Complete list of Short Stories Podcasts - Listen & Review on Goodpods
669 Episodes
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Avg Length 59m
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Latest episode 2 days ago
The unseen creature whose ravenous fangs dog your every step as your footfalls echo down the midnight alleyway. —A long, icy shadow looming over you, making the hairs on your neck rise and your breath turn to ragged puffs of mist. —Unearthly howls that pierce the night, pulling you from the comfort of sleep with feverish, heart-pounding dread. —Welcome to Tales to Terrify, a weekly horror fiction podcast that gets under your skin, lays eggs and hatches writhing baby horrors nursed on your darkest fears. We're unique in our simplicity, bringing pure tales of terror to your ears audiobook-style – unadulterated and unadorned. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/talestoterrify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
40 Episodes
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Avg Length 23m
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Latest episode 20 days ago
The Hidden Gems Podcast is dedicated to bringing you a variety of classic tales as well as original short stories from, as yet, undiscovered writers. Join your host, C. Mack Lewis, and our professional narrator, John Bell, as we tell you the best short stories that you've never heard!
18 Episodes
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Avg Length 15m
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Latest episode 4 years ago
Something True brings you incredible and bizarre true stories from the footnotes of history. A dog in the United States Cabinet? A leading rocket scientist who quit his job to make a moonchild? Virginia Woolf donning blackface to prank a navy? They're all true. They're all Something True.
30 Episodes
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Avg Length 39m
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Latest episode 2 years ago
Stories from the Hearth is an experimental storytelling podcast, a free artistic space in the style of a painter's studio or writer's diary. It is a place for you to lose yourself in truly original short stories and their immersive soundscapes, written, narrated, and produced by Scottish poet Cal Bannerman. Learn about the history of storytelling in occasional miniseries The Wandering Bard, or escape your daily stresses with one of Cal's queer-focused fantasy, historical, supernatural and science fiction stand-alone monthly stories. Episodes range from 15-90 minutes long, and are aimed at an adult audience. Original artwork by Anna Ferrara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
349 Episodes
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Avg Length 14m
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Latest episode 2 days ago
Meet Cute Originals: your go-to, ever-growing library of romantic comedies, fantasies, and dramas. Discover a new serialized, addictive audio series every month, with episodes released twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays. Want to binge the entire series at once? Get the full series in a convenient single-episode-feed on the last Friday of the series’ run: like an audiobook, but better. Only an earbud away, you can take Meet Cute Originals anywhere, anytime – for free. It’s no-payment entertainment because at Meet Cute, stories are on us, always. Looking for your favorite Meet Cute series? See meetcute.com for our full catalog, or search the series title for its single-episode feed.
56 Episodes
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Avg Length 49m
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Latest episode 19 days ago
Finding Fantasy Reads is for ravenous readers who are eager to find their next favorite character, series, or world by sampling clean fantasy short stories from a variety of authors. New episodes are released every Tuesday morning. This show is hosted by Karyne Norton, author of epic fantasy and reader of all types of fantasy. Narration of short stories is performed by either Karyne Norton or Paeter Frandsen, host of the Christian Geek Central Podcast.
Cozy Ink Podcast features fun and informative interviews with the cozy mystery authors you love. Let's Get Cozy!
32 Episodes
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Avg Length 27m
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Latest episode 3 days ago
Embark on a journey through time and imagination with 'Auditory Anthology,' a weekly podcast bringing to life the most captivating science fiction stories. Each episode, award-winning voice-artist and host of Weird Darkness Darren Marlar breathes life into a unique blend of classic and modern tales, ranging from time-honored masterpieces to groundbreaking works by emerging authors. Curated and produced by Keith Conrad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
142 Episodes
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Avg Length 51m
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Latest episode 1 day ago
The Three Ravens is an English myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.Each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more.Then, and most importantly, we take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Our Bonus Episodes are then released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crimes from across history).Plus, starting April 2024, we're launching a new Bonus Series: Local Legends. Released on Saturdays, each episode is an interview with an acclaimed folklorist, author, podcaster or historian, deepening discussions into that week's county.We also release a range of exclusive content on Patreon, where supporters enjoy ad-free listening, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, and more.So, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25 Episodes
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Avg Length 34m
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Latest episode 1 month ago
This innovative compilation series features short form podcasts from a variety of creators. This project looks to highlight new and underrepresented creators, as well as showcasing a few from recognized Rusty Quill favourites.Whether it’s a post-apocalyptic space thriller or a quirky monster road trip, Neon Inkwell listeners will always have something new to discover. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
75 Episodes
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Avg Length 9m
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Latest episode 23 days ago
Storyland is a podcast with kids' stories for children of all ages. Discover new worlds, adventures, and magic that bring the imagination to life! Everything from original bedtime stories written by the podcast creator to the retelling of classic children’s books and fairy tales, Storyland is a great way to stay entertained and enchanted in a clean environment where anything is possible. Storyland is safe for kids and fun for the whole family!
7 Episodes
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Avg Length 38m
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Latest episode 11 months ago
An educational podcast documenting and commiserating on all things literary & writerly. Hosted by Terri Linn Davis
57 Episodes
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Avg Length 32m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Sit back and relax as I take you through stories from around the world from the comfort of my log cabin on my own private "Spooky island". Tune in every other week for new episodes.
