43:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 45:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 46:I[29721,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"ShareButton"] 47:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 48:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"SignupCTA"] 3b:["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2025-12-11T11:00:00.000Z","children":"December 11, 2025"}] 3c:["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}] 3d:["$","span",null,{"children":"00:46:50"}] 44:T4bc,

It is a truth universally acknowledged that every podcast about the history of the English countryside must do an episode on Jane Austen.

In the first of two conversations, Joe and Ollie are joined by Professor Paddy Bullard (University of Reading) and Isabel Hughes (MERL Associate Director) to explore Jane Austen's links to farming, as found in her personal biography and her literature.

We're back on Tuesday 16 Dec for a second episode on the Austen theme, marking the date of Austen's birthday.

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Absolute Units is the official podcast of The Museum of English Rural Life. This series is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England and Museums Partnership Reading, a partnership of The MERL with Reading Museum. Themetune by Tai Dawson.

Co-hosts: Ollie Douglas and Joe Vaughan
Producer: Joe Vaughan

Shop MERL merch: https://merl-shop.co.uk/shop/absolute-unit.html
Support the pod: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/visit-us/donate/