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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Shadow Flies</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shadow-flies--7130122</link><description><![CDATA[Delve into a realm where shadows of the past intertwine with the vibrant threads of human aspiration, as suggested by the evocative title "Shadow Flies." This podcast invites listeners to explore the intricate dance between yearning and futility, revealing how personal desires often clash with the harsh realities of existence. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, offering a rotating collection that captures the essence of struggle, love, and resilience amidst the backdrop of historical and poetic influences. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the complexities of the human experience, from the echoes of the English Civil War to the intimate struggles of individuals seeking recognition and belonging. Join us on this literary journey and discover a new book with every episode, as we navigate the delicate balance between hope and despair.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7130122/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/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg</url><title>Shadow Flies</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shadow-flies--7130122</link></image><lastBuildDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:17:48 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</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/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Delve into a realm where shadows of the past intertwine with the vibrant threads of human aspiration, as suggested by the evocative title "Shadow Flies." This podcast invites listeners to explore the intricate dance between yearning and futility,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Delve into a realm where shadows of the past intertwine with the vibrant threads of human aspiration, as suggested by the evocative title "Shadow Flies." This podcast invites listeners to explore the intricate dance between yearning and futility, revealing how personal desires often clash with the harsh realities of existence. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, offering a rotating collection that captures the essence of struggle, love, and resilience amidst the backdrop of historical and poetic influences. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the complexities of the human experience, from the echoes of the English Civil War to the intimate struggles of individuals seeking recognition and belonging. Join us on this literary journey and discover a new book with every episode, as we navigate the delicate balance between hope and despair.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"/><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"><itunes:category text="Religion"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>6e3ec394-d23c-5091-afd2-f683ccde7738</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Reconciliation of Races and Religions-Thomas Kelly Cheyne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/reconciliation-of-races-and-religions-thomas-kelly-cheyne--74622422</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74622422</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:02:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74622422/reconciliation_of_races_and_religions_thomas_kelly_cheyne.mp3" length="206786794" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25822</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Plea for Ragged Schools; or, Prevention Better than Cure-Thomas Guthrie</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/plea-for-ragged-schools-or-prevention-better-than-cure-thomas-guthrie--74589918</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74589918</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:02:48 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74589918/plea_for_ragged_schools_or_prevention_better_than_cure_thomas_guthrie.mp3" length="49347047" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6162</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Selected Poems-Siegfried Sassoon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/selected-poems-siegfried-sassoon--74558315</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74558315</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:02:25 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74558315/selected_poems_siegfried_sassoon.mp3" length="45579267" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5692</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Selected Poems-Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Christina Rossetti</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/selected-poems-dante-gabriel-rossetti-christina-rossetti--74526029</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74526029</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:08:28 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74526029/selected_poems_dante_gabriel_rossetti_christina_rossetti.mp3" length="52221137" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6521</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Selected Poems-George Herbert</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/selected-poems-george-herbert--74495441</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74495441</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:08:36 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74495441/selected_poems_george_herbert.mp3" length="47591796" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5943</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>St. George and St. Michael, Volume 1-George MacDonald</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/st-george-and-st-michael-volume-1-george-macdonald--74455667</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74455667</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:07:44 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74455667/st_george_and_st_michael_volume_1_george_macdonald.mp3" length="150252784" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18763</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji)-Murasaki Shikibu</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/genji-monogatari-the-tale-of-genji-murasaki-shikibu--74423276</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74423276</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:08:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74423276/genji_monogatari_the_tale_of_genji_murasaki_shikibu.mp3" length="255865488" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31951</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>At Dawn And Dusk-Victor Daley</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/at-dawn-and-dusk-victor-daley--74376756</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74376756</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:42:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74376756/at_dawn_and_dusk_victor_daley.mp3" length="96072733" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11997</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Hagar's Daughter. A Story of Southern Caste Prejudice-Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/hagar-s-daughter-a-story-of-southern-caste-prejudice-pauline-elizabeth-hopkins--74336947</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74336947</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 