<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:psc="http://podlove.org/simple-chapters" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Law and Literature, Luke Sheehan interviews David Langwallner for Village podcasts.  First episode]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p><b>The Law and Literature Podcast Series — An Introduction</b></p><p>What began as a modest proposal evolved into an ambitious five-part podcast series: five hour-long conversations recorded in an intense burst between demanding court commitments. The result is expansive, discursive, and unapologetically searching — a sustained meditation on law, literature, morality, and the corrosion of principle in modern legal culture. </p><p>At its core lies a concern: that we inhabit an increasingly diminished intellectual universe — not least within the legal profession. The series confronts the rise of technocratic careerism, the erosion of moral seriousness, the collapse of the distinction between legal guilt and moral innocence, and the growing denudation of the rule of law both domestically and internationally. It interrogates nihilism, public contempt for lawyers, and the profession’s complicity in its own moral decline.</p><p>The structure is chronological but thematic.</p><p><b>Podcast One</b> explores the great 19th- and 20th-century literary anatomists of law and extremism: Camus, Dostoevsky, Melville, Dickens and Kafka. From <i>The Fall</i> to <i>The Trial</i>, from <i>Bartleby</i> to <i>Bleak House</i>, the episode examines alienation, bureaucratic terror, legal drudgery, false accusation, and the seductive pull of authority.</p><p><b>Podcast Two</b> moves back to the Renaissance and Enlightenment: Shakespeare’s moral ambiguities, Cervantes’ legal absurdities, Swift’s savage indictment of lawyers and inequality, Johnson and Pope’s scepticism, and Voltaire’s crusade against miscarriages of justice. It is an excavation of the intellectual inheritance we are in danger of losing.</p><p><b>Podcast Three</b> centres on injustice — racial demonisation, establishment “fit-ups”, false allegations, show trials, and wrongful exonerations. Zola’s <i>J’Accuse</i>, the Dreyfus Affair, <i>The Crucible</i>, the Salem trials, Sacco and Vanzetti, and notorious Irish cases form a grim itinerary through corruption, hysteria and institutional failure.</p><p><b>Podcast Four</b> asks whether judicial writing can rise to the level of literature. It considers Holmes, Hardiman, Denning and others — moments of intellectual brilliance alongside stark moral failure — exploring how judgments can both defend liberty and entrench injustice.</p><p><b>Podcast Five</b> turns to advocacy as narrative art. From Clarence Darrow’s plea in Leopold and Loeb to legendary cross-examinations and closing speeches, it examines the courtroom as theatre — technical craft fused with storytelling discipline.</p><p><b>Podcast Six</b>, conceived in response to global upheaval, confronts the breakdown of constitutionalism, the erosion of international norms, and the resurgence of informal justice — from blood feuds in <i>Njáls Saga</i> to gangster capitalism in <i>The Godfather</i> and Sciascia’s Sicily. It asks what happens when law loses moral authority.</p><p>Throughout, the conversations retain a dialogic energy: probing, testing, clarifying. They are animated by the conviction that truth — <i>la vérité</i> — is indispensable, and that when law matters most, it must be morally defensible or it will cease to command allegiance.</p><p>For its author, the series represents not an ending but a reckoning — a form of catharsis. The light has not gone out. But there is an autumnal clarity: an awareness that in an age when just law is most urgently required, it is too often least respected.</p><p></p>]]></description><link>www.villagemagazine.ie</link><generator>Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 15:27:14 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://api.riverside.com/hosting/6UNxtYLK.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><author><![CDATA[Michael]]></author><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:28:40 GMT</pubDate><copyright><![CDATA[2026 Michael]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><ttl>60</ttl><category><![CDATA[Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category><itunes:author>Michael</itunes:author><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Law and Literature Podcast Series — An Introduction&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What began as a modest proposal evolved into an ambitious five-part podcast series: five hour-long conversations recorded in an intense burst between demanding court commitments. The result is expansive, discursive, and unapologetically searching — a sustained meditation on law, literature, morality, and the corrosion of principle in modern legal culture. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At its core lies a concern: that we inhabit an increasingly diminished intellectual universe — not least within the legal profession. The series confronts the rise of technocratic careerism, the erosion of moral seriousness, the collapse of the distinction between legal guilt and moral innocence, and the growing denudation of the rule of law both domestically and internationally. It interrogates nihilism, public contempt for lawyers, and the profession’s complicity in its own moral decline.