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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>Lady Susan</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lady-susan--7143360</link><description><![CDATA[Immerse yourself in the intricate world of social maneuvering and romantic intrigue that defines the essence of "Lady Susan." This podcast delves into the complexities of human relationships as seen through the lens of epistolary storytelling, where letters reveal the multifaceted nature of desire, ambition, and societal expectations. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that explores themes of manipulation, feminine agency, and the art of correspondence, inviting listeners to witness how characters navigate their desires and the judgments of those around them. The rotating collection showcases a variety of perspectives, highlighting the nuanced dynamics of friendship, rivalry, and the pursuit of love. This is not a single narrative but a vibrant tapestry of voices and experiences, encouraging you to discover a new book with every episode and engage with the timeless themes of wit, charm, and the complexity of the human heart.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7143360/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/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg</url><title>Lady Susan</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lady-susan--7143360</link></image><lastBuildDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:25:27 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Jane Austen</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/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Immerse yourself in the intricate world of social maneuvering and romantic intrigue that defines the essence of "Lady Susan." This podcast delves into the complexities of human relationships as seen through the lens of epistolary storytelling, where...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Immerse yourself in the intricate world of social maneuvering and romantic intrigue that defines the essence of "Lady Susan." This podcast delves into the complexities of human relationships as seen through the lens of epistolary storytelling, where letters reveal the multifaceted nature of desire, ambition, and societal expectations. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that explores themes of manipulation, feminine agency, and the art of correspondence, inviting listeners to witness how characters navigate their desires and the judgments of those around them. The rotating collection showcases a variety of perspectives, highlighting the nuanced dynamics of friendship, rivalry, and the pursuit of love. This is not a single narrative but a vibrant tapestry of voices and experiences, encouraging you to discover a new book with every episode and engage with the timeless themes of wit, charm, and the complexity of the human heart.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Kids &amp; Family"><itunes:category text="Pets &amp; Animals"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Science"><itunes:category text="Nature"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>9e93992b-eda0-5dca-af34-2f6f21503f12</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Commission in Lunacy-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/commission-in-lunacy-honore-de-balzac--74635615</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74635615</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:03:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74635615/commission_in_lunacy_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="103727665" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12953</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Essays on Art-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/essays-on-art-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe--74602590</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74602590</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:03:30 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74602590/essays_on_art_johann_wolfgang_von_goethe.mp3" length="209263460" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26132</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Antigone (Plumptre Translation)-Sophocles</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/antigone-plumptre-translation-sophocles--74569828</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74569828</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:03:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74569828/10085_antigone_plumptre_translation_sophocles.mp3" length="38118350" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4760</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Letters of Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and His Youngest Sister-Jesse Grant Cramer, Ulysses S. Grant</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/letters-of-ulysses-s-grant-to-his-father-and-his-youngest-sister-jesse-grant-cramer-ulysses-s-grant--74538444</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74538444</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:09:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74538444/letters_of_ulysses_s_grant_to_his_father_and_his_youngest_sister_jesse_grant_cramer_ulysses_s_grant.mp3" length="123559658" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>15429</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cyrano de Bergerac (Hooker translation)-Edmond Rostand</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cyrano-de-bergerac-hooker-translation-edmond-rostand--74506909</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74506909</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:09:07 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74506909/cyrano_de_bergerac_hooker_translation_edmond_rostand.mp3" length="138030850" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>17237</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Love Letters of Dorothy Osborne-Dorothy Osborne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/love-letters-of-dorothy-osborne-dorothy-osborne--74468791</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74468791</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:08:07 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74468791/love_letters_of_dorothy_osborne_dorothy_osborne.mp3" length="181163631" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22623</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Further Adventures of Zorro (Dramatic Reading)-Johnston