Fiction

Classic Short Stories

Tony Walker

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.

22 episodes

Miss Anstruther's Letters by Rose Macaulay 2 Oct 2024 · 40 min 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, s…

Face of My People by Anna Kavan 25 Sept 2024 · 1 hr 1 min 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…

Lovers of the Lake by Seán Ó Faoláin 18 Sept 2024 · 1 hr 13 min 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 wi…

Listen to the Magnolias by Stella Gibbons 11 Sept 2024 · 53 min 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…

I Spy A Stranger by Jean Rhys 4 Sept 2024 · 1 hr 2 min 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. Se…

The Nose by Nikolai Gogol 28 Aug 2024 · 1 hr 21 min 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 t…

The Library of Babel by Jorge Luis Borges 21 Aug 2024 · 48 min 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 whe…

Wireless by Rudyard Kipling 14 Aug 2024 · 1 hr 1 min 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. Shayn…

The Lagoon by Joseph Conrad 7 Aug 2024 · 59 min 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…

The Gift of the Magi by O Henry 31 Jul 2024 · 34 min 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,…

The Lees of Happiness by F. Scott Fitzgerald 24 Jul 2024 · 1 hr 17 min Step into the world of "The Lees of Happiness," a poignant tale by F. Scott Fitzgerald that captures the essence of true love, the trials of life, and the enduring bonds of friend…

The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield 17 Jul 2024 · 1 hr 6 min Step into the world of Katherine Mansfield’s "The Garden Party," a tale that exquisitely unravels the delicate threads of class, empathy, and self-awareness. Join Laura Sheridan o…

Spring in Fialta by Vladimir Nabokov 3 Jul 2024 · 1 hr 17 min "Spring in Fialta," is a masterpiece of memory and missed connections by Vladimir Nabokov. This evocative short story whisks listeners away to a Dalmatian seaside resort, where th…

Forgotten Dreams by Stefan Zweig 26 Jun 2024 · 17 min Imagine a serene villa perched gracefully by the sea, where the rich, salty air mingles with the subtle fragrance of pine trees. The gentle breeze rustles the orange blossoms, and…

Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti #poem 20 Jun 2024 · 24 min Dive into the enchanting world of "Goblin Market," a timeless narrative poem by Christina Rossetti that weaves a tale of temptation, sacrifice, and sisterly love. Experience the a…

Solid Objects by Virginia Woolf 18 Jun 2024 · 19 min "Solid Objects" is a short story by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1920 in the literary magazine The Athenaeum. It was later included in Woolf's collection A Haunted House and…

A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner 11 Jun 2024 · 27 min Immerse yourself in the hauntingly evocative world of William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," masterfully narrated by Tony Walker. This Southern Gothic tale unravels the life of Em…

The Man Who Loved Islands by D. H. Lawrence 10 Jun 2024 · 1 hr 11 min Here we narrate D.H. Lawrence's "The Man Who Loved Islands," where isolation becomes both a refuge and a prison. This gripping audiobook tells the story of Mr. Carthcart, a man wh…

The Lady With The Dog by Anton Chekhov 6 Jun 2024 · 44 min In Anton Chekhov's timeless novella "The Lady with the Dog," a chance encounter at a seaside resort sets in motion a tale that resonates with the complexities of human emotion. Th…

First Love and Other Sorrows by Harold Brodkey 30 May 2024 · 1 hr 11 min Imagine the sepia-tinted streets of mid-20th century St. Louis, where the veneer of suburban respectability masks a landscape of hidden disappointments and unspoken regrets. In Ha…

The Dead by James Joyce 28 May 2024 · 1 hr 33 min At a lively holiday gathering in Dublin, Gabriel Conroy's evening is filled with music, conversation, and a haunting revelation that will alter his understanding of love and morta…

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin 28 May 2024 · 10 min When Mrs Mallard learns of her husband's untimely death, the news threatens her fragile heart. But alone in her room, she experiences a profound, unexpected revelation that change…