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The structure is chronological but thematic.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcast One&lt;/b&gt; explores the great 19th- and 20th-century literary anatomists of law and extremism: Camus, Dostoevsky, Melville, Dickens and Kafka. From &lt;i&gt;The Fall&lt;/i&gt; to &lt;i&gt;The Trial&lt;/i&gt;, from &lt;i&gt;Bartleby&lt;/i&gt; to &lt;i&gt;Bleak House&lt;/i&gt;, the episode examines alienation, bureaucratic terror, legal drudgery, false accusation, and the seductive pull of authority.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcast Two&lt;/b&gt; moves back to the Renaissance and Enlightenment: Shakespeare’s moral ambiguities, Cervantes’ legal absurdities, Swift’s savage indictment of lawyers and inequality, Johnson and Pope’s scepticism, and Voltaire’s crusade against miscarriages of justice. It is an excavation of the intellectual inheritance we are in danger of losing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcast Three&lt;/b&gt; centres on injustice — racial demonisation, establishment “fit-ups”, false allegations, show trials, and wrongful exonerations. Zola’s &lt;i&gt;J’Accuse&lt;/i&gt;, the Dreyfus Affair, &lt;i&gt;The Crucible&lt;/i&gt;, the Salem trials, Sacco and Vanzetti, and notorious Irish cases form a grim itinerary through corruption, hysteria and institutional failure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcast Four&lt;/b&gt; asks whether judicial writing can rise to the level of literature. It considers Holmes, Hardiman, Denning and others — moments of intellectual brilliance alongside stark moral failure — exploring how judgments can both defend liberty and entrench injustice.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcast Five&lt;/b&gt; turns to advocacy as narrative art. From Clarence Darrow’s plea in Leopold and Loeb to legendary cross-examinations and closing speeches, it examines the courtroom as theatre — technical craft fused with storytelling discipline.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcast Six&lt;/b&gt;, conceived in response to global upheaval, confronts the breakdown of constitutionalism, the erosion of international norms, and the resurgence of informal justice — from blood feuds in &lt;i&gt;Njáls Saga&lt;/i&gt; to gangster capitalism in &lt;i&gt;The Godfather&lt;/i&gt; and Sciascia’s Sicily. It asks what happens when law loses moral authority.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Throughout, the conversations retain a dialogic energy: probing, testing, clarifying. They are animated by the conviction that truth — &lt;i&gt;la vérité&lt;/i&gt; — is indispensable, and that when law matters most, it must be morally defensible or it will cease to command allegiance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For its author, the series represents not an ending but a reckoning — a form of catharsis. The light has not gone out. But there is an autumnal clarity: an awareness that in an age when just law is most urgently required, it is too often least respected.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Michael</itunes:name><itunes:email>editor@villagemagazine.ie</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="News"><itunes:category text="Politics"/></itunes:category><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><item><title><![CDATA[Village, What is it? (2022)]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://riverside.com/dashboard/studios/michaels-studio-AucIn/projects/69c87640b6360d1894edad24" target="_blank">Morgan C Jones interviews Village editor Michael Smith about Village magazine: its history, ideology, biggest stories and approach. A lot about whistleblowing!</a></p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f87a5312-66a2-4aae-a18b-280e227059b5</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:06:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/9dfc922062a8feaee23bd1be42aed193d7015149c1f06603b0c546b7a22db325/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJmODdhNTMxMi02NmEyLTRhYWUtYTE4Yi0yODBlMjI3MDU5YjUiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjljODc5MTY2ZThiMWEzOTNiZTU2YWUzL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMjlfXzEtNTctNTgubXAzIn0=.mp3" length="16345695" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/f87a5312-66a2-4aae-a18b-280e227059b5/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://riverside.com/dashboard/studios/michaels-studio-AucIn/projects/69c87640b6360d1894edad24&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Morgan C Jones interviews Village editor Michael Smith about Village magazine: its history, ideology, biggest stories and approach. A lot about whistleblowing!