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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>Under the Greenwood Tree</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-greenwood-tree--7143139</link><description><![CDATA[Immerse yourself in the pastoral beauty and rich tapestry of rural life as suggested by the title Under the Greenwood Tree. This podcast delves into themes of love, tradition, and the delicate balance between progress and preservation within close-knit communities. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that captures the essence of idyllic settings, the complexities of human relationships, and the impact of societal change on cherished customs. Listeners are invited to reflect on the nuances of village life, the interplay of music and nature, and the timeless struggle between the old and the new. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that celebrate the charm of rural narratives and their profound insights into the human experience. Discover a new book with every episode, and let the gentle rhythms of these tales transport you to a world where nature and community intertwine.<br /><br />This show includes AI-generated content.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7143139/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Satire Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg</url><title>Under the Greenwood Tree</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-greenwood-tree--7143139</link></image><lastBuildDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:37:12 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Satire Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker80@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Immerse yourself in the pastoral beauty and rich tapestry of rural life as suggested by the title Under the Greenwood Tree. This podcast delves into themes of love, tradition, and the delicate balance between progress and preservation within...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Immerse yourself in the pastoral beauty and rich tapestry of rural life as suggested by the title Under the Greenwood Tree. This podcast delves into themes of love, tradition, and the delicate balance between progress and preservation within close-knit communities. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that captures the essence of idyllic settings, the complexities of human relationships, and the impact of societal change on cherished customs. Listeners are invited to reflect on the nuances of village life, the interplay of music and nature, and the timeless struggle between the old and the new. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that celebrate the charm of rural narratives and their profound insights into the human experience. Discover a new book with every episode, and let the gentle rhythms of these tales transport you to a world where nature and community intertwine.<br /><br />This show includes AI-generated content.]]></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>b0f68d02-3e7b-57ba-bd4f-2f98ab424403</podcast:guid><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Daughter Of The Vine-Gertrude Atherton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/daughter-of-the-vine-gertrude-atherton--74638027</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74638027</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:03:31 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74638027/daughter_of_the_vine_gertrude_atherton.mp3" length="156903028" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19593</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Spinner in the Sun-Myrtle Reed</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/spinner-in-the-sun-myrtle-reed--74604413</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74604413</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:03:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74604413/spinner_in_the_sun_myrtle_reed.mp3" length="231840481" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>28951</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Clotel, or, The President's Daughter-William Wells Brown</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/clotel-or-the-president-s-daughter-william-wells-brown--74571614</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74571614</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:03:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74571614/clotel_or_the_president_s_daughter_william_wells_brown.mp3" length="159175290" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19877</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Fate of Fenella-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/fate-of-fenella-various--74540883</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74540883</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:09:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74540883/fate_of_fenella_various.mp3" length="213211756" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26625</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>All That Glitters Is Not Gold-John Maddison Morton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/all-that-glitters-is-not-gold-john-maddison-morton--74508679</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74508679</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:09:12 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74508679/all_that_glitters_is_not_gold_john_maddison_morton.mp3" length="59455999" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7425</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Country of the Pointed Firs (Version 2)-Sarah Orne Jewett</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/country-of-the-pointed-firs-version-2-sarah-orne-jewett--74471727</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74471727</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:08:19 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74471727/country_of_the_pointed_firs_version_2_sarah_orne_jewett.mp3" length="169181054" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21127</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Study in Scarlet (Version 7 Dramatic Reading)-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/study-in-scarlet-version-7-dramatic-reading-sir-arthur-conan-doyle--74437531</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74437531</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:09:18 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74437531/study_in_scarlet_version_7_dramatic_reading_sir_arthur_conan_doyle.mp3" length="138659020" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>17315</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Book of Common Prayer, 1662 selections-The Parliament of England</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/book-of-common-prayer-1662-selections-the-parliament-of-england--74398586</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74398586</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:40:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74398586/book_of_common_prayer_1662_selections_the_parliament_of_england.mp3" length="121284015" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>15145</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Wind in the Willows (version 2)-Kenneth Grahame</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wind-in-the-willows-version-2-kenneth-grahame--74354245</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74354245</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 02:27:05 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74354245/wind_in_the_willows_version_2_kenneth_grahame.mp3" length="195634912" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24430</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.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--74215354</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74215354</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:09:11 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74215354/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>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<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/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Improvement of the Mind-Stephen Norris Fellows, Isaac Watts</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/improvement-of-the-mind-stephen-norris-fellows-isaac-watts--74168626</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74168626</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:09:20 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74168626/improvement_of_the_mind_stephen_norris_fellows_isaac_watts.mp3" length="199964702" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24970</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>First Love-Ivan Turgenev</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/first-love-ivan-turgenev--74122366</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74122366</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:19:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74122366/first_love_ivan_turgenev.mp3" length="88099494" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11002</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>First Love-Ivan Turgenev</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/first-love-ivan-turgenev--73402255</link><description><![CDATA["First Love" by Ivan Turgenev captures the bittersweet essence of youthful infatuation and the poignant complexities that accompany it. This timeless tale explores the depths of first love, revealing the emotional turbulence and innocence that define such formative experiences. Turgenev's masterful prose resonates with anyone who has ever navigated the joys and heartaches of young romance, making it a compelling listen for contemporary audiences. The themes of love, longing, and the passage of time remain universally relevant, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences while appreciating the beauty and pain of love in its earliest stages.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73402255</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:47:13 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73402255/first_love_ivan_turgenev.mp3" length="88099494" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"First Love" by Ivan Turgenev captures the bittersweet essence of youthful infatuation and the poignant complexities that accompany it. This timeless tale explores the depths of first love, revealing the emotional turbulence and innocence that define...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["First Love" by Ivan Turgenev captures the bittersweet essence of youthful infatuation and the poignant complexities that accompany it. This timeless tale explores the depths of first love, revealing the emotional turbulence and innocence that define such formative experiences. Turgenev's masterful prose resonates with anyone who has ever navigated the joys and heartaches of young romance, making it a compelling listen for contemporary audiences. The themes of love, longing, and the passage of time remain universally relevant, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences while appreciating the beauty and pain of love in its earliest stages.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11002</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Under the Greenwood Tree - Thomas Hardy</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/under-the-greenwood-tree-thomas-hardy--72759008</link><description><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72759008</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:52:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72759008/under_the_greenwood_tree_thomas_hardy.mp3" length="194474766" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Thomas Hardy</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[This novel is subtitled The Mellstock Quire, A Rural Painting of the Dutch School. The Quire is the group of musicians who accompany the hymns at the local church and we follow the fortunes of one member, Dick Dewy, who falls in love with the new school mistress, Fancy Day. Another element of the book is the battle between the traditional musicians of the Quire and the local vicar, Parson Maybold, who installs a church organ. This battle illustrates the developing technology being introduced in the Victorian era and its threat to traditional country ways. The novel was published anonymously in 1872 and is often seen as Thomas Hardy's most gentle and pastoral novel. In 2005 Under the Greenwood Tree was adapted for a television version by Ashley Pharoah. (Summary by Rachel Lintern)<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24310</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>greenwood,hardy,maybold,mellstock,musicians,pharoah,quire,romance,traditional,tree</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d02936d5d9b862e3686b7f3400c18b7.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
