Free short stories by the all time great short story writers
Belphagor, or the Marriage of the Devil by Niccolò Machiavelli was written between 1518 and 1527, and first published with his collected works in 1549. Belphagor, an Arch-devil, is sent into this World by Pluto, and obliged to marry. He takes a wife, but not being able to support her insolence and extravagance, chooses to return to Hell than to live any longer with her.
Published in 1887, The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde was Wilde’s first published work. This is the tale of an American family moved into a British mansion, Canterville Chase, much to the annoyance of its tired ghost.
The Nameless City by H. P. Lovecraft was written in January 1921 and first published in the November 1921 issue of the amateur press journal The Wolverine. It is often considered the first Cthulhu Mythos story.
A Room of One’s Own is an extended essay by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1929. It became a landmark work of feminist thought and remains a passionate assertion for female creativity and independence in a world dominated by men.
Published in 1906, The Brute by Joseph Conrad is a novella that tells the story of a sailor named James Wait, who is known for his brutish and violent behavior.
The Proposal by Anton Chekhov was written in 1888–1889 and first performed in 1890. It is a fast-paced play of dialogue-based action and situational humour. A young man Lomov comes to propose to his neighbour Natalya but they keep on fighting over various topics.
A Second Home by Honoré de Balzac was first published in 1830. In this novella, Comte de Granville, unhappily married to a sanctimonious woman, falls in love with Caroline a young seamstress.
Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorn was first published in 1835. The story takes place in 17th-century Puritan New England and follows Young Goodman Brown’s journey into self-scrutiny, which results in his loss of virtue and belief
A Sea of Troubles by P. G Wodehouse was published in 1915 in Pearson’s Magazine. It follows Mr Miggs, wealthy but ailing, who decides to end his life. It doesn’t go to plan!
Love On The Bon Dieu by Kate was published in 1891. It tells of a young girl’s devotion to caring for a sick neighbor and the tender romance that blooms from her compassion.