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:11:21</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/f87a5312-66a2-4aae-a18b-280e227059b5/images/f9c74dae-a793-4bbc-9e05-fd5f2baa0ef9.jpeg"/><itunes:title>Village, What is it? (2022)</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Frank Connolly, Tony Lowes, Michael Smith interviewed by William Campbell]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>William interviews Frank Connolly about Bus Éireann illegal-use-of-funds scandal; Tony Lowes about bogs' surprising carbon capacity; and  Michael Smith about the content of the Nov-Dec 2025 Village magazine</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">4f94fb54-93fb-45eb-b5ab-fc920a3830d4</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:23:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/787234e4b10dc00f7d3b0e1b8870ff1cf44d6dff20286bed8e289a1b97ae2225/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI0Zjk0ZmI1NC05M2ZiLTQ1ZWItYjVhYi1mYzkyMGEzODMwZDQiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjljMDIzN2E0ZGI2NGU4MjA5YmIzNTFhL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMjJfXzE4LTE0LTM0Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="53434036" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/4f94fb54-93fb-45eb-b5ab-fc920a3830d4/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;William interviews Frank Connolly about Bus Éireann illegal-use-of-funds scandal; Tony Lowes about bogs&apos; surprising carbon capacity; and  Michael Smith about the content of the Nov-Dec 2025 Village magazine&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:37:06</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/4f94fb54-93fb-45eb-b5ab-fc920a3830d4/images/4ff0edbf-a227-4020-9994-be65affc1d2d.jpeg"/><itunes:title>Frank Connolly, Tony Lowes, Michael Smith interviewed by William Campbell</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Róisín O Shea interviews Ola Kamebugdani]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Interculturalism more than multiculturalism: Róisín O Shea interviews Ola Kamebugdani (Juneteenth 2022)</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">8ffb6a3c-cd1e-4f77-ab2a-223e4a309287</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:11:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/84b80c43f70fbcda66bc42ec2dd57a42b95b1e40ca24633baaa56e7c9f857fdc/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI4ZmZiNmEzYy1jZDFlLTRmNzctYWIyYS0yMjNlNGEzMDkyODciLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliZGUxMzkyMzA4MmViYTFhOTY0N2YyL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMjFfXzEtNy0yMS5tcDMifQ==.mp3" length="39499171" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/8ffb6a3c-cd1e-4f77-ab2a-223e4a309287/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Interculturalism more than multiculturalism: Róisín O Shea interviews Ola Kamebugdani (Juneteenth 2022)&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:27:26</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/8ffb6a3c-cd1e-4f77-ab2a-223e4a309287/images/d2fe47ea-83cc-4c99-b21c-9712517b41cf.jpeg"/><itunes:title>Róisín O Shea interviews Ola Kamebugdani</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Bord Pleanála scandal forensically explained (2022)]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Paul Hyde and corruption in the planning appeals board</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f790e566-5943-468b-b8ef-af1ea4dffb58</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:43:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/974a0fc3d36b3d77fd181d084813ff0afd3d29ffb6c8024258bc55cbe228211c/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJmNzkwZTU2Ni01OTQzLTQ2OGItYjhlZi1hZjFlYTRkZmZiNTgiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliYzg5OGI2ZjM2NjFiNjA1YjlmYzgwL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMjBfXzAtNDAtNTkubXAzIn0=.mp3" length="25302143" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/f790e566-5943-468b-b8ef-af1ea4dffb58/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Paul Hyde and corruption in the planning appeals board&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:17:34</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/f790e566-5943-468b-b8ef-af1ea4dffb58/images/685fa51a-9d14-4899-b0e6-4cdb5e4999fd.jpeg"/><itunes:title>The Bord Pleanála scandal forensically explained (2022)</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fraud scandal at the Department of Enterprise (2022 recording)]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Micheál Martin publicly denied the existence of material evidence that had already been disclosed by an EU official Ian Livingstone. He later accepted that his Department had misled him, apologised, and undertook to correct the record. He had his Chef de Cabinet record his apology and commitment. — yet failed to do so</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">4f804067-0e52-4994-b8a4-8ac20e1861f9</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:18:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/5bc3367bed2b6ac9a1e16d0cf70c1d4923a26ab6a9a66d5d4b6b4a23eb4616f7/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI0ZjgwNDA2Ny0wZTUyLTQ5OTQtYjhhNC04YWMyMGUxODYxZjkiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliYjNlYzlkOWYyOWQyMjFhNDU2YWRlL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMTlfXzEtOS00NC5tcDMifQ==.mp3" length="53339472" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/4f804067-0e52-4994-b8a4-8ac20e1861f9/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Micheál Martin publicly denied the existence of material evidence that had already been disclosed by an EU official Ian Livingstone. He later accepted that his Department had misled him, apologised, and undertook to correct the record. He had his Chef de Cabinet record his apology and commitment. — yet failed to do so&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:37:02</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><itunes:title>Fraud scandal at the Department of Enterprise (2022 recording)</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Village: an introduction (2022)]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Michael Smith, editor, explains the background and ethos of Village magazine in conversation with Morgan Jones.  