Short Stories
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The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories (Version 2)
The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories is a 1906 collection of 30 comic short stories by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. Published just 4 years before his death, this was the last time he chose works from throughout his career, in an effort to show the diversity of his style and the breadth and depth of his interests. (Introduction by John Greenman & Wikipedia )
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (version 5)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twelve short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Each of the stories are told in a first-person style from the point of view of Dr. Watson, Holmes’ associate and sidekick. The stories detail Holmes and Watson’s various adventures in solving cases that befuddle others within law enforcement. This book is a collection of twelve of Doyle’s favorite Sherlock Holmes stories. – Summary by TheBookBro
The Amateur
On the steamer on his way to London, Austin Ford meets a young woman, who is going to London to find her missing husband. Being a specialist in finding people, Mr. Ford agrees to help her in her quest. However, something appears to be not quite right about the lady and her story… (Summary by Carolin)
The Best American Humorous Short Stories
Eighteen short stories by famous and little known authors compassing the period 1839 – 1914. The editor’s very extensive introduction is omitted from this LibriVox audio book. (Summary by David Wales)
The Best British Short Stories of 1922
Twenty-four short stories by famous and not-so-famous British authors. (Summary by David Wales) Note: A shortened section 21 was replaced on Dec 30, 2014 with the full text.
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 01 October 1895
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the very first issue, offering the following 7 stories: “In gold time”, by Roberta Littlehale: in wild-west days, when two rivals love the same woman, tragedy ensues “The unturned trump”, by Barnes MacGreggor, pseudonym of H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): to while away the time, a simple card game gets spiced up by a traveller’s horrifying story “The secret of the white castle”, by Julia Magruder (1854-1907): what is the mystery behind the uncanny life-like stare of the portrait hanging on the wall ? “Miss Wood,–stenographer”, by Granville Sharpe: a young stenographer is called in to witness a deaf-mute’s final revelations on his death-bed “Her hoodoo”, by Harold Kinsabby, pseudonym of H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): a pet-calf, even if brought up with love and care, may still turn wild and dangerous “In a tiger trap”, by Charles Edward Barns (1862-1937): a breath-taking encounter of a young girl with the king of the jungle “The red-hot dollar”, by H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): find out why a seemingly ordinary silver dollar sets a newly-married man on a quest to find the original owner – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 02 November 1895
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. In this second issue are included the following 8 stories: “A Calaveras hold-up”, by Roberta Littlehale: can love make a man mend his ways or are some relationships doomed from the start ? “From a trolley post”, by Margaret Dodge: a boring bus-stop wait is interrupted by a young boy’s favourite pastime of hunting animals “An andenken”, by Julia Magruder (1854-1907): the story of a young artist’s budding love in the romantic, yet wild landscape of the Tyrolian Alps “The man from Maine”, by J. D. Ellsworth: a chance encounter in a train shows the resourcefulness of some people to get what they most want “A wedding tombstone”, by Clarice Irene Clinghan: wouldn’t a tombstone be a macabre wedding gift from a husband to his newly-wed bride ? “The other one”, by A. H. Gibson (1858-1929): in his dark wine-cellar, an old man makes a chilling confession to his bank-clerk “Stateroom six”, by William Albert Lewis (1856-??): the bad luck of a gambler proves the good fortune of a young girl “Her eyes, your honor”, by H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): a resourceful lawyer stops at nothing to save a woman from the gallows – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 03 December 1895
