https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-hilaire-belloc-library--7287026enSocial SciencesPublic domainhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/f8ab5fa08b8fd6a395312ad0abc12979.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-hilaire-belloc-library--7287026Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:31:36 +0000Hilaire BellocGood Old Classicsfeeds@spreaker.comCome away from the noise of the present, and walk the old roads once more. The Hilaire Belloc Library presents the complete works of Hilaire Belloc, read aloud in full and unabridged. From stirring histories and spirited essays to travel, poetry, and...false7e858e11-732d-5f72-808d-1fcbfdb793eeserialhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-introduction--74623711https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623711Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:40:12 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the Catholic conscience of history is presented not as a mere viewpoint but as an intimate identity with Europe’s story, allowing the Catholic to perceive the continent’s past from within rather than from without. This perspective reveals the...853false11fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-introduction-cont--74623713https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623713Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:40:16 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the struggle of Europe against forces that threaten its ancient Christian tradition is vividly brought to light through the example of the Prussian challenge and the martyrdom of St. Thomas à Becket, revealing the deeper conflict between...880false12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-introduction-concluded--74623717https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623717Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the Catholic perspective reveals a profound understanding of European history as a coherent and living tradition shaped and sustained by the Faith, illuminating events and movements often misunderstood or misrepresented by secular or...660false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-1--74623722https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623722Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the Roman Empire is portrayed not merely as an ancient political entity but as the unique and enduring source from which the whole of European civilisation and its Catholic faith unmistakably arise and are inseparably intertwined. It is...835false14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-1-cont--74623724https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623724Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we observe the Roman Empire not as a mere collection of separate nations but as a singular, all-encompassing civilisation, united by shared customs, laws, and a sense of civic belonging that transcended local differences. This episode deftly...836false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-1-concluded--74623780https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623780Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the ancient world of sovereign city-states, each a small kingdom of its own with distinct customs, language, and gods, gives way to broader unities through the conquests of Alexander and the rise of Rome, weaving together diverse peoples...503false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-2-cont-1--74623785https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623785Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we observe the daily life and social concerns of a Roman Senator amidst a pagan society that is becoming increasingly aware of the Catholic Church, a distinctive and growing community with firm doctrines and organisation contrasted against a...837false18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-2--74623783https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623783Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we explore the character and social position of the Catholic Church in the Roman Empire during the late second and third centuries, as seen through the eyes of a provincial senator in a city like Lyons. This Church appears as a distinct and...906false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-2-cont-2--74623790https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623790Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the nature and unity of the early Catholic Church are carefully examined, revealing a disciplined society rooted in clear doctrine and tradition rather than mere personal belief or vague theory. Through historical evidence and contemporary...861false19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-2-concluded--74623792https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623792Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we consider the early third century as the first moment where the Catholic Church appears in full historical clarity, revealing a unified, disciplined institution whose foundational doctrines and rituals had long been established and widely...855false110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-3--74623794https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623794Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the complex transition from the Roman Empire’s unity to the so-called Dark Ages is examined, revealing a unique preservation and eventual revival of European civilisation through the sustaining influence of the Catholic Church. The author...814false111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-3-cont-1--74623797https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623797Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the enduring myth of a barbarian conquest dismantling the Roman Empire is carefully examined and found to be a misleading simplification, replaced instead by a nuanced understanding of internal decline and transformation within Roman...896false112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-3-concluded--74623803https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623803Sun, 30 Aug 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the author examines the true character of the late Roman Empire’s military upheavals, focusing on Alaric not as a foreign barbarian conqueror but as a Roman officer caught in the internal struggles and changing loyalties of his time. This...548false114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-3-cont-2--74623801https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623801Sun, 30 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the gradual transformation of the Roman Army is observed, from a proud civic institution of Roman citizens to a professional force largely composed of barbarian recruits, whose loyalty to the Empire itself remained steadfast despite