Showing results by publisher "Simply Media" in Anthologies & Short Stories

"White Nights" is the third major Dostoyevsky short story that everyone should read or listen to, along with "A Faint Heart" and "The Christmas Tree and Wedding". The story contains a series of Winesburg, Ohio-like moments: a woman and man meet on the First Night; proceed to meet again on the Second and Third, almost fall in love, and at the last minute the former lover of the woman returns to take her away. But the point is that the man had a glorious moment....

The brilliance of this story is in how a normal bureaucrat, a judge in this case, has a small accident that winds up gradually taking his life. As he deals with this incident, with hope at first and then despair, he comes to terms with his family, his life, and the mediocrities that we all suffer with, except for the exceptional few. This story rings a particularly poignant note for those in early middle age facing the next part of their lives. This story is considered Tolstoy's best.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave is what many believe to be the foundation of Western Philosophy. It addresses what is visible and invisible, seen and observed versus intuited and imagined, and what is public versus private and just versus unjust. It also concerns the meaning and importance of education, the state of the soul, the conflict between truth and beauty, animal urges versus higher aspirations, knowledge versus ignorance, and on and on.

Presenting an American voice for this legendary Agatha Christie mystery with one of her best denouements.

Willa Cather was perhaps most famous for her great novels such as My Antonia and Death Comes to the Archbishop. However, her short stories were enchanting and practical, local and cosmopolitan. Of the great American writers of the early part of the twentieth century she stood alone in her vision. No American writer ever had her breadth of experience and knowledge of people and places, relating to farmers in Nebraska, to barons in New York, and artists in Paris.

Arthur Conan Doyle agreed with Sherlock Holmes fans that The Speckled Band was his best Holmes story. The narrative moves along at a rapid pace, with Holmes making many witty and spot-on points based on evidence that only Holmes could deduce.

The story centers on an impoverished clerk who is dedicated to his job as a routine copyist but not recognized for his hard work. Younger clerks mock him for his dedication. His threadbare overcoat is mocked as well. He saves up to buy a new one and wears it for one glorious evening, only to have it stolen that night. He dies soon after from his great loss. Thereafter, his ghost is reported to haunt that part of St. Petersburg where the coat was stolen.

"The Lamplighter" is ironic and iconic Dickens. A story within a story about dreams of wealth, with Dickensian wit throughout. A treat for Dickens fans who have not heard this lovely story before. (American accent narration.)

Ambrose Bierce brings to life the heart rendering stories of divided loyalties, splitting families, states, countries, and individuals. He writes of the glory in beginning and savagery in the doing. Here is a moving anti-war series of stories if ever there was one. A must read by all students of American History and Literature, though perhaps best understood by older adults.

A classic tale of the state preventing recourse from their citizens for wrongs done to them. A metaphor like Orwell's 1984. Moving, frightening, and pure Kafka. A must listen.

The story starts with the hotel owner trolling for guests at the train station and finding three: the Swede, the Cowboy, and the Easterner. As with many stories the personalities are known by their titles not their names; the two known by their names are the hotel keeper, Scully, and his son Johnny. The first major event is in a play for fun (no money) card game in which the Swede accuses Johnny of cheating. Johnny skillfully defends himself by saying he won't put up with the accusation, while side stepping the truth of the matter.

"The District Doctor" is a wonderful Turgenev short story that appealed and influenced American authors, such as Henry James and F. Scott Fitzgerald for its writing style, and Sherwood Anderson and Ernest Hemingway for its focus on moments. As the Doctor says to a new acquaintance, "Sometimes you know people for a long time and never talk about anything that touches the soul; sometimes you start there on the first conversation."

Oscar Wilde's wit and meaning is at its best in this ghost story, considered by many the best ever written. Wilde's dialogue lends himself to narration because of his quick wit and delivery. Here he presents a traditional English ghost that Americans refuse to accept, but both parties finally work together to end the controversy. One of the great short stories of all time.

47 Great Russian Novels

A title listing 123 Great Short Stories

The last great 19th-century Russian novelist and poet brings his symbolism together with realism to blend real events with an intriguing fantasy mixed with reality, dark and bright colors, and a dose of romanticism.

Seven of Charles Dickens' best ghost and thriller stories, which have been widely read and beloved worldwide. This collection celebrates the 200th anniversary of his birth. These stories provide a wonderful introduction Dickens before embarking upon his long novels; after these stories, listening to his longer novels becomes even more of a pleasure. Perfect for students and teachers seeking an understanding and appreciation of Dickens, without the time to engage with his long novels.

"The Five White Mice" should be counted as one of Stephen Crane's great short stories. It has many parallels to "The Bride Comes to the Yellow Sky", with a stand off moment that was the turning point in many people's lives. In this case as in "The Bride Comes to the Yellow Sky", the Scratchy Wilson figure takes a step back, as Scratch did, and the dangerous moment passed by.

A story that has a version of Uriah Heap, a story within a story, touching on the themes of death and deliverance, anger and revenge. This is a classic short story well worth introducing to young listeners to before they embark on the longer voyage of Dickens' novels. Dickens employs wonderful character names here, such as Mr. Heap and here Mr. Slinkton. Cathartic and uplifting. (American accent narration.)

These are Stephen Crane's three most famous short stories. He also wrote others of great value, but these are the ones that stand out the most. Each one has themes relating to life, death, random acts, danger, and delight. This audiobook is the place to start for newcomers to Crane. This recording contains forwards and afterwords that can be listened to or skipped over per listener preference.