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. The following 6 stories are included in this third issue: “The great star ruby”, by Barnes MacGreggor, pseud. of H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): a man tells the thrilling story of the theft of a very valuable ruby “The interrupted banquet”, by Ren? Bache (1861-1933): at this strange dinner party, a young man is told some shocking news by the other guests “The archangel”, by James Q. Hyatt: brides from organized wedding agencies sometimes don’t turn out what the groom expects “Asleep at Lone Mountain”, by H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): a toddler wins the hearts of his fellow passengers during a long train journey cross-country “Kootchie”, by Harold Kinsabby, pseud. of H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): a mean-spirited dog finally finds its match in fierceness “Frazer’s find”, by Roberta Littlehale: the life of a gold-digger changes unexpectedly the day he rescues a young boy – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 04 January 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the fourth issue, containing the following 7 stories: “In Solomon’s Caverns”, by Charles Edward Barns: lost in a huge cavern, a man struggles to survive and find his way back to civilization “An angel of Tenderfoot Hill”, by Frederick Bradford: can two years of absence make a man worthy of the woman he loves ? “In Miggles’ Alley”, by Herman Brownson: how can a baby dangling by a rope from a rooftop be saved from falling to his death ? “The missing link”, by James Buckham (1858-1908): a man is torn between cowardice and duty after witnessing a violent murder “Unchallenged”, by Katherine Morrow: a thrilling dare has been set and two girls try to accomplish the challenge “Aidu”, by Hero Despard: a man seeks to know the secret of his beloved woman, at a terrible cost “Mrs Emory’s boarder”, by C. Marie Mott: the neighbour’s young lodger becomes the best companion of a lonely woman – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 05 February 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. The fifth issue has the following 6 stories: “The mysterious card”, by Cleveland Moffet (1863-1926): a man desperately tries to understand the horrible message which utterly destroyed his life “Tang-u”, by Lawrence E. Adams: through excellent eyesight, a young boy saves the lives of a battleship-crew “The little brown mole”, by Clarice Irene Clinghan: after several years of separation, a man comes home and finds his wife quite a changed person “A telepathic wooing”, by James Buckham (1858-1908): too shy to approach the woman he loves, a young doctor tries out an unusual method to propose to her “The Prince ward”, by Claude M. Girardeau: a dead woman’s ghost takes revenge on the woman who took away her husband “A meeting of royalty”, by Margaret Dodge: a chance encounter with a young girl sets a man down memory lane – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 06 March 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the sixth issue, offering the following 5 stories: “Eleanor Stevens’ will”, by Isabel Scott Stone: a rich woman’s final will creates a stir among fortune hunters ”To let”, by Alice Turner Curtis: midnight screams scare away new residents in a cottage with a terrible history “Of course – Of course not”, by Harry M. Peck: sometimes an unexpected visit on a quiet evening at home can turn out life-changing “The Marchburn mystery”, by A. Maurice Low: was the mysterious stranger in the elevator really the killer of Mr Marchburn ? “Their colonial villa”, by Charles Barnard (1838-1920): a young wife thinks she is losing her mind after her husband made new housing arrangements – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 07 April 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. The seventh issue, offers the following 6 stories: “The mystery of the thirty millions”, by T. F. Anderson and H. D. Umbstaetter (1851-1913): what happened to the large ocean-steamer that inexplicably vanished in mid-Atlantic ? “The man at Solitaria”, by Geik Turner: after 15 years of solitary work, a man is finally going postal “The compass of Fortune”, by Eugene Shade Bisbee (1864-1933): the eyes of a mysterious skull seem to be looking into one specific direction “A surgical love-cure”, by James Buckham (1858-1908): a patient asks his doctor to have love surgically removed from him “The Williamson safe mystery”, by F. S. Hesseltine: what horrible discovery did the men make on opening the safe ? “How small the World”, by E. H. Mayde: an exchange of a series of letters finally leads to two people finding together – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 08 May 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the eighth issue with the following 5 stories: “For fame, money, or love ?” by Rodrigues Ottolengui (1861-1937): a piano composition reveals the final thoughts of a musician ”A No Account Niggah”, by Leonard M. Prince: a clumsy new recruit proves his worth when it matters most “A hundred thousand dollar trance”, by Eugene Shade Bisbee (1864-1933): a renowned hypnotist proposes a rather shocking experiment at a club meeting “The