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This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the profound ways in which war shapes our perceptions of beauty and loss. Join us on a journey that intertwines lyrical reflections and historical narratives, as we encourage you to discover a new book with every episode and deepen your understanding of these intertwined themes.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7161732/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Single Author Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/10517c314b257202c8887d7c06655817.jpg</url><title>Severn and Somme</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/severn-and-somme--7161732</link></image><lastBuildDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:14:58 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Ivor Gurney</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Single Author Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker85@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/10517c314b257202c8887d7c06655817.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Immerse yourself in the poignant contrasts of beauty and devastation as we explore the themes inspired by "Severn and Somme." 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In them he contrasts the wartime desolation of the area around the River Somme in northern France with the natural beauty of the valley of the River Severn in his native Gloucestershire. - Summary by Alan Mapstone]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4683</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/10517c314b257202c8887d7c06655817.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>English Bards and Scotch Reviewers-George Gordon, Lord Byron</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/english-bards-and-scotch-reviewers-george-gordon-lord-byron--73419072</link><description><![CDATA["English Bards and Scotch Reviewers" by George Gordon, Lord Byron is a sharp and witty critique of the literary scene of his time, where Byron takes aim at both his contemporaries and the critics who scrutinize their work. This poem stands out for its boldness and humor, providing a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and artistic tensions of the early 19th century. Its themes of artistic rivalry and the quest for authenticity resonate deeply in today’s world, where creators still grapple with criticism and seek to carve out their unique voices. Byron's enduring legacy lies in his ability to blend personal reflection with social commentary, making this work a timeless exploration of the complexities of literary ambition.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73419072</guid><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 03:58:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73419072/english_bards_and_scotch_reviewers_george_gordon_lord_byron.mp3" length="39503245" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Ivor Gurney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"English Bards and Scotch Reviewers" by George Gordon, Lord Byron is a sharp and witty critique of the literary scene of his time, where Byron takes aim at both his contemporaries and the critics who scrutinize their work. This poem stands out for its...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["English Bards and Scotch Reviewers" by George Gordon, Lord Byron is a sharp and witty critique of the literary scene of his time, where Byron takes aim at both his contemporaries and the critics who scrutinize their work. This poem stands out for its boldness and humor, providing a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and artistic tensions of the early 19th century. Its themes of artistic rivalry and the quest for authenticity resonate deeply in today’s world, where creators still grapple with criticism and seek to carve out their unique voices. Byron's enduring legacy lies in his ability to blend personal reflection with social commentary, making this work a timeless exploration of the complexities of literary ambition.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4933</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/10517c314b257202c8887d7c06655817.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Severn and Somme - Ivor Gurney</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/severn-and-somme-ivor-gurney--72869508</link><description><![CDATA[The English poet Ivor Gurney wrote these poems while serving in the First World War. In them he contrasts the wartime desolation of the area around the River Somme in northern France with the natural beauty of the valley of the River Severn in his native Gloucestershire. - Summary by Alan Mapstone]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72869508</guid><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:24:54 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72869508/severn_and_somme_ivor_gurney.mp3" length="30640818" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/f5f5767a-387b-48c1-b2b0-7bc9aea453dd/f5f5767a-387b-48c1-b2b0-7bc9aea453dd.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/f5f5767a-387b-48c1-b2b0-7bc9aea453dd/f5f5767a-387b-48c1-b2b0-7bc9aea453dd.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/f5f5767a-387b-48c1-b2b0-7bc9aea453dd/f5f5767a-387b-48c1-b2b0-7bc9aea453dd.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Ivor Gurney</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The English poet Ivor Gurney wrote these poems while serving in the First World War. In them he contrasts the wartime desolation of the area around the River Somme in northern France with the natural beauty of the valley of the River Severn in his...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The English poet Ivor Gurney wrote these poems while serving in the First World War. In them he contrasts the wartime desolation of the area around the River Somme in northern France with the natural beauty of the valley of the River Severn in his native Gloucestershire. - Summary by Alan Mapstone]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3831</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>contrasts,desolation,gloucestershire,gurney,ivor,river,severn,single,somme,wartime</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/10517c314b257202c8887d7c06655817.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