Later he explains the Leo the Leak story and interviews Chay Bowes.  </p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">5f18f786-dd8d-42c0-88d5-c1194252822e</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:18:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/52a1607910fc62b7f9f4a0c0e48057320f9df80799513c3d6f5aa0d6f91bbf82/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI1ZjE4Zjc4Ni1kZDhkLTQyYzAtODhkNS1jMTE5NDI1MjgyMmUiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliYjA3MmQ1NWM1ZWE1ZDEyODZlOWM4L21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMThfXzIxLTEyLTI5Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="51403485" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/5f18f786-dd8d-42c0-88d5-c1194252822e/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Michael Smith, editor, explains the background and ethos of Village magazine in conversation with Morgan Jones.  Later he explains the Leo the Leak story and interviews Chay Bowes.  &lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:35:42</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><itunes:title>Village: an introduction (2022)</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Episode 5: literature and the contemporary breakdown of the rule of law]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Barrister <b>David Langwallner</b> , in conversation with Luke Sheehan,argues that the <b>rule of law is collapsing globally</b>, and that literature provides powerful insights into how such breakdowns occur. Drawing on legal theory and a wide range of novels, plays, and historical examples, he outlines the core principles of the rule of law and the signs of its erosion.</p><p>He begins with the principles identified by <b>Lord Bingham</b>:</p><ul><li>respect for <b>human rights</b></li><li>respect for <b>international law</b></li><li><b>fair procedures / due process</b></li><li><b>independent and incorruptible judges</b></li><li><b>affordable access to justice</b></li></ul><p>Langwailner argues that these principles are increasingly undermined. When the law becomes disconnected from social expectations or captured by powerful interests, people resort to <b>self-help, vigilantism, and mob justice</b>. A key danger is the emergence of a <b>“shadow state”</b>, where legal institutions are controlled by corporate, political, or criminal forces.</p><p>He illustrates these dynamics through literature:</p><ul><li><b>Medieval Icelandic sagas</b> show systems where justice could be <b>bought through compensation</b> rather than adjudicated.</li><li><b>The Oxbow Incident</b> depicts the dangers of <b>mob justice and wrongful lynching</b>.</li><li><b>The Leopard</b> explores societal transition and the collapse of established social orders.</li><li><b>Aristophanes’ <i>The Wasps</i></b> highlights the centrality of <b>jury trials</b> to democracy.</li><li>Works by <b>Leonardo Sciascia</b> portray states corrupted by hidden power structures.</li><li><b>Gabriel García Márquez’s <i>News of a Kidnapping</i></b> shows how criminal networks can effectively capture the state.</li><li><b>Ibsen’s <i>An Enemy of the People</i></b> illustrates how <b>whistleblowers are destroyed</b> when they threaten powerful interests.</li><li><b>Camus</b>, especially in <i>The Outsider</i> and other writings, captures the moral dilemmas surrounding justice and authority.</li></ul><p>Langweilner also warns about modern threats:</p><ul><li>politicised judiciaries</li><li>corporate influence over governments</li><li>emergency laws replacing normal legal processes</li><li>social media–driven <b>disinformation and trial by mob</b></li><li><b>surveillance capitalism</b> and propaganda that undermine rational public debate</li></ul><p>He argues that institutions meant to safeguard the rule of law—<b>independent journalism, courts, and jury trials</b>—are weakening. When this happens, societies risk reverting to <b>forms of medieval justice or authoritarian “people’s courts”</b>, where law becomes a tool of power rather than fairness.</p><p>The discussion concludes by stressing that the <b>humanistic tradition in literature—from Aristophanes to Camus—warns against these dangers</b>, reminding us that the rule of law depends on independent institutions, truth, and moral courage.