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The Great Short Story Collection

66 Classic Gems of the Short Story Genre

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The Great Short Story Collection

By: Barry Pain, O. Henry, Charles Dickens, E. F. Benson, Stacy Aumonier, Katherine Mansfield, W. F. Harvey
Narrated by: Cathy Dobson
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About this listen

The short story is considered to be one of the most challenging genres because of the need for compact plotlines and the ability to conjure up atmosphere and character in a few sentences and to engage the reader instantly. This collection presents 66 of the greatest examples of the genre - many of them well known, some hidden literary treasures, all of them exquisite examples of the short story at its finest.

  • "August Heat" by W. F. Harvey
  • "Pigs Is Pigs" by Ellis Parker Butler
  • "A Dill Pickle" by Katherine Mansfield
  • "The White Dog" by Fedor Sologub
  • "Batchelors" by Hugh Walpole
  • "Lost Treasure" by Caradoc Evans
  • "The End of a Show" by Barry Pain
  • "The Nightmare Room" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • "Rose Rose" by Barry Pain
  • "The Bus Conductor" by E. F. Benson
  • "The Dream" by A. J. Alan
  • "The Drover’s Wife" by Henry Lawson
  • "The Egg" by Sherwood Anderson
  • "The Giraffe Problem" by Barry Pain
  • "The Green Light" by Barry Pain
  • "The Man of the Night" by Edgar Wallace
  • "The Room" by Stacy Aumonier
  • "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
  • "Caterpillars" by E. F. Benson
  • "Charles" by A. J. Alan
  • "The Idiot" by Arnold Bennett
  • "The Storm" by Kate Chopin
  • "A Witch in the Peak" by R. Murray Gilchrist
  • "The Dabblers" by W. F. Harvey
  • "The Trial for Murder" by Charles Dickens
  • "The Enemy" by Hugh Walpole

    • And over 40 other great stories....

    Public Domain (P)2015 Red Door Audiobooks     Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Classics Short Story Magic Users Treasure
    All stars
    Most relevant  
    I feel bad saying this but the reader's voice is so unpleasant as to make it impossible for me to listen to this. Which is a shame as I think there is a wealth of stories here.

    Unlistenable

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    some very enjoyable others rather strange. a good collection of stories, though the narration was not to my taste. just check out the sample before you purchase.

    a strange collection

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    What would have made The Great Short Story Collection better?

    The stories, as could be expected are varied - some great and some rather less so. Unfortunately, for me, I found the narration very difficult and annoying to listen to. I would suggest that before you buy, you have a listen to see what you think. This distracted from my enjoyment to the point where I moved onto another book - rather a waste of money but then, you only have time to listen to so many books in a lifetime!!

    Would you recommend The Great Short Story Collection to your friends? Why or why not?

    No - for me, the narration was too annoying to enjoy

    Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Cathy Dobson?

    Almost anyone!

    Check the narration before buying

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    really poor narration spoiled this great collection. please get this narrated by better speakers as this one was difficult

    really poor narration spoiled this great collectio

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    Some of the finest examples of the short story have been done a massive injustice by the worst narrator I've heard in all my puff. I couldn't get beyond the first few minutes before the grating voice got to be too much of an ordeal. Please don't use this reader again, she is truly dire and I wasted credits.

    Ruined by horrendous narration

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    Her throat seemed lined with fur"...impossible to listen to the stories for fear the narrator will lengthen the end of the word at the end of the phrase. I'm trying to overcome this fear because the stories are an interesting collection but it's not one of the best buys I've ever made

    #"Her voice seemed to come from her throat

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    This audio book contains one of my all-time favourite short stories - O Henry's Gifts of the Magi. I won't be listening to It though. 1/2 an hour of Cathy Dobson's execrable narration has ensured that. Every sentence is delivered in the same way with a rushed first part and the last few words emphasized and draaawn ouuuuuuut. As for her characterisation, I thought she was doing 'man' voice, but she's not.
    Just unlistenable.

    Just don't

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