109 Episodes
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Avg Length 32m
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Latest episode 7 months ago
Trouble sleeping? Want to fall asleep and stay asleep? Then this podcast is for you. Well-produced music and a calming voice will help you drift off to sleep in no time. It isn't just fairy tales it's also stories from famous authors around the world plus delta wave music, proven to help relax the brain quickly. The two together are the most effective way to help you drift off. No loud noises, no ads, no disruptions, great for all ages. Give it a try and wake up tomorrow rested. You got this. Have a good dream with Fairy Sleepy.
140 Episodes
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Avg Length 50m
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Latest episode 18 days ago
Welcome to India’s No. 1 book podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover the stories behind some of the best-written books of our time. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, and insecurities to publishing journeys. And how these books shape our lives and worldview today. Tune in every Wednesday! Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Get in touch with us at [email protected].
36 Episodes
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Avg Length 50m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
One of the few podcasts dedicated to creating Enveloping Sci-Fi Horror and Cosmic Horror Audio Productions. Cryo Pod Tapes is an Award Nominated Cosmic Horror Anthology podcast that takes original Sci-fi Horror and Cosmic Horror short stories, submitted by writers and authors from all over the world, and turn them into captivating, professionally produced Mini Audio Dramatizations. With the goal of bringing together the creative talents of the unheard, while creating an unforgettable and enjoyable immersive audio experience. Using a rich palate of compelling narration and story tailored sound design and music provided by audio producer and UK One Voice and Vox Award Voiceover nominee, Ted Huggins, as well as featuring many other professional VA's. We also release bonus interview episodes with the Authors and Voice Talent who feature and perform on the podcast, and listen to their unique and colourful creative journeys.
34 Episodes
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Avg Length 23m
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Latest episode 1 year ago
Dark Concepts is a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to the telling of original horror stories written and read by Brian J Cummings.
27 Episodes
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Avg Length 14m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
This multilingual Christmas Short Works Collection for 2010 contains public domain short stories, essays, poems and scripture passages in English, German and Portuguese.
16 Episodes
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Avg Length 13m
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Latest episode 2 years ago
Listen to short stories in American English and improve your overall English level. All episodes are short and include audio transcripts so that you can follow along and learn new vocabulary. The host is an experienced language learner who provides useful tips along the way.
25 Episodes
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Avg Length 18m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
H. P. Lovecraft’s name is synonymous with horror fiction. His major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: the idea that life is incomprehensible to human minds and that the universe is fundamentally alien. This collection contains 24 Lovecraft works that are in the public domain.
18 Episodes
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Avg Length 13m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, The Real Princess and a host of other wonderful tales which form so much a part of childhood are part of Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans Christian Andersen. This volume contains eighteen selected stories. Some of them are old familiar friends, while others maybe new to some readers, but all of them equally enchanting and enthralling. Today, these stories are known almost everywhere in the world and have been translated into hundreds of languages. Their appeal is not just for children or young readers. As folktales and typical Scandinavian legends, they are a fascinating glimpse into the myths and legends, culture and ethos of the Northern Lands. Since their publication in 1835, they have continued to inspire and delight generations of children and adults. Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author whose work included plays, poetry, travelogues, novels and stories. Born in a noble Danish family, he was inspired to transcribe the tales he had heard as a child from people around him. The stories he selected were interesting, imaginative and unique. Some of them like The Little Mermaid were poignant and were not strictly just for a young audience. In fact, the story went on to capture public imagination to such an extent that today one of the most iconic monuments of Copenhagen is the statue of the Little Mermaid on the Langeline Promenade, which draws thousands of visitors every year. Andersen's first foray into writing fairytales did not meet with much success because translating them from the original Danish was quite difficult and it had only restricted readership. However, in 1845, he reached out to the rest of the world through a brilliant translation of The Little Mermaid in Bentley's Miscellany magazine. Great success followed as his stories began appearing in various English magazines and journals and a whole generation of young English speaking children discovered the treasures of Scandinavia. The stories have continued to enthrall people in many fields. Music, opera, art, literature, drama, film and television have become richer by the addition of various versions of Andersen's tales and his name has become a byword for the genre. He also inspired hundreds of other writers to come out with folktales and stories designed to captivate the imagination of young and old. Stories like The Tinder-Box convey a feeling of mystery and awe, while The Nightingale provides pathos and beauty. As an invaluable addition to any library shelf, Andersen's Fairy Tales can provide hours of reading pleasure to both young and old.
8 Episodes
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Avg Length 39m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Henry Beam Piper’s book “Five Sci-Fi Short Stories“ is a collection of: The Answer, Temple Trouble, Flight From Tomorrow, Police Operation and Graveyard of Dreams. “The Answer” is about two nuclear scientists who have successfully made a very powerful weapon and are planning to drop it from space on un-expecting earthlings. The story is set in 1984, many years after a supposed nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union had ended. The stories "Temple Trouble" and "Police Operation" deal with alternate histories which is a theme that Piper is well known for. "Temple Trouble" has a very interesting religious undertone which many readers will surely be curious about and in "Police Operation," he introduces Varken Vall, one of the best characters that Piper brought to life. "Flight From Tomorrow" and "Graveyard of Dreams" on the other hand are both set in the future. Like in all of Piper’s works, these stories have a simple narrative style and a very interesting storyline. Most of his main protagonists in these stories also have a common factor: they’re self-reliant persons who can deal with any kind of situation which they face. Some experts believe that they’re a reflection of himself. Piper unlike most of the other writers during his time was largely self-educated and even worked various blue collar jobs before he became a successful writer. Piper’s "Five Sci-Fi Short Stories" is a good read for people who are interested in futuristic and alternate reality sci-fi stories.
