Short stories | Lecturia

Jack London: To Build a Fire (Early Version)

To Build a Fire is a short story by Jack London, published in May 1902 in The Youth’s Companion. It tells the story of Tom Vincent’s solitary journey through the frozen landscape of the Yukon in the middle of winter. Confident in his strength and experience, the protagonist ignores the warnings about the dangers of traveling alone. However, the extreme cold soon reveals itself as a ruthless enemy, and what seems like a routine journey becomes a desperate struggle for survival. This is the story’s first version, which London would rewrite and publish under the same title in 1908.

Ernest Hemingway: The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

Ernest Hemingway : L’heure triomphale de Francis Macomber

The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, a short story by Ernest Hemingway published in 1936, narrates the relationship between a married couple and their guide during a safari in Africa. After an incident with a lion, the interaction between the characters becomes tense, as one of them does not react as expected during the hunt, which tests their emotions and the perception that others have of him. It is an intense story full of twists and turns and one of the most famous by the American writer.

Sheridan Le Fanu: Sir Dominick’s Bargain

In Sir Dominick’s Bargain, a story by Sheridan Le Fanu, a traveler explores the ruins of Dunoran Manor, captivated by its melancholy atmosphere. There, an old hunchback tells him the tragic story of Sir Dominick Sarsfield, the last lord of Dunoran. Desperate because of his debts, Sir Dominick makes a pact with a mysterious gentleman in the forest of Murroa, obtaining immediate wealth in exchange for a disturbing promise. As the deadline for paying the debt approaches, Sir Dominick, increasingly distressed, seeks the bishop’s help. The bishop gives him a strategy to free himself from his terrible fate, but uncertainty and fear persist as the final deadline approaches.

Charles Dickens: Captain Murderer

Captain Murderer is a disturbing story by Charles Dickens, published on September 8, 1860, in All The Year Round. The story revolves around a dark and enigmatic character, Captain Murderer, who, hidden behind his wealth and charm, seduces young women to make them part of a macabre culinary ritual. With a gloomy atmosphere and disturbing details, Dickens reinvents the essence of the classic story of Bluebeard, immortalized by Charles Perrault, adding his touch of horror and black humor.

Ray Bradbury: The Small Assassin

In “The Small Assassin,” a short story by Ray Bradbury published in 1946, a woman named Alice Leiber experiences an intense fear of her newborn son, convinced that the baby wants to hurt her. Despite the support of her husband and the doctors, Alice feels alone in her struggle, perceiving a sinister connection with her son that nobody else seems to notice.

Italo Calvino: The Garden of Stubborn Cats

The Garden of Stubborn Cats is a short story by Italo Calvino, published in 1963 as part of Marcovaldo, or The Seasons in the City. The story follows Marcovaldo, a humble worker who, on his solitary walks, begins to observe the secret world of urban cats. Following a tabby cat, he discovers a city hidden between walls and rooftops, a feline territory that survives in the interstices of modernity. His curiosity leads him to a mysterious garden, the last refuge of animals in a city in constant transformation, where humans and cats seem to wage a silent battle for space and time.