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">93f5b592-0fd0-447e-bb5d-8e6780f51445</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:56:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/ffd3df663cbca30625eceb6d42374e5bf7aa803b51d970a144540d196349961f/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI5M2Y1YjU5Mi0wZmQwLTQ0N2UtYmI1ZC04ZTY3ODBmNTE0NDUiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliODFlMzRjYmY1NTE1NDQ5MjM5OTk3L21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMTZfXzE2LTEzLTU2Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="23440631" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/93f5b592-0fd0-447e-bb5d-8e6780f51445/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Barrister &lt;b&gt;David Langwallner&lt;/b&gt; , in conversation with Luke Sheehan,argues that the &lt;b&gt;rule of law is collapsing globally&lt;/b&gt;, and that literature provides powerful insights into how such breakdowns occur. Drawing on legal theory and a wide range of novels, plays, and historical examples, he outlines the core principles of the rule of law and the signs of its erosion.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He begins with the principles identified by &lt;b&gt;Lord Bingham&lt;/b&gt;:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;respect for &lt;b&gt;human rights&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;respect for &lt;b&gt;international law&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;fair procedures / due process&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;independent and incorruptible judges&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;affordable access to justice&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Langwailner argues that these principles are increasingly undermined. When the law becomes disconnected from social expectations or captured by powerful interests, people resort to &lt;b&gt;self-help, vigilantism, and mob justice&lt;/b&gt;. A key danger is the emergence of a &lt;b&gt;“shadow state”&lt;/b&gt;, where legal institutions are controlled by corporate, political, or criminal forces.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He illustrates these dynamics through literature:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Medieval Icelandic sagas&lt;/b&gt; show systems where justice could be &lt;b&gt;bought through compensation&lt;/b&gt; rather than adjudicated.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Oxbow Incident&lt;/b&gt; depicts the dangers of &lt;b&gt;mob justice and wrongful lynching&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Leopard&lt;/b&gt; explores societal transition and the collapse of established social orders.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Aristophanes’ &lt;i&gt;The Wasps&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; highlights the centrality of &lt;b&gt;jury trials&lt;/b&gt; to democracy.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Works by &lt;b&gt;Leonardo Sciascia&lt;/b&gt; portray states corrupted by hidden power structures.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Gabriel García Márquez’s &lt;i&gt;News of a Kidnapping&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; shows how criminal networks can effectively capture the state.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ibsen’s &lt;i&gt;An Enemy of the People&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; illustrates how &lt;b&gt;whistleblowers are destroyed&lt;/b&gt; when they threaten powerful interests.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Camus&lt;/b&gt;, especially in &lt;i&gt;The Outsider&lt;/i&gt; and other writings, captures the moral dilemmas surrounding justice and authority.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Langweilner also warns about modern threats:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;politicised judiciaries&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;corporate influence over governments&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;emergency laws replacing normal legal processes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;social media–driven &lt;b&gt;disinformation and trial by mob&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;surveillance capitalism&lt;/b&gt; and propaganda that undermine rational public debate&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;He argues that institutions meant to safeguard the rule of law—&lt;b&gt;independent journalism, courts, and jury trials&lt;/b&gt;—are weakening. When this happens, societies risk reverting to &lt;b&gt;forms of medieval justice or authoritarian “people’s courts”&lt;/b&gt;, where law becomes a tool of power rather than fairness.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The discussion concludes by stressing that the &lt;b&gt;humanistic tradition in literature—from Aristophanes to Camus—warns against these dangers&lt;/b&gt;, reminding us that the rule of law depends on independent institutions, truth, and moral courage.&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:48:50</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode><itunes:title>Episode 5: literature and the contemporary breakdown of the rule of law</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[William Campbell interviews some contributors to Village's Nov-Dec 2025 magazine]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>William Campbell interviews Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment about bogs, investigative journalist Frank Connolly about Bus Éireann malpractice and Village's editor Michael Smith about the Nov-Dec 2025 