Episodes

  • A Tale of a Tub Section 7

    A Tale of a Tub Section 7
    Apr 19 2026
    In which the author indulges in a learned discourse on the merits and fashions of digressions, likening them to the artful concoctions of a refined cuisine and the bustling multiplicity of modern learning. He surveys the landscape of contemporary scholarship with a wry eye, noting how the accumulation and indexing of knowledge serve both as a convenience and a symptom of an era pressed for original matter.
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    11 mins
  • A Tale of a Tub Section 6

    A Tale of a Tub Section 6
    Apr 17 2026
    In which the two brothers, cast out into the world and forsaken by fortune, resolve to restore their lives and garments according to the precise dictates of their father’s will, each adopting a very different temper and method in this great reformation. Their disparate enterprises and passions soon lead to a rupture between them, setting the stage for singular adventures amid the fashion of coats and the follies of zeal.
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    15 mins
  • A Tale of a Tub Section 5

    A Tale of a Tub Section 5
    Apr 15 2026
    In which a learned modern author embarks on a witty and intricate dissection of the human condition, professing to combine instruction and amusement for the public good, whilst playfully critiquing the errors and omissions of past sages with a lively mixture of satirical erudition. He unveils a curious, alchemical recipe for distilling all knowledge into a potent essence and reflects, with gentle humour, on the vexations of literary prefaces and the fickle customs of contemporary readers.
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    13 mins
  • A Tale of a Tub Section 4

    A Tale of a Tub Section 4
    Apr 13 2026
    In which we observe the great metamorphosis of Lord Peter, who, upon securing his own estate, embarks on a series of whimsical and extravagant ventures, inventing odd contrivances and establishing curious institutions that win both notoriety and wealth. Yet, as pride inflates him to madness and knavery, his extravagant pretensions and tyrannical demeanour alienate his brothers, culminating in a grievous family estrangement that darkens their common inheritance.
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    23 mins
  • A Tale of a Tub Section 3

    A Tale of a Tub Section 3
    Apr 11 2026
    In which the noble art of criticism is explored with delicate irony, tracing its ancient and heroic origins through allegory and myth, while casting a shrewd eye on the critic’s perpetual quest to uncover faults amidst the literary harvest. With a tone both reverent and satirical, the discourse sets forth the critic’s nature, office, and enduring character, preparing the way for the tale’s further progress.
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    19 mins
  • A Tale of a Tub Section 2

    A Tale of a Tub Section 2
    Apr 9 2026
    In which three young brothers inherit plain yet extraordinary coats from their late father, destined to grow with them and to be worn strictly according to his precise will, as they embark on their adventures amidst the capricious fashions and fancies of society. In an age where attire is both law and language, these gentlemen grapple with ever-changing modes and casuistries to maintain their father's injunctions while courting high society, their fortunes and follies entwined with ribbons, lace, and the subtle art of interpretation.
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    23 mins
  • A Tale of a Tub Section 1

    A Tale of a Tub Section 1
    Apr 7 2026
    In which the labourious art of raising one’s voice above the multitude is dissected through the allegory of three oratorical machines—the pulpit, the ladder, and the itinerant stage—each symbolising distinct modes and merits of public discourse. This prelude further ventures into the delicate rivalry among literary societies, the veiled wisdom of fables, and the author's ambitious programme to unveil the profound knowledge hidden beneath popular tales and writings.
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    24 mins
  • A Tale of a Tub Introduction and Preface

    A Tale of a Tub Introduction and Preface
    Apr 5 2026
    In which a bookseller assumes the noble office of dedicating a certain treatise to a distinguished lord, comically meditating on the nature of praise and the commonplaces of dedications, while also lamenting the precarious fate of contemporary authors and the swift oblivion their works often suffer. The preface further expounds upon the proliferating wit of the age, the subtle art of satire, and the delicate balance between enduring fame and fleeting fashion, setting the stage for the ensuing labyrinth of learning and humour.
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    41 mins