The Essential Reads
The Essential Reads

The Essential Reads

Isaac Birchall

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The Essential Reads podcast is a collection of classic audiobooks from your favourite authors such as Orson wells, Robert Lewis Stevenson, Mary Shelley, and many more, narrated by Isaac Birchall. Join Isaac on his journey to help get these books to the masses in an easy accessible way. Support the show and Join the Book Club https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads

Recent Episodes

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 20 | Audiobook
DEC 14, 2025
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 20 | Audiobook
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 20, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mrs Palmer and the and the Dashwood girls talk again the next day at Barton. Mrs Palmer is very pushy towards the girls, wishing for them to come to the city and visit them. Mr Palmer is as gloomy and miserable as usual. Sir John pokes fun at Marianne for her love of Willoughby, and Mrs Palmer adds that Willoughby does not live too far from them, and invites them to visit them at they home as well as London. Mr Palmer calls out Mrs. Jennings, and Sir John for being what “ill-bred” for not wanting to abide by social rules. He, according to the girls, believe that he wishes to appear superior to everyone else. His wife also reveals that her husband is running for parliament, and as Willoughby is a member of the opposition, Mr Palmer probably wouldn’t visit him. Apparently everyone is London is talking about the engagement of Marianne and Willoughby. Mrs. Palmer got the information from Colonel Brandon. Elanor tries to skirt around the subject of Marianne’s relationship with Willoughby and tries to get more information about the Colonel. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Jane Austin's timeless classic Sense and Sensibility follows the story of two girls, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and their endeavors in love, marriage, and societal expectations. Love is not easy however, and Elinor finds her sense tested by her charming brother-in-law, while Marianne's sensibility brings her nothing but heartbreak.
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13 MIN
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 19 | Audiobook
DEC 10, 2025
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 19 | Audiobook
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 19, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Edward stayed for a week with the Dashwood’s, and regardless of how much he seemed to be enjoying himself with the women, he said that he had to leave, though he knew not where to. He detested being in town, and didn’t want to go to Norland, but he was going to go to one of them. Elanor believes that it is all his mother’s fault. What Edward craves in independence, and in order to get it, Mrs. Dashwood asks why the man he never sought a profession. Edward explains that his wants always went against his parents wishes, and when he finally found something that he would maybe like, and that his family would agree to, he felt himself to be too old. After Edward’s departure, Elanor tries to behave normally, and not back away from conversation about him.One morning, soon after the departure of Edward, Sir John Middleton, arrives with a party at Barton cottage. It is the Palmer family, Mrs. Jenning’s and her son and daughter. Mrs. Palmer is a younger woman with a plump figure, and Mr. Palmer is a man of around twenty-five who contents himself in reading the paper, while the others talk. They stay for a while, and before leaving, Sir John presses the women of Barton Cottage to come for dinner.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Jane Austin's timeless classic Sense and Sensibility follows the story of two girls, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and their endeavors in love, marriage, and societal expectations. Love is not easy however, and Elinor finds her sense tested by her charming brother-in-law, while Marianne's sensibility brings her nothing but heartbreak.
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17 MIN
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 18 | Audiobook
DEC 7, 2025
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 18 | Audiobook
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 18, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Elanor sees that Edward is very unhappy, and she is uncertain of his affection towards her. Marianne tries to leave her sister alone with Edward, but he decides instead to go and check on his horses. This seems to have been a good thing however, as he seems to appreciate the village and countryside a lot more than before. Marianne presses him to describe the areas as he sees them, but he refuses, as he has no knowledge of the picturesque. To him, it is a fine country, but nothing more, he cannot describe the country better. During this conversation, Marianne happens to notice a ring on Edward’s finger, which is embossed with a plait of hair. Marianne thinks this hair to come from his sister, but Elanor knows it to actually be her own hair, and she is finally relieved and convinced once again is Edward’s affections. At the middle of the day, they are greeted by Sir Middleton, and Mrs. Jennings, where the two are very quick to learn that Edward’s surname begins with an F. Sir John Middleton also invites them all to tea, and to supper so that they can get to know this gentleman better. Sir John laments about Willoughby’s absence, and following his and Mrs. Jenning’s departure, Edward goes to Marianne to poke fun at her regarding this unknown man.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Jane Austin's timeless classic Sense and Sensibility follows the story of two girls, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and their endeavors in love, marriage, and societal expectations. Love is not easy however, and Elinor finds her sense tested by her charming brother-in-law, while Marianne's sensibility brings her nothing but heartbreak.
