2024-04-19 ‘The Count and the Wedding Guest’ by O. Henry
We present the short story “The Count and the Wedding Guest,” by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Andy Donovan had…
2024-04-12 ‘The Romance of a Busy Broker’ by O. Henry
We present the short story “The Romance of a Busy Broker,” by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Pitcher, who worked…
2024-04-05 A Pair of Silk Stockings by Kate Chopin
Our story is called “A Pair of Silk Stockings.” It was written by Kate Chopin. Here is Barbara Klein with the story. Little Missus Sommers one day found herself the…
2024-03-29 ‘Pigs Is Pigs,’ by Ellis Parker Butler
Our story today is called “Pigs is Pigs.” It was written by Ellis Parker Butler. Mike Flannery, the agent of the Interurban Express Company, leaned over the desk in the…
2024-03-22 ‘The Californian’s Tale,’ by Mark Twain
Editor’s Note: This is a weekly multimedia series of American short stories for English language learners. Each story has video, audio, a quiz, and a lesson plan for teachers. Hope…
2024-03-15 ‘A Piece of Red Calico,’ by Frank Stockton
Editor’s note: If you are tired from doing year-end gift shopping, relax and think about the poor man in this story. Our story today is called “A Piece of Red…
2024-03-08 The Open Boat by Stephen Crane, Part Two
We continue the story of “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane. As we told you last week, the story is based on true events. In eighteen ninety-six, Crane was traveling…
2024-03-01 The Open Boat by Stephen Crane, Part One
Our story today is called “The Open Boat.” It was written by Stephen Crane and is based on what really happened to him in eighteen ninety-six. Crane was traveling from…
2024-02-23 ‘The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,’ by Mark Twain
Editor’s note: This story includes some of the informal dialect that Mark Twain liked to include in his writing. We have provided explanations of some of the expressions after the…
2024-02-16 The Lady in Black by Eleanor H. Porter
Our story today is called “The Lady in Black.” It was written by Eleanor H. Porter. Here is Faith Lapidus with the story. The house was very still. In the…
2024-02-09 ‘The Fall of the House of Usher,’ by Edgar Allan Poe, Part Three
We present the last of three parts of the short story “The Fall of the House of Usher,” by Edgar Allan Poe. The story was originally adapted and recorded by…
2024-02-02 ‘The Fall of the House of Usher,’ by Edgar Allan Poe, Part Two
We present the second of three parts of the short story “The Fall of the House of Usher,” by Edgar Allan Poe. The story was originally adapted and recorded by…
2024-01-26 ‘The Fall of the House of Usher,’ by Edgar Allan Poe, Part One
We present the first of three parts of the short story “The Fall of the House of Usher,” by Edgar Allan Poe. The story was originally adapted and recorded by…
2024-01-19 Chicken Little
And now an American Children’s Story from VOA Learning English. Today’s story probably had its start long before it was published in Europe long ago. It might have first been…
2024-01-12 How the Animals Lost Their Tails by Carl Sandburg
Introduction: Today’s story is How the Animals Lost Their Tails and Got Them Back Traveling from Philadelphia to Medicine Hat. It appeared in the book Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg,…