20:13:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74336947/6702_hagar_s_daughter_a_story_of_southern_caste_prejudice_pauline_elizabeth_hopkins.mp3" length="248991600" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31093</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Footnote to History Eight Years of Trouble in Samoa-Robert Louis Stevenson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/footnote-to-history-eight-years-of-trouble-in-samoa-robert-louis-stevenson--74194599</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74194599</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:08:41 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74194599/footnote_to_history_eight_years_of_trouble_in_samoa_robert_louis_stevenson.mp3" length="204355125" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25518</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>New Discoveries at Jamestown-John L. Cotter, J. Paul Hudson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/new-discoveries-at-jamestown-john-l-cotter-j-paul-hudson--74147866</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74147866</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:08:40 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74147866/new_discoveries_at_jamestown_john_l_cotter_j_paul_hudson.mp3" length="61264035" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7650</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Crescent Moon-Rabindranath Tagore</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/crescent-moon-rabindranath-tagore--74108597</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74108597</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:08:09 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74108597/crescent_moon_rabindranath_tagore.mp3" length="27925652" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3487</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/charles-simeon-handley-carr-glyn-moule--73388764</link><description><![CDATA["Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule" delves into the life and contributions of a significant figure in the realm of faith. This audiobook invites listeners to explore the enduring impact of Simeon and his contemporaries, whose devotion and insights continue to resonate in today's discussions about spirituality and community. With themes of perseverance and dedication to one's beliefs, the narrative sheds light on how these historical figures navigated their faith amidst challenges. Their legacy serves as a reminder of the power of conviction and the importance of understanding our spiritual heritage, making this a timely listen for anyone seeking inspiration in their own faith journey.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73388764</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:15:12 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73388764/charles_simeon_handley_carr_glyn_moule.mp3" length="215575010" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule" delves into the life and contributions of a significant figure in the realm of faith. This audiobook invites listeners to explore the enduring impact of Simeon and his contemporaries, whose devotion and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule" delves into the life and contributions of a significant figure in the realm of faith. This audiobook invites listeners to explore the enduring impact of Simeon and his contemporaries, whose devotion and insights continue to resonate in today's discussions about spirituality and community. With themes of perseverance and dedication to one's beliefs, the narrative sheds light on how these historical figures navigated their faith amidst challenges. Their legacy serves as a reminder of the power of conviction and the importance of understanding our spiritual heritage, making this a timely listen for anyone seeking inspiration in their own faith journey.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26919</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Shadow Flies - Rose Macaulay - Part 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/shadow-flies-rose-macaulay-part-2--72691483</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72691483</guid><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72691483/shadow_flies_rose_macaulay_part_2.mp3" length="115466490" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>14434</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>characters,curricula,exults,flies,macaulay,onward,reeling,shadow,title,wrangles</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Shadow Flies - Rose Macaulay - Part 1</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/shadow-flies-rose-macaulay-part-1--72691481</link><description><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72691481</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:52:46 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72691481/shadow_flies_rose_macaulay_part_1.mp3" length="279413273" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Rose Macaulay</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The title of the original, British release of this novel was They Were Defeated, referring, among other matters, to the English Civil War, 1642 to 1651. Since the main action covers the build-up toward this event and climaxes in 1641, the title implies that defeat had been inevitable for both sides even before the war began. The American title, The Shadow Flies, comes from a poem on the vanity of human wishes. Yet, for all that, the story is full of life and yearning, of effort and fun, of assertion and tolerance, of conscience and love. In keeping with these themes, the action and the characters are loosely linked to the incomparable lyric poet Robert Herrick in his remote home in Devonshire, where he exults in the beauty of nature and wrangles with his backward parishioners, waiting in vain for the recognition and fame which he would be denied until long after his death. The emotional focus of the novel is an adolescent girl, a scholar and poet of promise, encouraged by an educated father of unconventional opinions. In particular, his insistence that education ought to be offered equally to both sexes endears him to moderns but sets him at odds with his peers—as does his scorn of religion, which, in its turn, complicates many readers’ response to him. The issues into which individual characters draw the reader include, beyond the strictly political, poetic taste, academic curricula, witchcraft, science, superstition, and religious observances in an England still reeling from the Reformation, which had taken place in the lifetime of the generation just preceding that of the oldest characters. Many well known historical figures, and especially poets, make brief appearances, and the language the author puts into their mouths is as close as she can manage to that of the mid seventeenth century, with different dialects faithfully represented in spelling when convenient. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34927</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>characters,curricula,exults,flies,macaulay,onward,reeling,shadow,title,wrangles</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b6c93033a6a40d585440261ed6a2a4ae.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
