"Often they gave themselves up to daydreams of escape. Their luck would hold indefinitely, and they would carry on their intrigue, just like this, for the remainder of their natural lives. Or Katharine would die, and by subtle maneuverings Winston and Julia would succeed in getting married. Or they would commit suicide together. Or they would disappear, alter themselves out of recognition, learn to speak with proletarian accents, get jobs in a factory, and live out their lives undetected in a back street. It was all nonsense, as they both knew. In reality there was no escape. Even the one plan that was practicable, suicide, they had no intention of carrying out. To hang on from day to day and from week to week, spinning out a present that had no future, seemed an unconquerable instinct, just as one's lungs will always draw the next breath so long as there is air available." Thank you Learned Librarian Patreon: Jon Listen to episodes ad-free and get other benefits on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BayleysBookshelfPodcast You can also support this podcast with a one-off donation at Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/rjbayley If you’d like to send correspondence for me to read and discuss during an episode, or you would like to talk about me narrating your own audiobook or other voiceover services, you can contact via: Bluesky: @RJBayley https://bsky.app/profile/rjbayley.bsky.social Email: robertjbayley[AT]gmail.com Website contact form at RJBayley.com: https://rjbayley.com/contact/ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RJBayleyVoiceArtist/ This book is in the public domain and this production is entirely created and distributed in accordance with local laws. This audio production, however, is copyright to RJ Bayley 2025.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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