Literative

Today we're celebrating Halloween and John Keats' birthday with a poem about a famous femme fatale: La Belle Dame sans Merci (the beautiful lady without pity). Readers beware!Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Bush, Douglas, ed. Selected Poems and Letters. Riverside Edition, Houghton Mifflin. 1959.Cowper, Francis Cadogan. “La Belle Dam Sans Merci.” 1926.Painting. https://www.artrenewal.org/artworks/la-belle-dam-sans-merci/frank-cadogan-cowper/4674Dicksee, Frank Bernard. “La Belle Dame sans Merci.” 1901. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55839908Hughes, Arthur. “La Belle Dame sans Merci.” 1863. Painting. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3105116Keats, John. “La Belle Dame sans Merci.” 1819. Poem. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44475/la-belle-dame-sans-merci-a-balladSpenser, Edmund. The Faerie Queene. Ed. George Armstrong Wauchope. McMillan. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/15272/15272-h/15272-h.htm Waterhouse, John William. “La Belle Dame sans Merci.” 1893. Painting. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_William_Waterhouse_-_La_Belle_Dame_sans_Merci_(1893).jpgImage:"File:John William Waterhouse - La Belle Dame sans Merci (1893).jpg." Wikimedia Commons. 7 Mar 2025, 19:56 UTC. <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:John_William_Waterhouse_-_La_Belle_Dame_sans_Merci_(1893).jpg&oldid=1006698477> 28 Oct 2026, 15:55.Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: SL7KJGIIM8TLRLMF, UZLERGOQY3UP8VKC

The secrets are unraveling in Chapter 21 of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Mr. Arbuthnot is shocked to find his wife, Rose, at San Salvatore because he came there for Lady Caroline, who knows him as Mr. Arundel. Dinner is served.Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389 Credits:Thumbnail image: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.html Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: OELSOTXSCOIKQJIO

Today we go on to Chapter 20 of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Lady Caroline is so amused by Mr. Arundel that she invites him to dinner, while Rose, still basking in the glow of Mr. Briggs' admiration, makes a decision about her husband, Frederick.Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389 Credits:Thumbnail image: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.htmlMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: QSDHUQFX0COQKDTH

Today we go on to Chapter 19 of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. It seems that Mr. Wilkins was right to predict trouble with the arrival of Mr. Briggs, whose interest in Rose evaporates as soon as he sees Lady Caroline. Desperate to avoid her unwelcome admirer, Lady Caroline flees the castle only to discover another surprise visitor. Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389 Credits:Thumbnail image: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.htmlMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: JVPAHYH3FGRBWZWK

Today we go on to Chapter 18 of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Mr. Briggs, the owner of the castle, pays an impromptu visit and makes no effort to hide his admiration of Rose Arbuthnot. Rose, Lotty, and Mrs. Fisher all find Briggs charming, but Mr. Wilkins' professional opinion is "Trouble here!" Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389 Credits:Thumbnail image: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.htmlMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: Z078ETJKUCXOE5BZ

Today we go on to Chapter 17 of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Rose finally writes to her husband, inviting him to join her at San Salvatore, and she is beside herself with anxiety until a telegram arrives . . . with a message she never expected.Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389 Credits:Thumbnail image: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.htmlMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: JMZY3YNJAP0RBKMW

Today we go on to Chapter 16 of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. It is the second week of the Italian holiday, and all the ladies recognize a remarkable change in Mr. Wilkins. If San Salvatore can save Lotty's marriage to Mellursh, what other miracles await?Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389 Credits:Thumbnail image: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.htmlMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: V2VE3RCZTTXAXMUV

Today we go on to Chapter 15 of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. After his explosive introduction to San Salvatore, Mellursh Wilkins is getting on surprisingly well with his four hostesses. But now it's time to pay the bills from the first week, and additional scores must be settled.Literative is now on Patreon! Readers who join for free can access the Literative library of published episodes, enjoy additional posts and images, and use the collections to find your next listen. Our paid subscribers, Friends of the Pod, enjoy early access to all new episodes as well as bonus content, peeks behind the scenes, AND online discussions of everything we read. Get the full story at www.patreon.com/Literative!Resources:Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389 Credits:Thumbnail image: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.htmlMusic licensed through Soundstripe.Code: EZSTWAZFNOILXSQ8