“The Story-Teller,” a story by Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) published in 1914, vividly places us in a train carriage where three children, their aunt, and a man described by the author as a “bachelor” are traveling. Faced with the aunt’s failure to keep the children quiet and frustrated with their restlessness, the man intervenes and tells them a peculiar story to capture their attention.
“The Monkey’s Paw,” a short story by W. W. Jacobs, is a classic tale of horror and fantasy. It is notable for its tense atmosphere and reflection on the implications of altering destiny. The story revolves around the White family, who receive a mysterious magic talisman as a gift, with the ability to grant three wishes. Despite their skepticism, they decide to use the amulet, which leads to a series of catastrophic events.
“The Stolen Bacillus,” a story by H. G. Wells published in 1894, is a tale that combines elements of suspense and black humor. A bacteriologist receives in his laboratory a
«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 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
“Man from the South,” a Roald Dahl short story published in 1948, tells about an unusual bet that takes place in a hotel in Jamaica. The story begins when a man enjoys the hotel’s ambiance and talks with a peculiar older man. Later, an American naval cadet and a young Englishwoman join the group. During the chat, the cadet brags that his lighter always works. In response, the older man proposes a challenge: if the lighter works ten times in a row, he will win a Cadillac; if it fails just once, the cadet must give him the little finger of his left hand.