edition</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">827cb5ee-4cd6-4cab-a5a8-5de482126e0e</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:41:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/fa18eafb9a858d0a882fa1e44b188417f86248b23139bf31375b532435361163/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI4MjdjYjVlZS00Y2Q2LTRjYWItYTVhOC01ZGU0ODIxMjZlMGUiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliNzU1ODY2OTU1ZmNjMjNlY2QxOTYxL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMTZfXzEtNTctNDIubXAzIn0=.mp3" length="18062124" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/827cb5ee-4cd6-4cab-a5a8-5de482126e0e/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;William Campbell interviews Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment about bogs, investigative journalist Frank Connolly about Bus Éireann malpractice and Village&apos;s editor Michael Smith about the Nov-Dec 2025 edition&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:37:38</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/827cb5ee-4cd6-4cab-a5a8-5de482126e0e/images/b2fde825-3e9e-40d3-95cc-7043f011a819.png"/><itunes:title>William Campbell interviews some contributors to Village&apos;s Nov-Dec 2025 magazine</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Episode 4: great advocates: Carson, Isaacs, Darrow, Marshall-Hall, McEntee, Hardiman]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>The conversation delves into the literary aspects of advocates and judges, highlighting the art of cross-examination and closing speeches as well as the role of judges in crafting judgments as literature. It explores the impact of these elements on the legal process and the portrayal of human stories within the courtroom. The conversation delves into the literary and societal impact of legal figures and their judgments. It explores the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and Oliver Wendell Holmes, the progressive movement, and the dissent of Holmes. Additionally, it discusses the downside of liberal progressivism and the implications of legal judgments on society.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Advocates and judges as literary figures</li><li>The art of cross-examination and closing speeches Legal figures as literary icons</li><li>The impact of legal judgments on society</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The Art of Cross-Examination and Closing Speeches</li><li>39:44 Legal Figures as Literary Icons</li><li>45:11 The Progressive Movement and the Dissent of Oliver Wendell Holmes</li><li>50:42 The Downside of Liberal Progressivism</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">7f5a890d-8fc0-4d5c-9cfe-ee3cc118d31b</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:19:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/7795247633eea91e415eb767243fdfaaf404ec253d6581d2af389011050c92ed/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI3ZjVhODkwZC04ZmMwLTRkNWMtOWNmZS1lZTNjYzExOGQzMWIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliNDU0MWYwZDE5MGYwYzRhNDAzOTgxL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMTNfXzE5LTE0LTU0Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="110721194" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/7f5a890d-8fc0-4d5c-9cfe-ee3cc118d31b/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;The conversation delves into the literary aspects of advocates and judges, highlighting the art of cross-examination and closing speeches as well as the role of judges in crafting judgments as literature. It explores the impact of these elements on the legal process and the portrayal of human stories within the courtroom. The conversation delves into the literary and societal impact of legal figures and their judgments. It explores the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and Oliver Wendell Holmes, the progressive movement, and the dissent of Holmes. Additionally, it discusses the downside of liberal progressivism and the implications of legal judgments on society.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Advocates and judges as literary figures&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The art of cross-examination and closing speeches Legal figures as literary icons&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The impact of legal judgments on society&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 The Art of Cross-Examination and Closing Speeches&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;39:44 Legal Figures as Literary Icons&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;45:11 The Progressive Movement and the Dissent of Oliver Wendell Holmes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;50:42 The Downside of Liberal Progressivism&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>01:16:53</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><itunes:title>Episode 4: great advocates: Carson, Isaacs, Darrow, Marshall-Hall, McEntee, Hardiman</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Episode 3: miscarriages of justice:  Dreyfus, Oscar Wilde, Roy Cohn and Joe McCarthy]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>The conversation delves into the theme of miscarriages of justice in literature and real life, exploring the impact of religious fundamentalism on justice and the role of journalism in exposing miscarriages of justice. It covers the Dreyfus Affair and Emile Zola, the themes of The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, and the Scopes Trial and the McCarthy Era. The conversation delves into the legacy of Roy Cohn, the impact of prosecutorial misconduct on miscarriages of justice, the trials of Oscar Wilde and Jean Valjean, and the prevalence of prejudice and demonization within the legal system.