
The opening transports listeners to the tranquil countryside of La Beauce, where the grand yet unfinished Château de Deux‑manoirs stands as a silent witness to centuries of the Latour family’s intertwined lives. Through richly detailed prose, the narrator sketches the peculiar double‑manor layout—a pair of houses set at right angles—born of a marriage that sought to unite two neighboring estates while preserving their distinct identities. The description weaves together architectural curiosity, the rhythms of rural life, and the lingering sense of loyalty that anchors the family to their ancestral home.
As the tale unfolds, a younger Latour reflects on the origins of the Château d’Amour, a newer wing built to honor both branches of the lineage. His contemplations reveal a deep reverence for tradition, the subtle tensions between duty and personal desire, and the way the physical space mirrors the inner lives of its inhabitants. Listeners will be drawn into a world where stone walls echo the quiet ambitions and enduring bonds of a bygone era.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (224K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-05-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1839–1894
Best known for shaping the ideals of aestheticism, this English essayist and critic wrote with unusual care about art, literature, and the pleasures of style. His work helped define the late Victorian idea of “art for art’s sake” and went on to influence writers including Oscar Wilde.
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