12 Episodes
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Avg Length 15m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
This collection of fantasy stories was originally serialized in regional newspapers, prior to being published as a complete volume. The stories, as critics have noted, lack the high-fantasy aspect of the best of Baum’s work, in Oz or out. With ironic or nonsensical morals attached to their ends, their tone is more satirical, glib, and tongue-in-cheek than is usual in children’s stories; the serialization in newspapers for adult readers was appropriate for the materials. (Introduction by Wikipedia and Matthew Reece)
28 Episodes
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Avg Length 52m
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Latest episode 3 years ago
We’re The Jacksway Collective A podcast featuring old college roommates who now find themselves spread out across the country. We reunite once a week to rekindle the thought-provoking and, at times, laugh-out-loud discussions we once had during our glory days. Our laid-back approach to continued learning is an attempt to recapture the many late nights we’d spend together unpacking whatever philosophy or fiction we were reading at the time. We love to learn and believe the best way to do that is through an engaging dialogue. Grab a beer, sit back, and enjoy listening to us ramble on.
41 Episodes
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Avg Length 105m
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Latest episode 7 months ago
With most of the entirety of the published journal's contents read aloud by the authors, the FENCE audiobook/podcast continues to push boundaries in literary publishing. In continuous publication since 1998, Fence is a biannual print journal of poetry, fiction, art, and criticism that redefines the terms of accessibility by publishing challenging writing distinguished by idiosyncrasy and intelligence rather than by allegiance with camps, schools, or cliques. FENCE is committed to publishing from the outside and the inside of established communities of writing, seeking always to interrogate, collaborate with, and bedevil all the systems that bring new writing to light. As a non-profit, Fence is mandated to make decisions outside of the requirements of market force or capital concern, and only in keeping with its mission: to maintain a dedicated venue for writing and art that bears the clear variant mark of the individual’s response to their context; and to make that venue accessible to as many, and as widely, as possible so that this work can reach others, that they may be fully aware of how much is possible in writing and art; such that Fence publishes almost entirely from its unsolicited submissions; and is committed to publishing the literature and art of queer writers and writers of color. All material is (c) Fence Magazine, Incorporated. Fence Magazine's founder and editor-in-chief is Rebecca Wolff.This podcast was compiled and created by Jason Zuzga.
16 Episodes
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Avg Length 14m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Antología de nueve novelas cortas de Pedro Antonio de Alarcón.Anthology of nine short stories by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón.
12 Episodes
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Avg Length 38m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Jungle Tales of Tarzan is a collection of twelve loosely-connected short stories written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, comprising the sixth book in order of publication in his series about the title character Tarzan. Chronologically, the events recounted in it actually occur between chapters 12 and 13 of the first Tarzan novel, Tarzan of the Apes.
9 Episodes
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Avg Length 31m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Robert W. Chambers (1865-1933) studied art in Paris in the late 80’s and early 90’s, where his work was displayed at the Salon. However, shortly after returning to America, he decided to spend his time in writing. He became popular as the writer of a number of romantic novels, but is now best known as the author of “The King In Yellow”. This is a collection of the first half of this work of short stories which have an eerie, other-worldly feel to it; but the stories in the second half are essentially love stories, strongly coloured by the author’s life as an artist in France. Only the first half of the collection of stories is presented here: the earlier stories are all coloured by the background presence of a play, “The King In Yellow” itself, which corrupts those who read it, and opens them to horrible experiences and to visions of a ghastly other world, lit by dark stars and distorted skies. This half of the collection is completed by a few very short pieces and two rather strange and beautiful stories of love and time, loneliness and death.
23 Episodes
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Avg Length 36m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
This is a collection of stories collected over thousands of years by various authors, translators and scholars. The are an amalgam of mythology and folk tales from the Indian sub-continent, Persia, and Arabia. No original manuscript has ever been found for the collection, but several versions date the collection’s genesis to somewhere between AD 800-900. The stories are wound together under the device of a long series of cliff-hangers told by Shahrazad to her husband Shahryar, to prevent him from executing her. Many tales that have become independently famous come from the Book, among them Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. This collection comes from the first of sixteen volumes translated by Burton. (Based on Wikipedia article)
3 Episodes
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Avg Length 30m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
The Man Who Would Be King tells the story of two British adventurers in British India who become kings of Kafiristan, a remote part of Afghanistan. It was inspired by the exploits of James Brooke, an Englishman who became the “white Raja” of Sarawak in Borneo, and by the travels of American adventurer Josiah Harlan, who claimed the title Prince of Ghor. The story was first published in The Phantom Rickshaw and other Tales (Volume Five of the Indian Railway Library, published by A H Wheeler & Co of Allahabad in 1888). It also appeared in Wee Willie Winkie and Other Stories in 1895, and in numerous later editions of that collection. It is the basis for John Huston’s 1975 film of the same name, starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine as the “kings”, and Christopher Plummer as Kipling.