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9 MIN
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 17 | Audiobook
DEC 3, 2025
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 17 | Audiobook
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 17, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:On arriving at the cottage, Mrs. Dashwood welcomes Edward Ferras like a son, and his shy, reserve countenance soon fades. He becomes interested in the family again. Mrs. Dashwood asks him about his mother, and Edward replies that while his mother is disappointed, she has concluded that she cannot force Edward to forgo his nature and become a famous orator/politician. Edward, above all else, wants to be happy. Elanor agrees only slightly with Edward’s views, saying that money can bring happiness. Marianne is on Edwards side, claiming that “money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give.” Elanor refutes her sister’s points, claiming that Marianne does not believe what she says, as her idea of a small income is enough to have servants, horses, carriages, and hunters… Edwards is confused by Marianne’s views, but before he can refute, Margret wishes that someone would just give them all a lump of money. The night goes on with them talking about what they would do if they were to all have enough money to do what ever they wished to do. Edward jokes that they would spend it all on books, music, theatre, and the like. He then asks her if her opinions on people only being able to fall in love Once have changed. They haven’t. Marianne calls out Edward on his humour, and he retorts that he has never really been very genial. Edward goes on to say that he has never been at ease with people; he always seems to offend, when he is realistically only kept back by his own natural awkwardness. He says that he feels somewhat inferior, and it’s probably that that keeps him from being easy with people. Marianne then jabs that he would still be reserved, which he takes offense at, as if he didn’t know that he was reserved.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Jane Austin's timeless classic Sense and Sensibility follows the story of two girls, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and their endeavors in love, marriage, and societal expectations. Love is not easy however, and Elinor finds her sense tested by her charming brother-in-law, while Marianne's sensibility brings her nothing but heartbreak.
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10 MIN
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 16 | Audiobook
NOV 30, 2025
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 16 | Audiobook
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen chapter 16, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Marianne is destroyed by the departure of Willoughby. She eats little, and cries for the majority of the time. She seems to nourish her grief by playing songs on the piano that she and he used to sing together, and reads books that they read together too. After several days she falls into a melancholy state. She has received no news from Willoughby, but Mrs. Dashwood seems to think this normal, as their letters get collected by Sir John before delivery. Elinor urges her mother to ask Marianne if she and Willoughby are engaged, but she refuses. The family walks on eggshells and tries not to mention his name and succeed in this endeavour for a few days until Mrs. Dashwood slipped up, causing Marianne to lament that she doesn’t know when he will be coming back. After about a week, Marianne finally agrees to walk with Elinor on the downs where in the distance they see a gentleman on horseback riding towards them. Marianne exclaims it to be Willoughby and runs towards him, Elinor runs after her sister, knowing it not to be the man she loves. Arriving at the man, Marianne discovers it to not be Willoughby, but Edward Ferrars, and for a moment she is happy for her sister Elinor. This doesn’t last long as Edward seems distant and confused at seeing the girls and is silent unless asked a question. Elinor is also a little disappointed by this, but persists at continuing a conversation with him while walking back to their cottage. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Jane Austin's timeless classic Sense and Sensibility follows the story of two girls, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and their endeavors in love, marriage, and societal expectations. Love is not easy however, and Elinor finds her sense tested by her charming brother-in-law, while Marianne's sensibility brings her nothing but heartbreak.
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13 MIN