their...865false113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-4--74623807https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623807Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the unity of European civilisation, shaped and preserved by the Catholic Church, endures through the emergence of distinct national identities after the Roman Empire’s transformation into Christian civilisation. The narrative gently dispels...851false115fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-4-cont-1--74623811https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623811Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a traveller in sixth-century Spain encounters the remnants of Roman governance preserved in the offices and ceremonies of provincial power, where Latin continues to be the language of officialdom and authority rests in the figure of a Rex...874false116fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-4-cont-2--74623813https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623813Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the gradual transformation of Roman imperial authority into localized rule by various Rexes is unveiled, revealing a mosaic of mixed races and enduring Roman administrative traditions rather than distinct national entities. The narrative...810false117fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-4-concluded--74623814https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623814Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the triumph of the Catholic Church as the unifying force across Europe during the collapse of Roman administration is examined, highlighting the struggle against the lingering influence of Arianism and the rise of new barbaric powers aligned...676false118fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-5-cont-1--74623823https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623823Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we examine the murky and scant historical records of Britain’s early post-Roman centuries, chiefly filtered through the moralistic and imperfect account of St. Gildas, who paints a picture of barbarian auxiliaries invited into the island and...860false120fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-5--74623818https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623818Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the enduring transformation of the Roman Empire into a Christian civilisation is observed, with particular attention to the crucial yet obscure fate of Britain during the early Dark Ages and the common misconceptions that have clouded its...826false119fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-5-cont-2--74623825https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623825Thu, 03 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which an examination of early British history is undertaken through the sparse but valuable accounts of St. Gildas and the Venerable Bede, revealing the intrusion and settlement of pagan pirates along the coasts and their gradual establishment of...838false121fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-5-cont-3--74623831https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623831Thu, 03 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the disintegration of Roman order in Britain is observed through direct and indirect evidence, revealing a century and a half of fragmentation marked by the interruption of communication and the rise of small pagan and Christian petty...860false122fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-5-cont-4--74623834https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623834Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the fragmented and tumultuous landscape of early Britain reveals a patchwork of petty chieftains engaged in incessant skirmishes without coherent national or racial boundaries, showing no true “Anglo-Saxon conquest” nor organised...885false123fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-5-cont-5--74623836https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623836Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the enduring presence of Roman towns throughout Britain is carefully examined, revealing a surprising continuity of settlement and institutions despite the decay of central Roman authority. The text further contemplates the complexities of...902false124fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-5-concluded--74623841https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623841Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we observe the remarkable revival of Christian civilisation in post-Roman Britain, effected not by indigenous Celtic tongues but by the half-German dialects of Eastern pirate courts, restored through the firm hand of the Roman Church and its...437false125fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-6--74623844https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623844Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the period following the fall of the Roman Empire is revealed as a time of essential transformation, marked not by the collapse of civilisation but by a retreat into fundamental arts and a spirited defence of Christendom against relentless...788false126fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-6-cont--74623846https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623846Sun, 06 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the valiant efforts of Charlemagne and Alfred, among others, secure the survival of Christendom against barbarian invasions, thus setting the stage for a Europe resilient yet beset by continual strife along its frontiers. The epoch is marked...655false127fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-6-concluded--74623851https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623851Sun, 06 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the author observes the Dark Ages as a time marked by remarkable stability in material culture, social customs, and the enduring influence of the Catholic Church, resulting in a slow but vital development of new elements within a largely...596false128fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-7--74623852https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623852Mon, 07 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the tumultuous centuries following Rome's decline are revealed not as mere darkness, but as a crucible wherein the Normans, St. Gregory VII, and the Crusades rekindled Europe's vigour amidst external threats and inner renewal. The birth of...772false129fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-7-concluded--74623856https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623856Mon, 07 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the enduring influence of St. Gregory VII is traced through the triumphs and transformations of medieval Europe, from the rise of Gothic architecture and universities to the flowering and eventual decay of the thirteenth-century