44 Episodes
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Avg Length 8m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Jack the Giant-Killer, Tom Thumb, Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Henny Penny, Dick Whittington, The Three Little Pigs, Red Riding Hood and a host of immortal characters are found in this delightful collection of English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. The book made its first appearance in 1890 and has remained a firm favorite with both young and old ever since. Fairy tales have traditionally emanated from France and Germany. The famous compilations by La Fontaine and the Brothers Grimm have overshadowed children's literature for centuries. Yet, many of the stories we recount to children today have an English origin, something that we were unaware of. The author, Joseph Jacobs, was an Australian folklorist and historian who painstakingly compiled them from various sources. In the preface to the first edition he recounts how he collected some stories from the descendants of English immigrants in America and Australia, while he sourced others from English gypsies and old ballads. In many cases he had to rewrite and retell those stories which existed in verse form or in ancient dialects. Older forms of English had to be tailored to suit modern readers, while some of the more objectionable parts had to be discarded. Wicked step-mothers, rampaging giants, damsels in distress, gallant princes and evil spells are some of the staples in this fascinating collection. The author himself states that it was his intention to create a book in which the stories would sound as if they were being narrated by an old nurse or grandmother. Hence, the style is simple, direct and like he states, meant to be read aloud and not visually. The original edition also included extensive notes on the source from which he collected the stories and reference material which is of great interest to folk-lore enthusiasts. Such was the impact of some of the stories that they are referenced in Shakespeare's plays and provided inspiration for poets like Milton. The highlight of the book for serious readers is the elaborate footnotes which provide a great deal of information about different variants of these stories that are told in other parts of the world. One of the most attractive features in the book are the charming illustrations that accompany each tale. The book is a delightful read for both parents and children. Apart from old favorites, there are many new tales which most people would not have encountered like “Nix Nought Nothing” “The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh” or “The Earl of Mar's Daughter.”
35 Episodes
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Avg Length 23m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
A collection of folklore stories accumulated during the Islamic Golden Age, The Arabian Nights Entertainments has entertained and fascinated readers for centuries. The book centers on a frame story concerning the sultan Shahrayah and his wife Scheherazade, who cleverly narrates captivating stories to her husband each night in order to save herself from his retribution and live another day. As a result the book encourages the literary technique of a story within a story. The frame story begins when the sultan Shahrayar learns of his brother’s adulterous wife and subsequently discovers his own wife is guilty of infidelity. Overwhelmed by fury, he has his wife executed and in his moment of grief and bitterness declares that all women are the same. Hence begins his pledge to marry a virgin bride each night only to have her executed the next morning in order to prevent the possibility of betrayal. Accordingly, Shahrayar carries out his promise and executes many young women, until there are none left except for the daughters of his trusted vizier, whose responsibility is to provide the virgins. To his dismay and reluctance, his daughter Scheherazade steps in and offers herself as the next bride, however, Scheherazade devises a clever strategy in hopes of putting an end to the sultan’s wrath. On each night she begins to tell a story to the sultan, but does not finish it until the following night, which is then immediately followed by the beginning of another. Therefore, as she weaves one story into the next, she leaves the sultan in a state of curiosity eager to hear each story’s conclusion. Scheherazade tells stories on various topics including love, comedy, burlesque, fantasy, mythology, horror, destiny and many more. Apart from serving as a means of entertainment, The Arabian Nights Entertainments is notable for its didactic purpose, as many of the stories include moral lessons that genuinely stimulate the mind of the reader. Although most distinguished for its stories “Aladdin”, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”, and “The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor”, the book contains many other stories which are appealing to both younger and older readers. Nevertheless, the book has remained a timeless piece of literature which has influenced many cultures and writers, and has been the inspiration for countless film adaptations.
10 Episodes
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Avg Length 15m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Recopilación de relatos y y cuentos de temas variados: humor, fantasía, y temas sociales, entre otros. (Resumen: Marian Martin)Collection of short stories of varied genres, including humour, fantasy, and social issues, among others.
46 Episodes
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Avg Length 8m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Bearing a striking resemblance to Aesop of Aesop's Fables fame, American author Joel Chandler Harris' Uncle Remus is also a former slave who loves to tell simple and pithy stories. Uncle Remus or to give it its original title, Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings was published in late 1880 and received instant acclaim. The book was reviewed in hundreds of journals and newspapers across the country, leading to its immense success, both critical and financial. “Remus” was originally a fictional character in a newspaper column. Harris, who was a journalist with the Atlanta Constitution, a small-town newspaper, first presented Remus to the world via a regular column in which Remus was depicted as a person who regularly visited the newspaper offices to talk about the social issues of the day. However, later, Remus began to increasingly recount plantation folktales that Harris had compiled. He had heard them from the slaves of Turnworld Plantation as a 16 year old school dropout, working as an apprentice in a newspaper office located in the area. Harris was a poor, illegitimate, immigrant Irish boy who found more in common with the slaves on the plantation than with his so called social equals. He spent much of his free time in the slave quarters, absorbing their lifestyle, folklore and legends. Uncle Remus is famous also for one of its most lovable and astute characters, Br'er Rabbit. This smart, yet mischievous fellow and his companions have provided endless entertainment for generations of children. The original stories were rendered in authentic Southern Georgia slave dialect and later adapted so that they could be better understood. Apart from the doings of the trickster rabbit, Uncle Remus contains poems, songs and folk-tales deeply rooted in the plantation tradition. Though early critics were dismayed by the apparent racist nature of the stories and the passive acceptance of the slave-owning situation, modern versions have overcome these aspects and Uncle Remus today provides education, information and entertainment for children and parents. The 29 books that were originally written have been compiled into nine Uncle Remus series and three books were published posthumously. A total of 185 Uncle Remus stories were penned and they were path breaking in their depiction of the authentic speech of the Southern plantations. Extensively adapted for radio, animation, film and television, Uncle Remus is today an essential part of children's literature. In fact, not just children, but older readers too will find the book a delightful classic!