McCulley</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/further-adventures-of-zorro-dramatic-reading-johnston-mcculley--74435689</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74435689</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:09:11 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74435689/further_adventures_of_zorro_dramatic_reading_johnston_mcculley.mp3" length="221986197" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27720</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cinderella-George Calderon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cinderella-george-calderon--74395424</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74395424</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:50:46 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74395424/cinderella_george_calderon.mp3" length="45224342" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5647</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Dream Play-August Strindberg</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dream-play-august-strindberg--74351823</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74351823</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 01:37:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74351823/dream_play_august_strindberg.mp3" length="66423539" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8294</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 10 July 1896-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/black-cat-vol-01-no-10-july-1896-various--74212480</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74212480</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:09:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74212480/black_cat_vol_01_no_10_july_1896_various.mp3" length="56547751" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7061</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Heptameron of the Tales of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Volume 1-Marguerite of Navarre</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/heptameron-of-the-tales-of-margaret-queen-of-navarre-volume-1-marguerite-of-navarre--74165893</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74165893</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:09:30 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74165893/heptameron_of_the_tales_of_margaret_queen_of_navarre_volume_1_marguerite_of_navarre.mp3" length="153406651" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19156</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Shirley Letters from California Mines in 1851-52-Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/shirley-letters-from-california-mines-in-1851-52-louise-amelia-knapp-smith-clappe--74120712</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74120712</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:32:05 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74120712/shirley_letters_from_california_mines_in_1851_52_louise_amelia_knapp_smith_clappe.mp3" length="176880666" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22088</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Love and Freindship (Dramatic Reading)-Jane Austen</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/love-and-freindship-dramatic-reading-jane-austen--73400491</link><description><![CDATA["Love and Friendship" is a witty and satirical exploration of the complexities of love and relationships, presented through a dramatic reading of Jane Austen's early work. This story captures the essence of youthful passion and the often misguided pursuits of affection, showcasing Austen's sharp humor and keen observations of human behavior. Its themes of romantic folly and the social dynamics of friendship remain relevant today, reminding listeners of the timeless nature of love's trials and tribulations. Dive into this engaging narrative that highlights the nuances of courtship and the folly of youthful desires, making it a delightful experience for both new and seasoned Austen fans.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73400491</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:03:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73400491/18468_love_and_freindship_dramatic_reading_jane_austen.mp3" length="40433717" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Love and Friendship" is a witty and satirical exploration of the complexities of love and relationships, presented through a dramatic reading of Jane Austen's early work. This story captures the essence of youthful passion and the often misguided...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Love and Friendship" is a witty and satirical exploration of the complexities of love and relationships, presented through a dramatic reading of Jane Austen's early work. This story captures the essence of youthful passion and the often misguided pursuits of affection, showcasing Austen's sharp humor and keen observations of human behavior. Its themes of romantic folly and the social dynamics of friendship remain relevant today, reminding listeners of the timeless nature of love's trials and tribulations. Dive into this engaging narrative that highlights the nuances of courtship and the folly of youthful desires, making it a delightful experience for both new and seasoned Austen fans.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5049</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lady Susan - Jane Austen</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lady-susan-jane-austen--72760111</link><description><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72760111</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:00:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72760111/lady_susan_jane_austen.mp3" length="70740679" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/8718c429-bef6-4812-9883-8ee41efb093d/8718c429-bef6-4812-9883-8ee41efb093d.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/8718c429-bef6-4812-9883-8ee41efb093d/8718c429-bef6-4812-9883-8ee41efb093d.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/8718c429-bef6-4812-9883-8ee41efb093d/8718c429-bef6-4812-9883-8ee41efb093d.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Jane Austen</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters' behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten Ferreri Sir Reginald De Courcy – Simon Taylor Lady De Courcy – Gesine Miss Vernon – Kara Shallenberg Narrator of the Conclusion – Justin Barrett Intros/outros – Robert Scott]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8843</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>austen,behavior,courcy,lady,letters,motifs,opinions,satire,susan,vernon</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c05bde47fc59392d18b50a17ec6d7662.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