misfit gown”, by Elmer Cook Rice: witness the heated voting campaign for the presidency of a woman’s charity club “The shifting sand”, by C. C. van Orsdall: the tragic story of man’s life-long obsession to find back a treasure chamber – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 09 June 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. The ninth issue offers the following 5 stories: “The House across the Way”, by Leo Gale: after measuring the length of two adjacent rooms, the horrible mystery of a walled-up space is revealed “Mrs Sloan’s Curiosity”, by Mabell Shippie Clarke: what unusual name is hidden behind the initials G. F. S. ? “The Seaweed Room”, by Clarice Irene Clinghan: a night-time vision of two lovers united in death “The Second Edition”, by Geik Turner: a newspaper editor receives a late-night visit from a very desperate man with a mission “The Luck of Killing Day”, by McPherson Fraser: two men make a daring bet to win the girl they love – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 10 July 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the tenth issue, offering 5 more stories: “On the last trail”, by H. W. Phillips and Rupert Hughes: witness the final showdown between the marshall and his friend ”A message from where ?”, by L. Francis Bishop: a boy’s imagination is kindled by a mysterious beautiful woman in an old picture “The man with the box”, by George W. Tripp: find out what happens when you don’t heed the warning and press the “snake” button “What the moon saw”, by Isabelle Meredith: a careless young man finds out why one should not disturb the rest of the dead “In Miss Polly’s pew”, by Ellen Frizzell Wycoff: it is never too late to claim your true love – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 11 August 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. The eleventh issue offers the following 5 stories: “The Mysterious Card Unveiled”, by Cleveland Moffett: the long-awaited sequel has arrived and a man’s dark soul is finally revealed “Mrs. Bilger’s Victory”, by Emma S. Jones and Geik Turner: a woman fights for justice against a big corporation “A Defender of the Faith”, by John D. Barry: witness how standing up against injustice wins a man the respect of the girl he loves “Tim’s Vacation”, by L. E. Shattuck: tragically, the young man’s first vacation does not turn out as expected “Wet Horses”, by Alice MacGowan: in jail, a smuggler realizes that the most important thing in life is freedom – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 01 No. 12 September 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. The twelfth issue offers the following 6 stories: “The Reapers”, by Ly Batterman Lindsay: eager to start a new life, a young couple learns that they cannot run from their past “A Kindergarten Hold-Up”, by Mabell Shippie Clarke: a good-for-nothing tramp finds empathy while watching the innocent play of children “The Guardian of Mystery Island”, by Dr. Edmond Nolcini: while trying to disprove a superstition, an adventurer encounters a strange old woman and some very dangerous plants “A Mental Mischance”, by Thomas F. Anderson: reading people’s minds is not always a blessing “The Barber of the Alpena”, by J. Harwood: a suggestible man has a horrible experience at a barber-shop “Which was like a Woman”, by William Albert Lewis: a woman is confronted by a man from her past she did not expect to ever see again – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 01 October 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. Volume 2 starts off with the following 6 stories in the first issue: “The house that Jack built”, by Harold Donovan Hilton: a young man learns the intriguing story of an uncanny old house “In the garden of a villa”, by R. George Smith Jr.: a female lark sees her tragic love life reflected in the life of a duchess “A peg-leg ghost”, by Wellington Vandiver: strange events finally make a sceptical man believe in the supernatural “How the run was stopped”, by Richard Stillman Powell: to save the bank from bankruptcy, a clerk resorts to an ingenious ruse “My friend, Walker”, by Geraldine Meyrick: a man achieves the impossible of communicating with horses, but at an awful price “In an hour”, by Warwick James Price: in his last hour, a dying scholar muses about his life – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 02 November 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the second issue of volume 2 with the following five short stories: “Silas F. Quigley – To Arrive”, by Lewis Hopkins Rogers: a puzzling letter incites Mr Quigley to explore an unusual way to secure a job “The Polar Magnet”, by Philip Verrill Mighels: discover the terrible technique a sculptor uses to create very life-like casts for his art “Fitzhugh”, by W. MacPherson Wiltbank: an untalented man tries his utmost to have his five minutes of fame, with an unexpected outcome “The Passionate Snake”, by Ella Higginson: how a snake learnt about the treachery of man “Professor Whirlwind”, by Allen Quinan: the shocking account of a man’s experience inside a tornado – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 03 December 1896
