Episodes

  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXXI-XXXIII

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXXI-XXXIII
    Jul 1 2026
    In which the company ventures to the ancient Pyramids, contemplating their majestic structure and the human desires they represent, while confronting the superstitions inspired by their gloomy recesses. Upon their return, an unexpected misfortune befalls the Princess’s favourite, casting a shadow of grief and urgency upon the travellers' camp.
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    12 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXIX, XXX

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXIX, XXX
    Jun 28 2026
    In which the discourse on marriage unfolds with contemplations on the virtues and vices of early and late unions, exploring the interplay of reason, passion, and the inevitable compromises of human life. The arrival of Imlac redirects attention from domestic concerns to the grandeur of history and the enduring lessons wrought by the arts and labours of antiquity, prompting a resolve to visit the majestic Egyptian Pyramids.
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    17 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXVII, XXVIII

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXVII, XXVIII
    Jun 25 2026
    In which the Prince and his sister Nekayah discourse on the vexations and responsibilities inherent in greatness, observing that power seldom shelters its possessors from disquiet or injustice, and that true happiness may be more readily found in humble privacy than in lofty dominion. Their conversation then turns to the institution of marriage, debating its propensity for both companionship and misery, and recognising the complexity of human experience which defies simple judgement or contentment.
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    14 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXIII-XXVI

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXIII-XXVI
    Jun 22 2026
    In which the young Prince and his sister divide their quest for happiness between the splendour of courts and the quietude of private life, each uncovering complexities rather than comfort in their respective domains. They find that power breeds suspicion and strife, and that domestic affection is fraught with discord, suggesting no easy path to contentment in high station or humble abodes.
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    19 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXI, XXII

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXI, XXII
    Jun 19 2026
    In which the Prince and his companions seek the hermit whose solitude and wisdom promise a refuge from the world's turmoils, only to discover the perplexities and doubts that solitude itself can breed. In the city, amidst learned disputations, they consider the philosopher's counsel that happiness lies in living according to Nature's universal laws, a maxim both simple and elusive in its application.
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    15 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XVII-XX

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XVII-XX
    Jun 16 2026
    In which the Prince experiments with the company of youth devoted to pleasure, only to find their mirth shallow and their conduct unworthy of reason, before encountering a sage whose wisdom on the governance of passions impresses yet is shadowed by personal sorrow. He next seeks solace amidst pastoral simplicity and prosperous hospitality, discovering that beneath appearances of happiness often lie discontent and peril.
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    19 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XIII-XVI

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XIII-XVI
    Jun 13 2026
    In which the Prince, assisted by the prudent Imlac, devises and executes a secret plan of escape from the Happy Valley, before venturing into the wider world accompanied by his sister, where they begin to encounter the varied complexities of human society. They arrive at Cairo, a bustling centre of commerce and diversity, where the Prince, newly acquainted with the ways of the world, contemplates the nature of happiness amidst the apparent gaiety and kindness of its inhabitants.
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    23 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters X-XII

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters X-XII
    Jun 10 2026
    In which the learned Imlac expounds at length on the nature and dignity of poetry, asserting that true poets must study both the vastness of nature and the diversity of human life with impartial and universal eyes. He then recounts his extensive travels through many countries and climates, reflecting with some melancholy upon the hardships and disappointments he encountered upon returning home and the weary resignation of those confined within the Happy Valley.
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    30 mins