Fiction

This is a delightful story, told by one of the funniest writers in English, about a fiercely intelligent child who manages to escape a boring excursion to the seaside so that he can explore hidden treasure. To do so, he has to deceive his aunt but, just for once, the young seem more inventive and intelligent than the old. (1,850 words)

In this story, ‘Banjo’ Paterson describes one of the world’s favourite pets. He writes about the famous independence of the cat from the people he lives with and the difference in the animal asleep in front of our fire and in the garden at night. (950 words)

This is a classic horror story about a charm brought to England by a soldier returning from India. It gives its owner three wishes but with awful consequence. (3,345 words)

Bierce’s anonymous storyteller introduces us to an old man who lived alone, mixed with no-one, and had a terrible tragedy in his past that turned his dreams to dust. Bierce is a master of the very short story and tells a tale that comes back to us again and again, although we don't realise this until the final sentences. (1,345 words)

One of O. Henry’s funniest short stories about the kidnapping of a young boy which goes horribly – and often painfully – wrong. It will have you laughing from beginning to end and also show you why this long-dead author is still held in such high regard. (3,530 words)

O. Henry knew about robbing banks and going to prison, having done so himself. Here he tells a story about a young bank robber who, after many successful jobs and some time in prison, changes his lifestyle so that he can marry. However, he’s soon pulled back into crime – but not through his own fault. (2,265 words)