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the third issue of volume 2 with the following six short stories: “The Lost Brook Trail”, by Bert Leston Taylor: a man recruits a guide to a fishing expedition for an unusual catch “A modern de Pompadour”, by Jennie Bullard Waterbury: a talented and creative wigmaker finally meets his rival “The Parchment Diary”, by Willis B. Lloyd: a traveller writes down a hermit’s story of atonement “A Honeymoon Eclipse”, by George C. Gardner: the odyssee of a newly-wed man who forgot the address of their honeymoon lodgings “The Captain’s Last Cruise”, by Stanley Edwards Johnson: find out what the old captain planned to do with the mysterious mahogany lumber “The Blow-Out at Jenkins’s Grocery”, by Ella Higginson: unfortunately, Christmas is not a time of happiness for all alike – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 04 January 1897
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the fourth issue of volume 2 with the following five short stories: “The purloining of Ruth Allen”, by Elizabeth Flint Wade: an old spinster realizes that it’s never too late for true love “The scoop of the scarlet tanager”, by Edward B. Clark: find out how a birdwatcher makes his fortune with a gruesome discovery “The honeymoon at Candlestand Mountain”, by Grace MacGowan Cooke: a ranch-aid hatches an ingenious plot to marry the girl he loves “The man without a name”, by Frances M. Butler: a man is desperately trying to recover his memory and life “Denny”, by Landis Mills: poor Denny’s Saint-Patrick’s-celebration had a tragic outcome – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 05 February 1897
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This fifth issue of volume 2 presents the following six short stories: “The Lost Paradise”, by Geik Turner and T. F. Anderson: a floating island gets its owner into political troubles “My Invisible Friend”, by Katharine Kip: witness the tragic outcome of an ingenious invention “Pendarvis, the Cracker”, by Allen Chamberlain: some people go to great lengths to avoid their daily work “Le Bretagne”, by W. A. Fraser: will the drowned sailor keep his promise to return to his wife by Christmas ? “Carmen Gutierrez”, by Edward Sylvestre: a tragic love in the times of the Cuban war for independance “Regina”, by Grace Frances Bird: the young seeds of budding love still bloom after many long years – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 06 March 1897
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This sixth issue of volume 2 presents the following five short stories: “The Stolen Melody”, by Constance Fauntleroy Runcie: a ruthless pianist tries to win the music award through evil manipulation “The Bramble Gift Trust”, by Zollie Luther Jones: Nannie Burns has assembled a very unusual collection of souvenirs “The Parchment Slave”, by A. M. Barnes: find out what really happened to the last will of Mr Boise “Monsieur Angot”, by Charles F. Bourke: let yourself be instructed by the musings and philosophies of a French parrot “The Ivory Bells”, by James Buckham: a young woman hopes to find out that Love is not only attracted by lovely baubles – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 07 April 1897
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This seventh issue of volume 2 presents the following five short stories: “The Peacock and the Copper Moon”, by Frances Aymar Mathews: a sculptor’s plan to save her lover suddenly receives a dramatic twist “Westward Ho !”, by J. Wesley Glover: don’t launch the party before the guests arrive ! “The Captain’s Gray”, by Ella F. Mosby: a war-horse and its dead master save the day in a battle “M’Goulighan”, by Frances Lynde: a sheriff’s deputy finds out that there’s some good even in the most hardened prisoner “The Man with the Iron Arm”, by Geik Turner: watch a weak-looking runt win against the best fighters in a wrestling match – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 08 May 1897
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the eighth issue of volume 2 with the following five short stories: “The Passing of the Polly Ann”, by Collins Shackelford: the survivor of a drifting ship testifies to a startling revelation “The Obsequies of Ole Miss Jug”, by Jean Ross Irvine: these children know how to bury a faithful dog in style “A Modern Goliath”, by J. C. W. Brooks, U.S.A.: witness a spectacular court-martial trial, trying to prove a soldier’s innocence “The Colby Girls”, by Charles Bryant Howard: two sturdy spinsters battle through a storm at sea “Trans-Saharan Station 15-M”, by J. E. Pember: three men are struggling to stay alive in the stifling heat of the Sahara Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 09 June 1897