10 Episodes
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Avg Length 28m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
The Short Ghost Story Collection contains ten classic spooky tales written by such master craftsmen as Algernon Blackwood, Charles Dickens, Bram Stoker and Saki among others. The stories range from haunted houses to reincarnation (as a predatory otter), ancient curses in which marble statues come alive and wreak a horrible revenge and a long narrative poem that describes a dialog between a ghost and a human being. This anthology features authors like Lewis Carroll and E Nesbit who are traditionally regarded as children's writers and other practitioners of the paranormal like American writer Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. Ghost stories generally deal with anything that's considered “scary.” However, each writer has his or her own style of telling the tale. Some like Saki bring in their trademark irony, while Lewis Carroll ensures that the fantastic finds its way in. Algernon Blackwood bends the ghost story to its most classic level, as he spins out this subtle and truly chilling tale "The Empty House". Charles Dickens weighs in with a gothic tale of a jury member being haunted by the ghost of the person whose trial he is called upon to judge. "The Trial For Murder" finds Dickens in an unusually crisp, rapier-like mode with none of his elaborate and often distracting details. Sheridan Le Fanu's grim tale "Schalken the Painter" describes the bizarre experiences of a Flemish artist who falls in love with his teacher's daughter. The horror in this story is generated as much by what's left to the imagination as what's described by the narrator. A brief but equally hair-raising little gem by E Nesbit, titled "Uncle Abraham's Romance" is taken from her 1893 publication Grim Tales. A wistful story, tinged with an air of sadness, like an old keepsake, this story is sure to remain in your memory long after you've put the book down. "Shadows on the Wall" is a tale of “domestic horror” by Mary E Wilkins Freeman an early feminist writer who dabbled in other genres occasionally. This classic tale will definitely creep you out whenever you're home alone at night! It tells the tale of a mysterious crooked shadow that persistently appears on a wall, with no apparent substance to create it. For ghost story enthusiasts and anyone who revels in scary, eerie, creepy, mysterious and spectral tales of weird and uncanny happenings, here's a great collection to chill you to the bone!
18 Episodes
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Avg Length 17m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
From the cave man to Santa Claus; spies, know-it-alls, and journalists: all are fair game for Leacock’s special brand of humor. He touches on the changes time has brought about in the city, education, and work habits. Among the other topics in this work are nature, fishing, gardening, success, and spirits–both of the departed and of the variety Prohibition prohibited. Each chapter of this book is a standalone story and if you love a good laugh, these stories are for you. In me, Leacock’s wit produced the full range of laughter: smiles, chuckles, guffaws, and some uncontrollable giggles. Also, occasionally, I found myself shedding a tear or two. (Review by Debra Lynn)
1 Episodes
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Avg Length 22m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
In this chilling short-story by a master of the craft, Kurt Vonnegut creates a fictional world of the future where life and death are no longer matters of individual choice or destiny. The title refers to the famous quote from Hamlet, “To be or not to be....” with “0” being pronounced as “naught.” It also refers to the eternal dilemma of life and death that face every human being at some point in their lives. Written in 1962 it is set in some unspecified time in the future, when earth has become a Utopia. The population is under control, there is no poverty, suffering or even natural death. Man has conquered all. It's common for humans to live for two centuries or more. Death happens only when someone requests it. 2BR02B in the story is the telephone number that volunteers must call when they are ready for assisted suicide. It belongs to the Federal Bureau of Termination which decides that for every child born, one person must volunteer to die. However, all is not perfect in this paradise – human beings still retain a spark of humanity and yearn for freedom. When the story opens, Edward Wehling, a youngish father-to-be is waiting for his wife to give birth. What follows is both spine-chilling and eerie. It makes you introspect about the future of humankind, whether the earth can sustain itself at the pace at which population is growing and about the ethics of concepts like assisted suicide. The reader pauses to wonder whether greater common good can replace love and the individual. 2BR02B has memorable characters like the nameless two-hundred-year-old painter, the genial Dr Hitz who created the first population control gas-chamber and Leora Duncan a gas-chamber hostess. Apart from these, the story explores Vonnegut's favorite anti-establishment ideas, where the government is seen as the enemy of personal freedom. Art in the future, according to Vonnegut, will become dull, commercialized and prescribed by the state. Creativity and individual expression will die out along with other freedoms. Technology and scientific advancements will render simple human concepts of compassion and love redundant. Though the story is a trifle dated (it refers to the year 2000 as the year in which population control systems were first imposed, and the earth had run out of food and water) it is an interesting one that appeals to readers of all ages.