civilisation....856false130fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-8--74623861https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623861Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the nature and origins of the Reformation are explored as a profound spiritual upheaval that fractured the unity of medieval Christendom, revealing a society wearied and decayed in its institutions and failing to satisfy the hunger of its...895false131fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-8-concluded--74623863https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623863Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the fifteenth century’s burgeoning religious discontent and the rapid advancement of technical knowledge birthed a widespread European impulse for profound spiritual and social change, yet one still unified by a vision of a singular...1087false132fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-9--74623866https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623866Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the enduring fracture wrought by the Reformation is examined through the singular defection of Britain from the Faith that had long underpinned the unity and vitality of European civilisation. This episode reflects upon the unique historical...669false133fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-9-cont-1--74623869https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623869Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the unraveling of European unity is traced to both external barbarian revolts and internal betrayals by wealthy interests who sought to profit from the weakening of established moral order, while the Iberian Peninsula’s resistance limited its...658false134fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-9-cont-2--74623872https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623872Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the intricate interplay of rising wealth, religious upheaval, and the idolatry of princely power is observed as casting a long shadow over the England of Henry VIII’s time. We witness how the accumulation of land and law in the hands of a...647false135fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-9-concluded--74623878https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623878Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the gradual estrangement of England from the Catholic Faith is portrayed as a momentous upheaval set against a backdrop of economic ambition, national upheaval, and the fading of ancient traditions. The narrative reflects on the enduring...534false136fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-10--74623880https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623880Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the profound and long-lasting effects of the Reformation are observed as a gradual but decisive disruption of European unity, producing an isolation of the soul that reshaped the continent's spiritual and temporal landscape over centuries....710false137fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/europe-and-the-faith-chapter-10-concluded--74623883https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623883Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the profound upheaval in European society is traced to the severing of the soul’s anchorage in the Catholic Faith, producing a new age dominated by isolated inquiry, unfounded authority, and the rise of Capitalism, all of which destabilise...686false138fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-i-the-political-theory-of-the-revolution-part-1--74623898https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623898Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we explore the enduring and universal political theory underpinning the Revolution, asserting that true sovereignty resides not in rulers but in the community’s collective moral will, which must align with a higher authority of conscience or...876false22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-preface--74623895https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623895Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the author sets forth his purpose and method in recounting the momentous events of the French Revolution, offering reflections on the nature of history and the character of the age. This preface gently prepares the reader for a study that...399false21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-i-the-political-theory-of-the-revolution-part-2--74623903https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623903Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the transcendent doctrine of the equality of man is carefully examined, revealing its profound influence on the fervent spirit of the French Revolution and the shaping of modern society. Alongside this, the chapter explores the historical and...946false23fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-ii-rousseau--74623906https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623906Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we explore the profound impact of Rousseau’s style and ideas, particularly through his concise and lucid *Contrat Social*, upon the intellectual foment that preceded the Revolution. This passage reveals how Rousseau’s work, despite its...828false24fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iii-the-characters-of-the-revolution-king-louis-xvi--74623909https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623909Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the character of King Louis XVI is carefully examined with an understanding that he was a man of slow thought, deep personal convictions, and sincere religious faith, yet profoundly inept in matters of military command and social perception....788false25fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iii-the-characters-of-the-revolution-the-queen--74623912https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623912Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the portrait of Marie Antoinette is drawn with a delicate attention to the vast gulf that lay between her own steadfast energy and the intricate spirit of the French nation; a character marked by a profound misunderstanding of her people's...877false26fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iii-the-characters-of-the-revolution-la-fayette-dumouriez-danton--74623921https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623921Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we observe three vivid portraits of men who shaped, and were shaped by, the tempestuous dawn of the French Revolution: La Fayette, the aloof and principled noble whose youth in America coloured his ideals; Dumouriez, the capable soldier whose...1064false28fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iii-the-characters-of-the-revolution-mirabeau--74623915https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623915Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the