Classic Short Stories

Oct 01 2024 22 ep. 37
Classic Short Stories Podcast artwork

We read out classic short stories from literaturefrom the pens of the masters: Katherine Mansfield, Anton Chekov, O. Henry, Françoise Sagan, James Joyce, Guy de Maupassant. D. H. Lawrence and more.

  Fiction
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Miss Anstruther's Letters by Rose Macaulay

Oct 01 2024 40 mins  
Miss Ansruther's Letters by Dame Rose Macaulay: In the smouldering ruins of wartime London, Miss Anstruther faces an agonising choice. As bombs rain down and her building burns, she must decide what to save from the encroaching flames. Amidst the chaos, she suddenly remembers the most precious items she owns: letters from her deceased lover. Rose Macaulay's "Miss Anstruther's Lette

Face of My People by Anna Kavan

Sep 25 2024 60 mins  
In Anna Kavan's haunting short story "The Face of My People," we encounter Kling, a man adrift in a world he no longer recognizes. Confined to a psychiatric ward in a foreign land, Kling grapples with a past too painful to articulate and a present that seems to reject his very existence. As the staff and fellow patients struggle to understand him, Kling's isolation deepens, reveali

Lovers of the Lake by Seán Ó Faoláin

Sep 18 2024 73 mins  
In Sean O'Faolain's "Lovers of the Lake," a middle-aged couple's annual pilgrimage to a sacred Irish island becomes a crucible for their illicit relationship. As Jenny grapples with the weight of her Catholic upbringing and Bobby confronts his own skepticism, their love affair is tested against the backdrop of ancient rituals and modern desires. O'Faolain's nuanced portrayal of fai

Listen to the Magnolias by Stella Gibbons

Sep 11 2024 53 mins  
Listen to the Magnolias by Stella Gibbons was published in 1954. This poignant short story transports us to a small English town during World War II, where the arrival of American troops shatters the stifling routine of suburban life. Through the eyes of a woman trapped in her own fears and societal expectations, we witness a powerful transformation. In this nuanced narrative, Gibb

I Spy A Stranger by Jean Rhys

Sep 04 2024 62 mins  
Jean Rhys's "I Spy A Stranger," published in 1960, offers a penetrating exploration of suspicion and alienation through the story of Laura, a refugee from Nazi-occupied Europe. Set in wartime England, the narrative exposes the fragile nature of community bonds as Laura becomes the target of mounting distrust in a small town. Rhys's keen observations of human nature reveal how quick

The Nose by Nikolai Gogol

Aug 28 2024 81 mins  
A classic of Russian literature and one of the foundational short stories of European literature. Step into the absurd and captivating world of Nikolai Gogol's "The Nose," where the ordinary collides with the extraordinary in the streets of 19th-century St. Petersburg. This satirical masterpiece follows the bizarre misadventures of Collegiate Assessor Kovalev as he grapples with an

The Library of Babel by Jorge Luis Borges

Aug 21 2024 48 mins  
Prepare to embark on a mind-bending journey through the infinite corridors of Jorge Luis Borges' "The Library of Babel." This captivating tale will transport you to a universe where every possible book ever written - and yet to be written - exists within a vast, labyrinthine library. As you listen, you'll find yourself grappling with profound questions about knowledge, meaning, and

Wireless by Rudyard Kipling

Aug 14 2024 60 mins  
In the mysterious world of Rudyard Kipling's "The Wireless," science and the supernatural intertwine in a captivating blend of curiosity and mystique. Follow the tale of Mr. Shaynor, a consumptive chemist's assistant, as he traverses the realms of poetic inspiration, enigmatic transmissions, and the fragile dance between belief and skepticism. Join me on a journey through a setting

The Lagoon by Joseph Conrad

Aug 07 2024 58 mins  
Step into the realm of Joseph Conrad's literary mastery with a tantalizing narration of his intriguing short story, "The Lagoon." Delve into a world of isolation, love, and moral complexities set against the exotic backdrop of Southeast Asia, where characters navigate loyalty, betrayal, and the haunting shadows of their pasts. Join us on a captivating journey through Conrad's vivid

The Gift of the Magi by O Henry

Jul 31 2024 33 mins  
Is this the best-written short story in English? Imagine a world where love outweighs gold, where sacrifice becomes the greatest gift of all. Step into the lives of Jim and Della, a young couple in New York City, as they navigate the bittersweet challenge of Christmas giving with empty pockets but full hearts. O. Henry's timeless masterpiece, "The Gift of the Magi," weaves a tale o