2023-06-09 ‘Benito Cereno,’ by Herman Melville, Part Two
We present the second of three parts of the short story “Benito Cereno.” It was written by Herman Melville. Last week, we told how African slaves on a Spanish ship…
2023-06-02 ‘Benito Cereno,’ by Herman Melville, Part One
We present the first of three parts of the short story “Benito Cereno.” It was written by Herman Melville. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. Captain Benito Cereno hurried…
2023-05-26 ‘Pecos Bill,’ An American Folk Tale
Today we tell a traditional American story called a “tall tale.” A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. The descriptions in the story…
2023-05-19 ‘Athenaise’ by Kate Chopin
Our story today is called “Athenaise.” It was written by Kate Chopin. Here is Barbara Klein with the story. Athenaise went away one morning to visit her parents, ten miles…
2023-05-12 ‘The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock,’ by O. Henry
We present the short story “The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock” by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Prince Michael of…
2023-05-05 ‘Paul Bunyan,’ An American Folk Tale
Today we tell a traditional American story called a “tall tale.” A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. The descriptions in the story…
2023-04-28 Two Stories about Letter X, How It Got into the Alphabet
Introduction: Today we tell two stories that come from Rootabaga Pigeons, a book for children by American writer Carl Sandburg. Sandburg won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and…
2023-04-21 ‘After Twenty Years,’ by O.Henry
We present the short story “After Twenty Years,” by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. The cop moved along the street,…
2023-04-14 ‘Feathertop,’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Our story today is called “Feathertop.” It was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Lawan Davis adapted it for VOA Learning English. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. The long cold…
2023-04-07 American Stories: 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,…
2023-03-31 ‘The Diamond Lens’ by Fitz-James O’Brien, Part Two
Our story is called “The Diamond Lens. ” It was written by Fitz-James O’Brien. Today we will hear the second and final part of the story. Here is Maurice Joyce…
2023-03-24 ‘The Diamond Lens’ by Fitz-James O’Brien, Part One
Our story today is called “The Diamond Lens. ” It was written by Fitz-James O’Brien. We will tell the story in two parts. Now, here is Maurice Joyce with part…
2023-03-17 ‘A White Heron,’ by Sarah Orne Jewett
We present the short story “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett. Dona de Sanctis wrote this version for VOA Learning English. Your narrator is Kay Gallant. The forest was…
2023-03-10 American Stories: 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…
2023-03-03 ‘The Blue Hotel,’ by Stephen Crane, Part Four
We present the fourth of four parts of the short story “The Blue Hotel,” by Stephen Crane. The story was originally adapted by the U.S. Department of State. The audio…