complex figure of Mirabeau is explored as an artist of oratory and intellect, whose passionate temperament and noble birth both constrained and propelled his unique influence during the early Revolution. Though profoundly detached from...827false27fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iii-the-characters-of-the-revolution-carnot-marat-robespierre--74623926https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623926Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we observe the stern and resolute Carnot, a seasoned soldier and earnest reformer who harnessed the revolutionary spirit and the fresh vigour of conscripted armies to reshape the art of war, while steadfastly upholding his democratic...1144false29fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-i--74623930https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623930Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the unfolding dispute between the Crown and the Parliament is revealed as a struggle not merely of privilege versus equality, but of legality versus illegality, framed within the long-established autocratic order of France. The Commons'...663false210fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-ii--74623935https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623935Thu, 17 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the early fervour of the Revolution blossoms into sweeping declarations and sudden noble concessions, whilst the uneasy Crown hesitates and summons troops, provoking suspicion and unrest. The royal family’s compelled move from Versailles to...426false212fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-i--74623932https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623932Thu, 17 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the National Assembly asserts its authority against royal commands, marking a profound shift in France’s constitutional order and revealing the deep divisions within the armed forces and municipalities. The narrative then gracefully depicts...872false211fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-iii--74623939https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623939Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the nation is reshaped by the efforts of the National Assembly, while the King and Queen wrestle with growing unease and cautious schemes of flight amid the swelling tide of revolutionary fervour and emigration. Amidst the complexities of...655false213fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-iv-part-1--74623941https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623941Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the solemn and ancient monarchy of France, shaken by a reckless attempt to flee and the consequent loss of trust, finds itself caught in the gathering storm between old loyalties and revolutionary ideals. Observing the fervent debates of the...558false214fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-v--74623948https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623948Sat, 19 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the early months following the uprising against the monarchy see Paris gripped by fervent revolutionary zeal and internecine strife, notably marked by the grim and deliberate September massacres, and the nascent Republic boldly confronts its...809false216fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-iv-part-2--74623946https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623946Sat, 19 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the French army stands frail and divided against the looming advance of foreign monarchs, their scattered forces ill-prepared and beset by internal strife that mirrors the turbulence in the heart of Paris. The fervour of patriotism swells...561false215fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-vi-part-1--74623951https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623951Sun, 20 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the fledgling Committee of Public Safety begins to consolidate its precarious hold over a nation beset by external enemies and internal insurrections, revealing the tension between local autonomy and central authority amid the throes of war....638false217fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-vi-part-2--74623955https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623955Sun, 20 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the figure of Robespierre emerges as the singular, steadfast voice of revolutionary conviction amidst the turbulent theatre of war and insurrection that threatened the new French Republic. His unyielding faith and public prominence contrast...659false218fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-iv-the-phases-of-the-revolution-vi-part-3--74623959https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623959Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the final throes of revolutionary fervour see the Committee of Public Safety wielding power with ruthless determination, orchestrating the downfall of prominent figures and enforcing extreme measures in the name of security and virtue. The...509false219fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution--74623963https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623963Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the intricate military successes of the French Revolution are examined, revealing how its armies alone ensured the spread and firm establishment of revolutionary principles across Europe. It is shown that despite eventual military...634false220fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-2--74623974https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623974Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the nature of European warfare before the French Revolution is carefully examined, revealing a world of dynastic disputes conducted within strict boundaries and by armies of poor men compelled into service. The narrative contrasts these...646false222fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-1--74623970https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623970Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the narrative turns to the military affairs of the Revolution, pondering the curious interplay of reason, chance, and fervour that led to its success upon the battlefield. It reminds us that victories in war are seldom inevitable, and that...781false221fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-4--74623986https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623986Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the reader is taken to the somber plains and dense woods of the Argonne, where a weary French force under Dumouriez and Kellermann endeavours to hold a strategic line threaded through three narrow passes, resisting the advancing Allied