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Miscarriages of justice in literature</li><li>The impact of religious fundamentalism on justice</li><li>The role of journalism in exposing miscarriages of justice Miscarriages of justice can occur due to prosecutorial misconduct</li><li>The poor and marginalized often lack the resources to fight back against the legal system</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The Dreyfus Affair and Emile Zola</li><li>13:37 The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible</li><li>22:18 The Scopes Trial and the McCarthy Era</li><li>28:48 The Legacy of Roy Cohn</li><li>41:42 The Trials of Oscar Wilde and Jean Valjean</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f299ba2f-ce2a-4ecd-b549-420d3dbb6e10</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:07:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/82d9f599eebdc110e16024cef74b96203b4f3a6cec8a1fb11feae6f85d13bead/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJmMjk5YmEyZi1jZTJhLTRlY2QtYjU0OS00MjBkM2RiYjZlMTAiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjliMDc3NzUwM2VmYWRkNzUyZWNmMmZhL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMTBfXzIwLTU2LTM3Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="73259721" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/f299ba2f-ce2a-4ecd-b549-420d3dbb6e10/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;The conversation delves into the theme of miscarriages of justice in literature and real life, exploring the impact of religious fundamentalism on justice and the role of journalism in exposing miscarriages of justice. It covers the Dreyfus Affair and Emile Zola, the themes of The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, and the Scopes Trial and the McCarthy Era. The conversation delves into the legacy of Roy Cohn, the impact of prosecutorial misconduct on miscarriages of justice, the trials of Oscar Wilde and Jean Valjean, and the prevalence of prejudice and demonization within the legal system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Miscarriages of justice in literature&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The impact of religious fundamentalism on justice&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The role of journalism in exposing miscarriages of justice Miscarriages of justice can occur due to prosecutorial misconduct&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The poor and marginalized often lack the resources to fight back against the legal system&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 The Dreyfus Affair and Emile Zola&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;13:37 The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;22:18 The Scopes Trial and the McCarthy Era&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;28:48 The Legacy of Roy Cohn&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;41:42 The Trials of Oscar Wilde and Jean Valjean&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:50:52</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><itunes:title>Episode 3: miscarriages of justice:  Dreyfus, Oscar Wilde, Roy Cohn and Joe McCarthy</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Episode 2. From the Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p><b>Podcast two</b></p><p> </p><p>The second Law and Literature podcast deals with the period from The Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century dealing with the obvious and continued relevance of Shakespeare not least in <i>Measure for Measure</i> (1604) and Francis Bacon his contemporary who may or may not have been Shakespeare.</p><p> </p><p>A crucial motif in the podcast is that Shakespeare and Cervantes died on the same day, and <i>Don Quixote</i> (1605-1615) is one of the great novels about the law. The central part of the podcast deals with The Irishman Jonathan Swift not least in describing Yahoos (humans) in <i>Gulliver’s Travels</i> (1726) to the enlightened horses the full force of his contempt cane down on lawyers and <i>A Modest Proposal</i> (1729) the greatest essay in the English language has the capacity in the Ireland today of pervasive inequality, unaffordable housing controlled by a landlord class to put a shiver down ones spine. Swift is discussed with his contemporaries Dr Johnson who had a cynical view of lawyers and Alexander Pope. The podcast ends with Voltaire the supreme creator of enlightenment values and campaigner against miscarriages not least in The Calais case and those values worldwide are the values we are losing or have lost.