Short Takes: An Aural Journey - Short Stories for all!

Ernest Hemingway’s stories were often semi-autobiographical and today’s story, ‘A Canary For One’ is no exception. In early 1926, Hemingway’s wife, Hadley Richardson, became aware that Ernest was having an affair with Pauline Pfeiffer. In the midst of writing this story later that year, Hadley filed for divorce which became finalized in 1927. Hemingway went on to marry Pfeiffer that same year.

This is another classic example of Hem...

"That story probably had more left out of it than anything I ever wrote. I left out all Chicago, which is hard to do in 2951 words." This is what Ernest Hemingway had to say about today’s story, ‘The Killers’. One of his most famous short stories, it tells the tale of two hitmen, most likely Chicago mobsters, who enter a diner in Summit, Illinois searching for an ex-prizefighter named Ole Andreson. It also includes the se...

Trigger warning: This story depicts a sexual assault that may not be suitable for all listeners

In last week’s episode, I mentioned that almost all of Ernest Hemingway’s early writing was stolen from a Paris train station in 1922. The story I present today, "Up in Michigan" is one of the only stories that survived. This could be due to the fact that Hemingway felt this story was not suitable for publication. So, perhaps h...

in our time by Ernest Hemingway has a complex literary history. The 1924 edition, which I am presenting today, consists of 18 chapters although they are probably more aptly described as ‘vignettes’. Almost certainly commissioned by his friend, Ezra Pound, six of the vignettes were first published in the literary magazine, The Little Review in 1923. A year later, Hemingway had written 12 more vignettes and revised a few of the origi...

I want to start by wishing you all a Happy New Year! With the new year brings several new copyrighted works into the public domain. Since this is an audio show, I won’t be doing anything involving Mickey Mouse and Steamboat Willie. And, since my show features short stories, I’ll leave The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne alone. What I’m presenting to you today is the first piece of standalone fiction by one of my favorite playwri...

Today’s story, New Year’s Eve and How it Came to Houston is by O. Henry, whose real name was William Sydney Porter. Yes, two stories in a row by O. Henry! Published on January 1, 1896 in the Houston Daily Mail, what I find so fascinating about this story is that later that year, Porter was arrested by Federal Authorities stemming from a 1894 embezzlement charge. However, right before his trial, he fled Houston. First to New Orleans...

Today’s story is "The Gift of the Magi" by American author William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name, O. Henry. The story was first published in 1905 and is a poignant exploration of the theme of sacrificial love and the nature of true wealth. The term "Magi" refers to the wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus, emphasizing the parallel between the selfless acts of the biblical Magi and the sacri...

Ernest Hemingway's "My Old Man" was first published in 1923 as part of his first major collection, "In Our Time." The story is set against the backdrop of horse racing in Europe and follows a young boy as he reflects on his relationship with his father, who is a jockey. In "My Old Man," Hemingway explores themes of love, loss, and the complex dynamics within familial relationships. Known for his ec...