armies...644false224fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-3--74623980https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623980Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the unfolding Revolution in France is shown to be as much a civil war as a political upheaval, with a populace quick to organise and accustomed to the presence of arms, creating a distinctly military nation even before the onset of foreign...712false223fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-6--74623991https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623991Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the ambitious campaign of Dumouriez to invade the Austrian Netherlands unfolds with initial triumph, only to be undermined by the fractured nature of the French army and the complex political sentiments of the occupied territories. The...665false226fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-5--74623989https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623989Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the French and Allied armies engage in a peculiar and indecisive cannonade near the windmill of Valmy, marked by halted Prussian advances and the confusion of battle. This unexpected resistance infuses new morale into the French troops and,...597false225fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-8--74623997https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623997Fri, 25 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the fortunes of war on the northern frontier of France unfold with sieges and strategic movements amid internal rebellions and rising threats to the Republic, while the arrival of a brilliant military organiser promises new tactics and hope....590false228fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-7--74623995https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74623995Fri, 25 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the grim shadow of the guillotine reigns over the French armies during a critical year of the Revolution’s military trials, revealing a desperate but unyielding defence against seemingly overwhelming foes. The intricate sieges and steadfast...633false227fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-9--74624002https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624002Sat, 26 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the French Revolutionary armies, despite their raw and undisciplined nature, gradually resist and repel the well-trained Austrians and their allies through persistent, if hesitant, efforts and the strategic genius of the Committee of Public...638false229fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-v-the-military-aspect-of-the-revolution-part-10--74624005https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624005Sat, 26 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the French and Allied armies engage in a series of intricate manoeuvres and battles along the Belgian frontier, revealing the crucial importance of coordination and rapid movement in the outcome of warfare. The narrative gently unfolds the...442false230fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-vi-the-revolution-and-the-catholic-church-part-1--74624011https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624011Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the complex relationship between the French Revolution and the Catholic Church is explored, emphasising the enduring spiritual and political conflicts rooted in centuries of religious upheaval and reform. The narrative surveys the evolving...626false232fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-vi-the-revolution-and-the-catholic-church--74624010https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624010Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the profound and enduring conflict between the French Revolution and the Catholic Church is examined not through petty details but from the broadest and most general perspective, revealing that no inherent doctrinal opposition necessitated...671false231fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-vi-the-revolution-and-the-catholic-church-part-2--74624012https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624012Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:30:06 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the sombre condition of religious belief in pre-Revolutionary France is quietly unveiled, revealing a faith long faded from the hearts of the masses and entwined in the political and financial fabric of the ancien régime. Amidst the waning...639false233fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-vi-the-revolution-and-the-catholic-church-part-3--74624017https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624017Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:30:06 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the complex and momentous attempt by the French Revolutionaries to reform the Catholic Church’s structure and ties to the State is meticulously examined, revealing a profound misjudgment of the Church’s enduring vitality beneath its apparent...664false234fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-vi-the-revolution-and-the-catholic-church-part-4--74624020https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624020Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the complex and fateful conflict between the Catholic Church and the revolutionary government takes shape around the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, a measure that attempted to impose civil control over ecclesiastical authority and thus...738false235fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-french-revolution-chapter-vi-the-revolution-and-the-catholic-church-part-5--74624025https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624025Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the year 1791 introduces the growing alienation and conflict between the revolutionary government and the non-juring clergy, marked by legislative decrees, royal vetoes, and mounting public suspicion that intertwines religion with rebellion....784false236fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-1--74624036https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624036Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a thoughtful examination is begun into the nature of modern industrial society, exploring how the stability of property and labour relations may slip toward enforced servitude, and defining the key concepts of wealth, property, and social...890false31fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-2--74624038https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624038Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the nature and necessity of wealth are thoughtfully examined, revealing its creation through the combination of land, labour, and capital, and the pivotal role property plays in the organisation of society and the relations between