding of how absence can shape lives and communities across different contexts and eras.<br /><br />This show includes AI-generated content.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7129714/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/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg</url><title>Absentee</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/absentee--7129714</link></image><lastBuildDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:07:26 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</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/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Explore the complex themes of absence, neglect, and societal expectation in "Absentee," a podcast dedicated to a rotating collection of audiobooks that examine the repercussions of disengagement in various forms. Each episode features a new complete...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Explore the complex themes of absence, neglect, and societal expectation in "Absentee," a podcast dedicated to a rotating collection of audiobooks that examine the repercussions of disengagement in various forms. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that invites listeners to reflect on the impact of individuals who turn away from their responsibilities, whether in personal relationships, familial duties, or societal roles. The stories delve into the lives of characters grappling with the consequences of their choices, revealing the intricate connections between identity, heritage, and the quest for acceptance. This series is not a single narrative but a tapestry of unique explorations, each shedding light on the profound effects of being emotionally or physically absent. Join us as we uncover a new book with every episode, expanding our understanding of how absence can shape lives and communities across different contexts and eras.<br /><br />This show includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="History"/><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>550a2f0b-e11e-58e8-af87-c4694f89a03d</podcast:guid><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Canadians of Old-Philippe Aubert de Gaspé</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/canadians-of-old-philippe-aubert-de-gaspe--75683849</link><description><![CDATA["Canadians of Old" by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé offers a vivid portrayal of early Canadian life, capturing the spirit and resilience of its people. This work stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Canada, exploring themes of identity, community, and the challenges faced by its inhabitants. Its reflections on the past resonate with contemporary audiences, as they highlight the enduring values of perseverance and camaraderie in the face of adversity. The stories within this audiobook remind us of the importance of understanding our roots and the shared experiences that shape our collective identity.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75683849</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2026 09:03:23 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/75683849/canadians_of_old_philippe_aubert_de_gaspe.mp3" length="273885626" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Canadians of Old" by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé offers a vivid portrayal of early Canadian life, capturing the spirit and resilience of its people. This work stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Canada, exploring themes of identity,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Canadians of Old" by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé offers a vivid portrayal of early Canadian life, capturing the spirit and resilience of its people. This work stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Canada, exploring themes of identity, community, and the challenges faced by its inhabitants. Its reflections on the past resonate with contemporary audiences, as they highlight the enduring values of perseverance and camaraderie in the face of adversity. The stories within this audiobook remind us of the importance of understanding our roots and the shared experiences that shape our collective identity.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34201</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.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--75040186</link><description><![CDATA["Watsons" by Jane Austen, presented in a dramatic reading by L. Oulton, invites listeners into a world of social intricacies and familial bonds. This unfinished novel explores themes of love, loyalty, and the complexities of social status, showcasing Austen's keen observations of human behavior and relationships. Its exploration of the struggles faced by the Watson family resonates today, as it reflects the timeless quest for belonging and acceptance in society. The wit and insight found in Austen's writing continue to captivate audiences, making "Watsons" a compelling listen for anyone interested in the nuances of character and the enduring nature of personal connections.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75040186</guid><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:03:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/75040186/watsons_dramatic_reading_jane_austen_l_oulton.mp3" length="112077080" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Watsons" by Jane Austen, presented in a dramatic reading by L. Oulton, invites listeners into a world of social intricacies and familial bonds. This unfinished novel explores themes of love, loyalty, and the complexities of social status, showcasing...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Watsons" by Jane Austen, presented in a dramatic reading by L. Oulton, invites listeners into a world of social intricacies and familial bonds. This unfinished novel explores themes of love, loyalty, and the complexities of social status, showcasing Austen's keen observations of human behavior and relationships. Its exploration of the struggles faced by the Watson family resonates today, as it reflects the timeless quest for belonging and acceptance in society. The wit and insight found in Austen's writing continue to captivate audiences, making "Watsons" a compelling listen for anyone interested in the nuances of character and the enduring nature of personal connections.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></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/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman Vol. 3-Laurence Sterne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-and-opinions-of-tristram-shandy-gentleman-vol-3-laurence-sterne--74655066</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74655066</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:02:26 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74655066/life_and_opinions_of_tristram_shandy_gentleman_vol_3_laurence_sterne.mp3" length="150764158" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18827</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.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--74618755</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74618755</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:02:28 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74618755/underground_railroad_part_2_william_still.mp3" length="263047525" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></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/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>His Darling Sin-Mary Elizabeth Braddon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/his-darling-sin-mary-elizabeth-braddon--74586134</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74586134</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:02:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74586134/his_darling_sin_mary_elizabeth_braddon.mp3" length="169609811" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21180</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Romance of Polar Exploration-G. Firth Scott</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/romance-of-polar-exploration-g-firth-scott--74554512</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74554512</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:02:31 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74554512/12212_romance_of_polar_exploration_g_firth_scott.mp3" length="248508711" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31032</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Prayers of the Early Church-J. Manning Potts</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/prayers-of-the-early-church-j-manning-potts--74522172</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74522172</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:08:11 