39 Episodes
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Avg Length 18m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
A maritime classic acclaimed for its exciting adventure, The Sea Wolf offers a thrilling tale of life at sea, while exploring the many difficulties that may erupt on board a ship captained by a brutally hedonistic and controlling individual. Additionally, the psychological adventure novel covers several themes including mutiny, existentialism, individualism, brutality, and the intrinsic will to survive. The novel sets into motion when its protagonist, the soft and cultivated scholar Humphrey van Weyden, is witness to a precarious collision between his ferry and another ship. Consequently, the accident causes the ferry to sink and sets Weyden adrift in the San Francisco Bay, but before long, he is picked up by a seal-hunting vessel headed for Japan. As Weyden finds himself aboard the Ghost, he is promptly greeted by its vile captain, Wolf Larson. An autodidact sailor, Larson is presented as a pitiless and single-minded individual, who rules over his crew with the help of his extraordinary physical strength and the pure terror he emits. Accordingly, he brushes aside Weyden’s request to be taken ashore, and instead forces him into the position of cabin boy, which is accompanied by menial work and contact with the similarly brutal crew. As Weyden spends time on board the vessel, he comes to learn some of the captain’s enigmatic philosophies, which include survival of the fittest, a disregard for the human soul, an individualistic stance, and a life guided by the acquisition of pleasure alone. Left with the choice to either work or die, Weyden must endure terrifying ordeals aboard the ship, which incidentally never seem to diminish. Furthermore, he must grow from his cowardly idealistic ways if he is to even stand a chance at life among the crew, let alone escape from the grasps of the despotic Larson. London’s vivid portrayal of his most memorable character, Wolf Larson, will most definitely entice the reader to learn more about his cynical incentives and his complex set of ideas. Moreover, Larson has the strange ability to rouse sympathy from the audience with his highly defined masculinity and philosophies, which at times may just outshine his decadence. A novel certain to enthrall with it never-ending supply of action, The Sea Wolf is the perfect pick for those longing to set on a more dangerous voyage.
9 Episodes
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Avg Length 19m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
This book features a series of short stories collected by renowned ethnologist Henry R. Schoolcraft. The stories are adapted from old Native American legends with the aim to protect their authenticity from future contamination. Schoolcraft made it his duty to learn the Native American folklore, after living among them in the Great Lakes region and experiencing their culture firsthand. The allegorical collection include tales of adventure, whilst offering exciting explanations for natural phenomena as perceived by members of the tribe and their ancestors, who have passed down the tales from one generation to the next. The collection of stories begins with the introduction of wise and venerable Iagoo, whose respected position and function in the tribe is to preserve their history through the means of storytelling. It is his role as a storyteller to recount tales of the customs and traditions of their people to attentive young listeners. Consequently begin the tales of mythological and fascinating events, which take place in a time when animals could speak and the world was still new. Personification is therefore generously applied and embraced throughout the collection. The stories serve a purpose of endorsing morals, expressing the sweet rewards of good conduct, and ultimately act as cautionary tales to portray the consequences of certain traits. Celebrating interconnectedness between man and nature, the stories support the idea that every course of action has a consequence and that humans are not superior to nature, but equally valuable while sharing responsibility and purpose. What makes the collection so fascinating is the fact that the stories have been passed down throughout generations by oral traditions, therefore signifying their cultural richness and identity. Depicting a close relationship between mankind, spirits, animals, and nature, the stories depict a cultural tradition successfully portrayed in the pages of the anthology. Furthermore the compilation allows readers to observe and learn more about a culture preserved in a most intriguing manner.
19 Episodes
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Avg Length 24m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Although written from a child’s perspective, this is not a kids book but a series of funny, poignant, and sometimes disturbing stories about life in a late 19th-century Russian-Jewish village — the world of my grandparents. Sholem Rabinovich (1859-1916) was born in Pereiaslav, Ukraine and later immigrated to New York. His short stories about Tevye and his daughters were freely adapted into the musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Rabinovich’s will contained the following injunction: “Let my name be recalled with laughter or not at all.” His translator, Hannah Berman, was Irish of Lithuanian descent.Some of these stories may be too intense for younger children.