free...980false32fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-3--74624042https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624042Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the nature of the Servile State is carefully examined through distinctions of enforced labour contracts and their impact on individual freedom, demonstrating how a substantial class bound by compulsory work stamps a society with the character...914false33fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-4--74624044https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624044Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the ancient world’s acceptance of slavery as a natural and necessary condition is laid bare, revealing a society divided between free citizens and compelled labourers, with no moral outrage raised against the institution itself. We then see...959false34fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-5--74624047https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624047Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the transformation from the ancient servile system to a society of free peasants and cooperative guilds is gently traced, revealing a medieval state founded upon widespread ownership and regulated liberty. The narrative observes how this...929false35fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-6--74624049https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624049Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the gradual and peaceful distribution of land in early sixteenth-century England was abruptly disrupted by the Crown’s seizure of monastic estates, a momentous upheaval that transferred vast agricultural wealth into the hands of a few...901false36fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-7--74624054https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624054Sat, 03 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we observe the gradual decline of the English Crown’s power and the rise of a dominant capitalist oligarchy, as vast estates and wealth concentrate into the hands of a small class, thus dispossessing much of the population and laying the...973false37fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-8--74624057https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624057Sat, 03 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the gradual triumph of economic oligarchy and the erosion of common rights have fashioned a society wherein property and freedom are unequally distributed, creating a Capitalist State marked by acute moral and social instability. It is...905false38fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-9--74624059https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624059Sun, 04 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the inherent instability of Capitalism is gently examined, revealing how the system’s struggles with freedom and ownership naturally steer society toward new arrangements—be they slavery, socialism, or widespread property distribution. The...959false39fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-10--74624066https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624066Sun, 04 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the remedies proposed for the ills of Capitalism are carefully weighed between restoring widespread private ownership and entrusting the means of production to the State, each presenting distinct challenges and appeals rooted in history and...936false310fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-12--74624072https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624072Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we find that both the thoughtful Socialist and the earnest Practical Man, though differing in aims and awareness, are driving society towards a new order that tidily regulates the lives of the many without truly unsettling the privilege of...969false312fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-11--74624069https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624069Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the gradual transformation of modern Capitalist England under social reformers, both impassioned and pragmatic, is observed not to lead straightforwardly to Collectivism but rather toward an unexpected Servile State, where security is...966false311fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-13--74624075https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624075Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the shifting attitudes of English wage-earners towards property and freedom are observed, revealing their growing acceptance of security and sufficiency over uncertain liberty, even at the cost of personal freedom and status. It is further...863false313fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-14--74624078https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624078Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:30:05 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the intricate dance between capital accumulation, State intervention, and the inexorable law of diminishing returns is laid bare, demonstrating that the State’s attempts at expropriation by financial stratagems are limited by the immutable...913false314fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-16--74624088https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624088Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the nascent legal establishment of a minimum wage within a particular trade serves as a telling example of the broader shift from free contract to a society divided into defined economic classes, where security for labour is guaranteed but at...918false316fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-15--74624082https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624082Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we observe the gradual emergence of servile legislation distinguished not by mere protective statutes but by the establishment of legal inequalities between employers and employees, marking a shift from contract to status within the State....846false315fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-18--74624096https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624096Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the steadfast spirit of free societies like Ireland and France sets a hopeful example against the encroaching tendencies of the Servile State, suggesting that such dark regressions may yet be checked and even reversed. Thus, the enduring...320false318fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-servile-state-section-17--74624092https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624092Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the gradual imposition of compulsory labour and servitude emerges as an inevitable consequence of social reforms aimed at securing minimum wages and stability in production, revealing the subtle encroachments upon freedom in