</p><p><b> </b></p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">0a373df6-2756-4544-8dab-0a9a1dd4f6d2</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:59:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/68a3421b880a97e0548273cbae33d0e79586bc99cb98284ff39049d5b8fc0ed7/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIwYTM3M2RmNi0yNzU2LTQ1NDQtOGRhYi0wYTlhMWRkNGY2ZDIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlhNjA2NjdjYzNkYzA1NDJjZjkzMjIyL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMl9fMjItNTEtMzUubXAzIn0=.mp3" length="63492015" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/episodes/0a373df6-2756-4544-8dab-0a9a1dd4f6d2/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcast two&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The second Law and Literature podcast deals with the period from The Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century dealing with the obvious and continued relevance of Shakespeare not least in &lt;i&gt;Measure for Measure&lt;/i&gt; (1604) and Francis Bacon his contemporary who may or may not have been Shakespeare.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A crucial motif in the podcast is that Shakespeare and Cervantes died on the same day, and &lt;i&gt;Don Quixote&lt;/i&gt; (1605-1615) is one of the great novels about the law. The central part of the podcast deals with The Irishman Jonathan Swift not least in describing Yahoos (humans) in &lt;i&gt;Gulliver’s Travels&lt;/i&gt; (1726) to the enlightened horses the full force of his contempt cane down on lawyers and &lt;i&gt;A Modest Proposal&lt;/i&gt; (1729) the greatest essay in the English language has the capacity in the Ireland today of pervasive inequality, unaffordable housing controlled by a landlord class to put a shiver down ones spine. Swift is discussed with his contemporaries Dr Johnson who had a cynical view of lawyers and Alexander Pope. The podcast ends with Voltaire the supreme creator of enlightenment values and campaigner against miscarriages not least in The Calais case and those values worldwide are the values we are losing or have lost.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:44:05</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode><itunes:title>Episode 2. From the Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Episode 1: Camus and Kafka ]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>The conversation explores the connections between law and literature, focusing on the works of Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Herman Melville, and Charles Dickens. It delves into themes of justice, extremism, detachment, and moral intelligence as portrayed in their literary works. The discussion also highlights the impact of great lawyers using literary techniques to promote the cause of justice.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Law and literature are interconnected</li><li>Authors like Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Herman Melville, and Charles Dickens have explored themes of justice and law in their works</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The Philosophy of Law and Literature</li><li>06:18 Camus and Extremism</li><li>11:30 Camus' Engagement and Humanism</li><li>17:17 Dostoevsky's Characters and Ambivalence</li><li>25:06 Dickens' Portrayal of Legal Cases</li><li>31:12 Clarence Darrow and the Leopold and Loeb Case</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d0303ab2-8547-4baa-ac32-78c00e2c2812</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:31:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/1f5ebc1fcc1a308c91bc252c8bb5a566ecd493a8858f5f9f12fc3d9add2bfe6b/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJkMDMwM2FiMi04NTQ3LTRiYWEtYWMzMi03OGMwMGUyYzI4MTIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIwMDY5NzAyMC0zN2YxLTQ0ZTgtOTRlZi1iMTcwMjA1YmIxMjciLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY0ZWUxMTI2YjJjYjZmYjZhMmMwNGMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlhM2FkODNiZDg0OGU3MzQ3OTQ0MWViL21pY2hhZWxzLXN0dWRpby1BdWNJbi1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTMtMV9fNC03LTQ3Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="44433703" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;The conversation explores the connections between law and literature, focusing on the works of Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Herman Melville, and Charles Dickens. It delves into themes of justice, extremism, detachment, and moral intelligence as portrayed in their literary works. The discussion also highlights the impact of great lawyers using literary techniques to promote the cause of justice.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Law and literature are interconnected&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Authors like Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Herman Melville, and Charles Dickens have explored themes of justice and law in their works&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 The Philosophy of Law and Literature&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;06:18 Camus and Extremism&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;11:30 Camus&apos; Engagement and Humanism&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;17:17 Dostoevsky&apos;s Characters and Ambivalence&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;25:06 Dickens&apos; Portrayal of Legal Cases&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;31:12 Clarence Darrow and the Leopold and Loeb Case&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:30:51</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/00697020-37f1-44e8-94ef-b170205bb127/logos/1f728a77-71bc-499a-a0bb-b9bc27105fff.png"/><itunes:title>Episode 1: Camus and Kafka </itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>