25 Episodes
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Avg Length 7m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
If you find yourself with nothing particular to do in an airport, train or bus or you've got a quiet evening to yourself in a hotel room or you're facing the delicious prospect of an extended lunch or tea break, why not pick up Coffee Break Collection 001 and enjoy the experience? This anthology has a selection of humorous pieces guaranteed to keep you entertained. Opening with a master of the genre, PG Wodehouse, the first story is a pseudo-scholarly treatise on football captains! A delightful piece follows – Beyond Pandora by RJ Martin with its memorable opening line, “The ideal way to deal with a pest.... is of course to make it useful to you.” The collection also includes a gem from the inimitable Saki and another from a master of the twist-in-the-tail genre, O Henry. Published in 1883 and written by an anonymous writer, English As She is Wrote is an amusing compendium of curiosities of the English language that's definitely rib-tickling! Chapters 2 and 3 are included here. Chapter 2 deals with various comical advertisements and sign-boards – to give an example, In the far West a man advertises for a woman to wash, iron and milk a few cows! Chapter 3 provides examples of zany epitaphs like “Here lies John Ross Kicked By a Hoss” Selections from Robert Benchley, WS Gilbert, Mark Twain, William Makepeace Thackeray and many more witty entertainers are included in Coffee Break Collection 001. A couple of stories, fables, actually, are by the only woman author to be featured here, Lida Brown McMurry. What makes the collection even more attractive is that all the stories included are short pieces, and would take just about fifteen or twenty minutes to get through, making them ideal for a quick and easy read. This is really fun on the run!
123 Episodes
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Avg Length 15m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron is a collection of novellas or short novels written during the 14th century. There are 100 tales contained in the book which is presented together. The book’s title The Decameron combines the two Greek words “deka” meaning ten and “hemera” meaning day. The title can be literally translated as “ten day,” which is also the time frame in which the stories are told by the 7 young women and 3 young men. In the book, each of the ten persons took their turns to tell stories for a day. They did this during their stay at a villa in Fiesole in which they stayed to be safe from the Black Plague. The stories they told vary from love stories, narratives which have tragic endings to erotic tales. This book was originally written in vernacular Florentine and was subsequently translated into many different languages including English. Wayne Reborn’s recent translation of the book into English in 2013 was praised by many critics for being “modern” and it made the book more “readable” to younger audiences. Like most of the literature from the medieval times, this book is full of symbolisms. The book’s subtitle “Prince Galehaut” is an allusion to Galehaut, a character in the tale of King Arthur who made a way for his friend Lancelot and Guinevere to meet and express their love for each other. It was believed that Boccaccio used this subtitle to express his sentiment about women during his time who have no social liberty and can’t freely express themselves. The seven young women in the book are believed to symbolize the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues while the three young men represent the classical belief of the Greeks in which the human soul has three parts: reason, spirit and appetite. In the passage of time, other authors eventually borrowed the storylines of the tales told in the book. Modern readers may be amused to learn that the plots of some of the stories they know today were just borrowed from this The Decameron.
27 Episodes
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Avg Length 14m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Published in 1838, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is Poe’s only complete novel and concentrates on several sea adventures gone awry. The novel follows Arthur Gordon Pym, who finds himself in the center of gloomy occurrences on board numerous vessels, as his anticipated sea adventure takes a drastic shift in the wind. Shipwreck, starvation, mutiny, near death experiences and cannibalism are just some of the issues endured in the gripping, and at times gruesome novel. The adventure begins with the introduction of its narrator, the decorous young man, Arthur Gordon Pym from the island of Nantucket, who commences the marvelous tale by giving a descriptive account of his reputable family background and upbringing. His best friend Augustus Barnard and son of a sea captain, spurs Pym’s dangerous love for life at sea. Their first open water adventure is initiated one evening after an alcohol induced whim witnesses the pair set sail aboard Pym’s sailboat, the Ariel. Unfortunately, their trip is cut short due to a perilous storm, from which the two young men just barely escape, owing their lives to a passing whaling ship. Despite the frightening ordeal, Pym is only further thrilled by the idea of sailing, and it is this enthusiasm that incites his next sea adventure. Consequently, he follows Augustus as a stowaway on board a whaling vessel, the Grampus, which is bound on an expedition to the southern seas and is incidentally captained by Augustus’s father. However, the journey of Pym and Augustus is anything but monotonous, as they face unforeseen events that challenge both their physical and psychological endurance. Although containing some inconsistencies within the storyline, the novel still manages to enthrall with its strange sequence of events, as its characters must surge through countless predicaments including unfavorable weather, horrendous mutiny, and starvation. An eccentric piece of literature sure to mesmerize with its unique and grisly tale of frightening occurrences at sea, the novel stays true to the macabre style of its renowned author, Edgar Allan Poe. Moreover, the novel is regarded as an influential piece of writing, affecting the works of many future writers, including renowned authors Jules Verne and Herman Melville.
34 Episodes
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Avg Length 17m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Published in 1910, The Lilac Fairy Book is the last book in the series of fairytale collections known as Andrew Lang's “Coloured” Fairy Books and features stories from various folklores and cultures including Welsh, Portuguese, Scottish, Italian, and many other foreign literary branches. Moreover, the collection is a gem in the short story genre due to the fact that Lang collected some of the featured stories from foreign languages and made them available to English audiences. Featuring 33 stories, The Lilac Fairy Book offers a different perspective to the happy-ever-after fairytales most people are accustomed to and expect. The compilation combines faeries, animals, giants, ogres, kings, mermaids, and troubled characters, as it offers not just entertainment, but also enlightens with its allusions. Awe-inspiring for children with its vibrant characters and vivid descriptions, the short stories are equally engaging for adults who want to revive some childhood memories, while being open to some unexpected twists.