industrial...947false317fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-dedication--74624109https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624109Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a playful and ponderous dedication unfolds, comparing the peculiar virtues and curiosities of an overcoat to those of an elephant, blending whimsy with a gentle touch of philosophical reflection. The author muses on words and intentions with...326false41fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-1-in-which-the-green-overcoat-takes-a-journey--74624112https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624112Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a timid and weary professor, burdened by his scholarly preoccupations, finds himself ensnared by a most unexpected and luxurious garment on a stormy night, leading him unwittingly into a curious and rather alarming predicament. The tale...1335false42fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-2-in-which-a-philosopher-wrestles-with-a-problem-of-identity--74624117https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624117Sat, 10 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a learned gentleman finds himself in a perplexing and increasingly dire predicament involving mistaken identity, enforced promises, and the vexing formalities of financial instruments. As his captors press for a cheque signed in another’s...1243false43fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-3-in-which-the-green-overcoat-appears-as-a-point-of-religion-by-not-being-there--74624121https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624121Sat, 10 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which we find Mr. John Brassington, a man of strong principle and private eccentricities, grappling with the troubling disappearance of his treasured Green Overcoat, a symbol of his peculiar faith and luck. Amidst the company of friends and the...1594false44fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-4-in-which-it-is-seen-that-university-training-fits-one-for-a-business-career--74624124https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624124Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a learned gentleman, bound and confined by bonds both physical and financial, employs wit and desperate ingenuity to strive for freedom within a grim and narrow chamber. In the fraught light of dawn, he balances dignity and defiance while...1162false45fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-5-in-which-solitude-is-unable-to-discover-the-charms-which-sages-have-seen-in-her-face--74624127https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624127Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a beleaguered philosopher finds himself confined in a high-roofed chamber, endeavours to escape by the means at hand, and after many trials is unexpectedly set free. He then sets forth into the dawning day with a heavy burden upon his arm,...1615false46fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-6-in-which-professor-higginson-begins-to-taste-the-sweets-of-fame--74624132https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624132Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which Professor Higginson returns to Ormeston to discover himself the subject of widespread talk and concern, as his curious lapse of memory becomes a matter both of local gossip and academic inquiry. Meanwhile, a new figure of influence arrives at...2329false47fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-7-in-which-professor-higginson-goes-on-tasting-them--74624135https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624135Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:30:04 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which Professor Higginson, newly entangled in local notoriety for his uncanny psychic experiences, encounters skepticism and curious inquiry from his colleague George Babcock and a solemn parson, while the wider world begins to whisper of strange...1803false48fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-8-in-which-professor-higginson-gets-those-sweets-by-the-wagon-load-and-also-hears-how-men-are-made--74624138https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624138Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which Professor Higginson confronts the overwhelming flood of correspondence following his unexpected notoriety, and enlists the pragmatic aid of his friend Babcock to manage the deluge with decisive efficiency. It is through this process that he...1262false49fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-9-in-which-the-green-overcoat-begins-to-assert-itself--74624142https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624142Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which the Green Overcoat, having been separated from its owner, takes on a curious journey through the hands of less scrupulous folk, revealing much about the shadowed corners of city life where honour and desperation entwine. The tale follows a...840false410fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-10-in-which-a-descendant-of-the-crusaders-refuses-to-harbour-stolen-goods--74624143https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624143Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which an elderly man of proud lineage encounters stern visitors from the local constabulary, confronting the weighty duties that fall upon those who unwittingly harbour ill-gotten treasures. With cautious resolve, he relinquishes a certain cursed...1471false411fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-11-in-which-a-pole-is-less-scrupulous--74624146https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624146Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which a certain James, a scrupulous member of the New Bureaucracy, attempts to sell a mysterious green overcoat to a Pole named Lipsky, whose uneasy demeanour and secret police ties cast a shadow over the transaction. The weight of the coat seems...921false412fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-12-in-which-the-readerkin-will-if-he-has-an-ounce-of-brains-begin-to-catch--74624149https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624149Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which Mr. Kirby, a solicitor of leisurely habits and secret amusement, is drawn into the perplexities surrounding the dilapidated Greystones house and the vexed affairs of its irate owner, Mr. Postlethwaite, whose grievances hint at a larger...2008false413fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-green-overcoat-chapter-13-in-which-the-subliminal-consciousness-gives-itself-away--74624151https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74624151Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:30:03 +0000Hilaire BellocIn which Professor Higginson, wearied and bewildered by the curious vicissitudes of his recent experiences, embarks upon a furtive quest to reclaim a lost scrap of paper that may unlock the mysteries of a strange house connected to his subliminal...1488false414full