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74522172/prayers_of_the_early_church_j_manning_potts.mp3" length="53384911" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6666</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>So Big-Edna Ferber</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/so-big-edna-ferber--74492266</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74492266</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:08:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74492266/16250_so_big_edna_ferber.mp3" length="273090008" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34102</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Pretty Lady-Arnold Bennett</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/pretty-lady-arnold-bennett--74451832</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74451832</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:07:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74451832/pretty_lady_arnold_bennett.mp3" length="235273637" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29380</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Bee and Butterfly, A Tale of Two Cousins-Lucy Foster Madison</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bee-and-butterfly-a-tale-of-two-cousins-lucy-foster-madison--74419591</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74419591</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:08:13 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74419591/bee_and_butterfly_a_tale_of_two_cousins_lucy_foster_madison.mp3" length="178402029" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22278</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Maid of Maiden Lane (dramatic reading)-Amelia E. Barr</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/maid-of-maiden-lane-dramatic-reading-amelia-e-barr--74371325</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74371325</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:08:18 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74371325/6850_maid_of_maiden_lane_dramatic_reading_amelia_e_barr.mp3" length="238049339" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29726</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>We of the Never-Never-Jeannie Gunn</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/we-of-the-never-never-jeannie-gunn--74332197</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74332197</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:44:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74332197/we_of_the_never_never_jeannie_gunn.mp3" length="240414061" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30022</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>King Henry IV, Part 1-William Shakespeare</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/king-henry-iv-part-1-william-shakespeare--74189047</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74189047</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:08:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74189047/645_king_henry_iv_part_1_william_shakespeare.mp3" length="82028298" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10243</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Colonel Chabert (Version 2)-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/colonel-chabert-version-2-honore-de-balzac--74142149</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74142149</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:08:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74142149/colonel_chabert_version_2_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="87423413" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10917</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ball at Sceaux-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ball-at-sceaux-honore-de-balzac--74105086</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74105086</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:07:59 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74105086/ball_at_sceaux_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="78637454" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9820</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Castle Rackrent-Maria Edgeworth</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/castle-rackrent-maria-edgeworth--73384940</link><description><![CDATA["Castle Rackrent" by Maria Edgeworth is a captivating exploration of the complexities of Irish landownership and the consequences of absenteeism among the gentry. Through the lens of a family estate, Edgeworth examines themes of social responsibility, the impact of neglect, and the interplay between tradition and change. This enduring tale resonates today as it highlights the importance of stewardship and engagement within communities, reminding listeners of the long-lasting effects of one's actions on both people and place. Edgeworth's sharp wit and keen observations make this work a timeless reflection on the dynamics of power and responsibility, ensuring its relevance for contemporary audiences.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73384940</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:45:31 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73384940/castle_rackrent_maria_edgeworth.mp3" length="147522287" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Castle Rackrent" by Maria Edgeworth is a captivating exploration of the complexities of Irish landownership and the consequences of absenteeism among the gentry. Through the lens of a family estate, Edgeworth examines themes of social responsibility,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Castle Rackrent" by Maria Edgeworth is a captivating exploration of the complexities of Irish landownership and the consequences of absenteeism among the gentry. Through the lens of a family estate, Edgeworth examines themes of social responsibility, the impact of neglect, and the interplay between tradition and change. This enduring tale resonates today as it highlights the importance of stewardship and engagement within communities, reminding listeners of the long-lasting effects of one's actions on both people and place. Edgeworth's sharp wit and keen observations make this work a timeless reflection on the dynamics of power and responsibility, ensuring its relevance for contemporary audiences.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18422</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Absentee - Maria Edgeworth - Part 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/absentee-maria-edgeworth-part-2--72689576</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72689576</guid><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:16 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72689576/absentee_maria_edgeworth_part_2.mp3" length="47683752" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5961</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>absentee,absenteeism,abuses,clonbrony,colambre,edgeworth,irish,lord,maria,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Absentee - Maria Edgeworth - Part 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/absentee-maria-edgeworth-part-1--72689575</link><description><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72689575</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:14:19 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72689575/absentee_maria_edgeworth_part_1.mp3" length="279244420" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Maria Edgeworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Published in 1812, “The Absentee” by Maria Edgeworth examines social injustice in 19th-century Britain. At that time, the management of many Irish estates suffered from the absenteeism of their Anglo-Irish landlords. We meet Lord and Lady Clonbrony. Lord Clonbrony struggles with debt, while Lady Clonbrony tries to shed her Irish connections and earn status in London’s high society (known as “the ton.”) Meanwhile, their son, Lord Colambre, is wary of the entanglements of that society and escapes to the family estate in Ireland, where he discovers the abuses that have arisen in the family’s absence.Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer of realism in fiction, and one of the most successful and popular novelists of her time. She offered satirical portraits of society manners and sympathetic treatment of regional life. Her work won admiration from authors such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. “The Absentee” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34906</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>absentee,absenteeism,abuses,clonbrony,colambre,edgeworth,irish,lord,maria,society</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/014b9dd12b610246d341dcd85cb2bb2b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