1 Episodes
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Avg Length 40m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Eve's Diary is a comic short story by Mark Twain. It was first published in the 1905 Christmas issue of the magazine Harper's Bazaar, and in book format in June 1906 by Harper and Brothers publishing house. It is written in the style of a diary kept by the first woman in the Judeao-Christian creation myth, Eve, and is claimed to be "translated from the original MS." The "plot" of this novel is the first-person account of Eve from her creation up to her burial by, her mate, Adam, including meeting and getting to know Adam, and exploring the world around her, Eden. The story then jumps 40 years into the future after the Fall and expulsion from Eden. It is one of a series of books Twain wrote concerning the story of Adam and Eve, including 'Extracts from Adam's Diary,' 'That Day In Eden,' 'Eve Speaks,' 'Adam's Soliloquy,' and the 'Autobiography of Eve.' Eve's Diary has a lighter tone than the others in the series, as Eve has a strong appreciation for beauty and love. The book may have been written as a posthumous love-letter to Mark Twain's wife Olivia Langdon Clemens, or Livy, who died in June 1904, just before the story was written. Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "Eve's Diary is finished — I've been waiting for her to speak, but she doesn't say anything more." The story ends with Adam's speaking at Eve's grave, "Wherever she was, there was Eden."
25 Episodes
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Avg Length 18m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Anderson’s uniquely structured piece focuses on the lives of Winesburg’s most intriguing residents, as each shares a personal recount of their lives and experiences in the small town. The stories essentially intertwine to illustrate the development of George Willard, as he transforms from a heedless young man, to a man well aware of life’s trials and the extent of human misery. Exploring various themes including isolation, communication, limitation, and suffering, Winesburg, Ohio offers a glimpse into its characters heartfelt confessions. Set in the late nineteenth century in the fictional town of Winesburg, Anderson begins his piece with his story “The Book of the Grotesque”, which serves as an introduction to the stories that are to follow and also provides the framework for the book’s underlying themes. The tale presents an elderly writer who is inspired to look back on life and remember many of his acquaintances, who he refers to as grotesques hiding behind a superficial truth. Subsequently, the work introduces George Willard, a young reporter working in the small town, who meets many of the town’s introverted, eccentric, and troubled residents. Accordingly, each story revolves around a particular character, as they reveal the reason behind their self-condemned state of anguish and solitude. Taking up the role of discreet observers, the audience is subjected to an enlightening experience, carefully witnessing each character’s raw emotions, psychological conflict, and damaged self-concept. Nevertheless, the critically acclaimed piece presents a fine example of Anderson’s distinctive style, as he effectively combines both narrative and short story forms to create a piece regarded as having triggered a short story revolution due to its unorthodox style. Furthermore, Anderson’s stories later influenced many notable American writers including Faulkner, Hemingway, and Carver. A deeply moving book portraying the arduous struggles of ordinary people, Winesburg, Ohio encourages the audience to look beneath the deceiving surface of a person and instead recognize and appreciate individual beauty.
4 Episodes
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Avg Length 20m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Although Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a wealthy landowner, in his later life he had what was considered a “religious awakening.” This experience went on to inform his writing and his lifestyle in profound ways. His views transcended the specifics of religion, as known in his day – so much so he came to be a helpful guide both to Mohandas Gandhi and to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The four stories in this collection ask profound questions and gently supply helpful, non-dogmatic hints to their answerings: What is the most important thing to do? Who is the most important person? When is the most important time? What is worth owning? What is the most profound religion? What rules should men live by? How much land does a man need? Who is God? What should we bother to discuss? How should we act towards one another? How should we respond to cruelty and violence? And many more. Wonderful stories written in a relaxed style. Summary by Alan Drake
7 Episodes
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Avg Length 17m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
Белые ночи (”White Nights”) by Fyodor Dostoevsky [read in Russian]. In this small 100kb story (though author states this is a sentimental novel) author describes in his traditional and particular way the internal world of one young lonely person.The hero’s 26 years old man, who is oriented into his internal world, who’s rather shy, and thus is in real demand of a soulful conversations and love. The action take place in the city of a real and deep sentiments and romance — Saint Petersburg, the most romantic and European city in Russia. Not only the location is important, but also a time of a day: all actions in the story take place in evening and night time — the famous time of white nights.Once, hero is going out to have a little daily promenade alone and he occasionally meets an attractive and lovely woman on evening streets of Saint Petersburg. Can he fell in love with her? Can they estimate the value of this relationship? Can they lead a happy life in this city of lonely hearts? You will know the answers on all these questions if you read or listen to a story.
1 Episodes
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Avg Length 13m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
The Gift of the Magi is an O. Henry short story in which a young couple are very much in love with each other but can barely afford their one-room apartment. For Christmas, they each make a sacrifice to purchase a gift for the other, with ironic results. The moral of the story is that physical possessions, however valuable they may be, are of little value in the grand scheme of things. The true unselfish love that the characters, Jim and Della, share is greater than their possessions. O. Henry ends the story by clarifying the metaphor between the characters in the story, Della and James (or Jim), and the Biblical Magi. The Gift of the Magi features O. Henry’s characteristic twist ending and use of flowery diction.
14 Episodes
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Avg Length 11m
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Latest episode 6 months ago
“Come with me, ladies and gentlemen who are in any wise weary of London: come with me: and those that tire at all of the world we know: for we have new worlds here.” – Lord Dunsany, the preface to “The Book of Wonder”