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the ninth issue of volume 2 with the following five short stories: “The Man-Hunt of Mendocino”, by Frank Bailey Millard: no one can stop the revenge of a mother for the murder of her son “Silas Bartle’s Snake-Bite Cure”, by Winthrop Packard: witness young Norris’ dramatic struggle to survive a deadly snake bite “Tunnel Number Six”, by Eugene C. Derby: learn all about the startling explanation of a seemingly haunted mine-tunnel “An Old Maid’s Wedding Trip”, by Juliet Wilbor Tompkins: let’s join a spinster’s honeymoon with an unexpected outcome “The Official Report”, by Thaddeus M. Lakewood: love sometimes can ruin even a brilliant officer’s career – Summary by Sonia
The Black Cat Vol. 02 No. 10 July 1897
The Black Cat (1895-1922) was a monthly literary magazine, publishing original short stories, often about uncanny or fantastical topics. Many writers were largely unknown, but some famous authors also wrote original material for this magazine. This is the tenth issue of volume 2 with the following five short stories: > For Dear Old Yale, by James Langston: a game of cards will decide the fate of these six men > The Casket of Pandora, by Margaret Dodge: a young woman is tempted to choose between her family and her career > A Romance of the Palisades, by E. O. Weeks: what is the secret behind the scared expression in a young girl’s portrait ? > A Postponed Arrest, by Leland Ingersoll: the sheriff takes a merciful decision to ease a dying man’s final hours > A Geometrical Design, by Mary Foote Arnold: a mysterious will starts three sisters off on a treasure hunt – Summary by Sonia
The Black Poodle and Other Tales
This is a collection of ten humorous short stories (Summary by Carolin)
The Blue Review, Number 1
The Blue Review was a short lived monthly journal published in London between May and July 1913. The successor to Rhythm, The Blue Review was edited by John Middleton Murry and Katherine Mansfield, but survived only three issues. In addition to poetry and short literary pieces, the review included reviews of theatre, music and the arts and of books recently published in English and French. The first issue of the journal includes the D. H. Lawrence short story, The Soiled Rose, which was later published as Shades of Spring. – Summary by Phil Benson
The Blue Review, Number 2
The Blue Review was a short lived monthly journal published in London between May and July 1913. The successor to Rhythm, The Blue Review was edited by John Middleton Murry and Katherine Mansfield, but survived only three issues. In addition to poetry and short literary pieces, the review included reviews of theatre, music and the arts and of books recently published in English and French. The second issue of the journal included two short stories by Katherine Mansfield. – Summary by Phil Benson
The Blue Review, Number 3
The Blue Review was a short lived monthly journal published in London between May and July 1913. The successor to Rhythm, The Blue Review was edited by John Middleton Murry and Katherine Mansfield, but survived only three issues. In addition to poetry and short literary pieces, the review included reviews of theatre, music and the arts and of books recently published in English and French. The third and final issue of the journal included Poetry by Rupert Brooke, short stories by Katherine Mansfield and Gilbert Cannan and a review of Thomas Mann’s ‘Death in Venice’ by D. H. Lawrence. (Summary by Phil Benson) – Summary by Phil Benson
The Book of Wonder
“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”
The Collected Public Domain Works of H. P. Lovecraft
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. You’ll find more versions of these stories throughout LibriVox’s short story collections and short horror story collections. (adapted from Wikipedia)
The Conjure Woman
Published in 1899 by Houghton Mifflin, Chesnutt’s first book, The Conjure Woman, was a collection of seven short stories, all set in “Patesville” (Fayetteville), North Carolina. While drawing from local color traditions and relying on dialect, Chesnutt’s tales of conjuring, a form of magic rooted in African hoodoo, refused to romanticize slave life or the “Old South.” Though necessarily informed by Joel Chandler Harris’s popular Uncle Remus stories and Thomas Nelson Page’s plantation fiction, The Conjure Woman consciously moved away from these models, instead offering an almost biting examination of pre- and post-Civil War race relations. These seven short stories use a frame narrator, John, a white carpetbagger who has moved south to protect his wife Annie’s