Episodes

  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 13 Part 2

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 13 Part 2
    Mar 9 2026
    In which the narrator reflects on the failure of conventional morality to restrain passionate love between himself and Isabel, capturing the profound complications and intense yearnings that accompany their secret liaison amid societal constraints. Meanwhile, political ambitions and personal strife intertwine as the narrator navigates the turbulent waters of public life and private desire, revealing the intricate tensions of love, honour, and duty.
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    29 mins
  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 14 Part 1

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 14 Part 1
    Mar 9 2026
    In which the narrator and Isabel grapple with the tender complexities of their relationship amid rising political success and mounting social scandal, revealing a profound yearning for intimacy and the burdens of public scrutiny. They find themselves caught between the desire for a shared domestic life and the demands of ambition, as rumours and opposition conspire to force a painful reckoning.
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    34 mins
  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 13 Part 1

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 13 Part 1
    Mar 8 2026
    In which the narrator reflects with candid introspection on the gradual and complex development of a profound intellectual and emotional bond with Isabel, characterised by a mingling of admiration, friendship, and an eventual awakening of passionate love. We accompany them through their vibrant exchanges and mutual aspirations, set against the subtleties of early twentieth-century societal constraints and the vexed question of personal desire versus public decorum.
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    36 mins
  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 12

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 12
    Mar 8 2026
    In which the narrator reflects candidly on the intricate entanglements of sex, marriage, and the evolving role of women within the social and political spheres of contemporary England, recognising an urgent need to reconsider the foundations of family and parenthood in modern statecraft. He reveals how these intimate and often forbidden questions intertwine with his political ambitions, leading him to advocate boldly for the public endowment of motherhood as essential to the future vitality of the nation.
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    37 mins
  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 11

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 11
    Mar 7 2026
    In which a gentleman, stirred by a vision of intellectual and political renewal, decides to cross the floor of the House of Commons, precipitating a poignant estrangement with his devoted wife and setting in motion a new phase of journalistic endeavour. Amidst the bustling life of London and the vivid panorama of the Thames, he cultivates a movement devoted to refined thought and cultivated public discourse, laying foundations for a fresh engagement with social and political ideas.
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    36 mins
  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 10 Part 2

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 10 Part 2
    Mar 7 2026
    In which the narrator reflects on the muddled state of British imperial policy, the nature of the aristocracy, and the conflicted moods of a man wrestling with political ideals amid social realities. We see conversations and observations revealing the complexities of power, conscience, and vision within the upper echelons of English society and the probing of uneasy personal and political tensions.
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    39 mins
  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 10 Part 1

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 10 Part 1
    Mar 6 2026
    In which a thoughtful mind wrestles with the limitations of party Liberalism and the prospects of an aristocracy defined not by privilege but by understanding and purposeful culture, seeking to engage with influential figures to foster education and intellectual distinction for human progress. Amidst lively discussions and stirring debates within a diverse circle of men concerned for the Empire’s welfare, ideas of national training, the role of aristocracy, and the imperative for a renewed, creative leadership emerge with a quiet urgency against the backdrop of looming international and imperial uncertainties.
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    47 mins
  • The New Machiavelli Chapter 9 Part 2

    The New Machiavelli Chapter 9 Part 2
    Mar 6 2026
    In which the subtle complexity of political parties and the human contradictions within them are carefully examined, as the narrator reflects on his encounters with Socialists and Liberals and perceives the enduring march of ideas beyond party factions. Amid social gatherings and thoughtful musings, he comes to see that true progress depends not on partisan strife but on fostering love, fine thinking, and the emancipation of a deeper collective intellect that underlies the turmoil of public life.
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    52 mins