Edgar Allan Poe’s “Ligeia” is a gothic horror story that narrates the protagonist’s intense relationship with a woman of exceptional beauty and intelligence whom he met in a dilapidated town near the Rhine. In their union, they share love, passion, and a deep intellectual respect. Ligeia’s death throws the protagonist into a spiral of decadence … Read more
In Oscar Wilde’s short story “The Devoted Friend,” a bird tells a story about friendship to a water rat. In the story, a wealthy miller continually takes advantage of the generosity of his “friend” Hans, exploiting his kind nature without offering anything in return. While Hans works hard, helping the miller even to the detriment … Read more
The Stolen Bacillus is a short story by H. G. Wells, published on June 21, 1894, in The Pall Mall Budget. The story begins in the laboratory of a bacteriologist who shows a visitor a live culture of the cholera bacillus, explaining its ability to devastate entire cities. The visitor, fascinated by the destructive power of the microorganism, listens attentively as the scientist describes the consequences of its spread. However, a momentary distraction allows the stranger to leave in a hurry, which triggers a frantic chase through London. As the tension mounts, the story takes an unexpected turn.
«The Trial of Love» is a story by Mary Shelley, published in 1834. It tells the story of Angeline, a young orphan who lives in a convent and maintains a secret love with Ippolito, a young aristocrat. Both undergo a year’s trial of separation without communicating, promised to Ippolito’s father, to prove the constancy of their feelings. The arrival of Faustina, Angeline’s childhood friend, tests the lovers’ loyalty and destiny.
“The Handler,” a short story by Ray Bradbury published in 1947, tells the story of Mr. Benedict, a man who runs a funeral business, a church, and a cemetery, all in the exact location. Benedict feels a deep inferiority complex and spends his days enduring the scorn and insults of the town’s neighbors. In his … Read more
“The Sign in the Sky” is a story by Agatha Christie selected by Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Casares for their anthology “The Best Police Stories” (1962). The plot revolves around Mr. Satterthwaite, who, after witnessing a trial in which Martin Wylde is convicted of the murder of Vivian Barnaby, harbors doubts about the … Read more