failing health and to begin cultivating a grape vineyard. Enamored by remnants of the plantation world, John portrays the South in largely idealistic terms. Yet Uncle Julius McAdoo, the ex-slave and “trickster” figure extraordinaire who narrates the internal story lines, presents a remarkably different view of Southern life. His accounts include Aun’ Peggy’s conjure spells in “Mars Jeems’s Nightmare,” “Po’ Sandy,” “Sis’ Becky’s Pickaninny,” and “Hot Foot Hannibal” as well as those of free black conjure men in “The Conjurer’s Revenge” and “The Gray Wolf’s Ha’nt.” These conjure tales reveal moments of active black resistance to white oppression in addition to calculated (and even self-motivated) plots of revenge. (Introduction provided by Documenting the American South)
The Crocodile
Ivan Matveich, the most ordinary person you might hope to meet, is swallowed alive by a crocodile at a sideshow. Finding life inside the belly of the beast quite comfortable, he makes a home for himself there. His disquisitions on the state of the world from inside the crocodile make him quite a name for himself; while all the while the discussion rages outside as to whether the beast is going to be cut open to release him or not, its value as a sideshow attraction having massively increased owing to the presence of the human voice buried inside it. One of Jorge Luis Borges’ seven most favourite stories. – Summary by Tony Addison
The Cruel Painter
This is the story of a daring college student’s quest to win the icy heart of a beautiful girl. Unfortunately, the girl is the daughter of a cunning and sadistic master artist, who takes the student as an apprentice with the express intent of torturing the youth with his own hopeless love. The story is set in late 16 century Prague, amid mysterious happenings and the terrifying rumors of a vampire on the loose. ( Summary by Ned Troxel )
The Fables of Phaedrus
The fable is a small narrative, in prose or verse, which has as its main characteristic the aim of conveying a moral lesson (the “moral”), implicitly or, more normally, explicitly expressed. Even though the modern concept of fable is that it should have animals or inanimate objects as characters – an idea supported by the works of famous fabulists such as Aesop and La Fontaine – Phaedrus, the most important Latin fabulist, is innovative in his writing. Although many of his fables do depict animals or objects assuming speech, he also has many short stories about men, writing narratives that seem to the modern eye more like short tales than fables. Despite many other fables being attributed to Phaedrus, only five books are considered by scholarship to have been written by him. Phaedrus’ five books of fables are here presented in a translation to English prose by Henry Thomas Ridley. (Summary by Leni)
The Lock and Key Library
A collection of classic mystery and detective stories, collected and edited by Julian Hawthorne. Note: the second chapter of Dickens? The Haunted House is not included in this edition. (Summary by Julie VW)
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 1
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes was a British TV series from the early 70s that dramatized stories written contemporaneously with the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This anthology contains twelve of the thirteen stories adapted as episodes for the first season. Sadly, one story, “The Missing Witness Sensation” by Ernest Bramah, is not public domain in the U.S., but can be read in the anthology Max Carrados Mysteries. (Summary by Nullifidian)
The Ten-foot Chain
True love can survive anything. Or can it? Four popular authors were lunching with an editor and the question came up: “What mental and emotional reaction would a man and a woman undergo, linked together by a ten-foot chain, for three days and nights?” The 4 very popular authors each had strong but divergent opinions of what would happen to such a couple chained together for 3 days and nights. The result was these fascinating stories. Does true love scoff at the small difficulty of constant proximity? Does being ‘too close’ become an acid that eats away even the bonds of love? What do YOU think would happen if you were to write such a story? Read and find out what these popular and creative authors think. (Summary by Phil Chenevert)
The Times’ Red Cross Story Book By Famous Novelists Serving In His Majesty’s Forces
These eighteen stories were published in 1915, in the midst of World War I. “Published For The Times’ Fund For The Sick And Wounded” – Summary by Book’s title page and david wales
The Wit and Humor of America, Vol 06
The Wit and Humor of America is a 10 volume series. In this, the sixth volume, 55 short stories and poems have been gathered from 42 authors. This volume is sure to delight listeners. (Summary by Linette Geisel)