The Classic Tales Podcast

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Ep. 945, The One Hundred Dollar Bill, by Booth Tarkington Jul 05, 2024

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Is money the root of all evil? Or does it change happiness to despair simply by existing? Booth Tarkington, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

The Vintage Episode for the week is "Paul's Case", by Willa Cather. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday.

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This summer we are showcasing short stories that have been nominated for the O. Henry Memorial Award from 1919-1923.

Booth Tarkington won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction twice. Once in 1919 for his novel The Magnificent Ambersons, and also in 1923 for Alice Adams.

He was well-known and prolific, penning many best-selling novels including Penrod and Seventeen. He was also an illustrator, playwright and politician, serving one term in 1905 in the Indiana House of Representatives.

In the 1910s and 1920s, Tarkington was regarded as "the most important and lasting writer in his generation". By the end of the 20th Century, however, he had been completely ignored by academia, and in 2019 he was described by Robert Gottlieb as "America's most distinguished hack". Apparently, Tarkington's penchant for glorifying the past, going beyond typical nostalgia, rubbed the modern academicians the wrong way.

I think it might be time we give him another chance.

And now, "The One Hundred Dollar Bill", by Booth Tarkington.

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Ep. 944, The Minister's Black Veil, by Nathaniel HawthorneVINTAGE Jul 02, 2024

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Why does the Reverend Mr. Hooper mysteriously don a black veil and never take if off in public? Nathaniel Hawthorne, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

A Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. If you have found value in the show, please help us to help more people like you by going to http://classictalesaudiobooks.com, and becoming a supporter. New stories are coming your way on Friday.

Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the seventh novel in the Arsène Lupin series. Two boxed sets are now available. We'll let you know when we're ready to kick off.

Dealing with the concepts of sin, repentance and morality, and set in Puritan New England, the veil in today's story is a critique of the Puritan's concept of original sin. The acrimonious reaction of the townspeople to the minister's behavior easily lends itself to exploring these concepts. I hope you like it.

And now, The Minister's Black Veil, by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

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Ep. 943, A Friend of Napoleon, by Richard Connell Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

Papa Chibou loves his job as night watchman at the wax museum. But how will he cope when the museum has to close? Richard Connell, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

The Vintage Episode for the week is "The Minister's Black Veil", by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday.

If you have found value in the show, please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Help us to help other folks like you.

Go to http://classictalesaudiobooks.com and become a supporter today.

We are going to have a short story summer. Through the summer, we'll be showcasing the best short stories from 1919 to 1923. Today's story was written by Richard Connell. You may recognize him from his famous story, The Most Dangerous Game.

Connell was one of the most popular short story writers of his time. He went on to have similar luck as a screenwriter, being nominated for an Academy Award in 1942 for his script, Meet John Doe, based on his short story, "A Reputation".

And now, "A Friend of Napoleon", by Richard Connell.

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Ep. 942, The Kiss, by Anton Chekhov VINTAGE Jun 25, 2024

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After sampling a taste of the divine, will Ryabovich ever experience it again? Anton Chekhov, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the seventh novel in the Arsène Lupin series. Two boxed sets are now available. We'll let you know when we're ready to kick off.

In today's story, a kiss is used as a microscope to examine the frailty of hope. Chekhov creates an entire world around the kiss, blurring many lines of social and societal privilege and power. I hope you like it.

And now, The Kiss, by Anton Chekhov.

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Ep. 941, Prelude, by Edgar Valentine Smith Jun 21, 2024

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Can Selina Jo ever figure out a way to get out of her backwoods life? Edgar Valentine Smith, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

The Vintage Episode for the week is "The Kiss", by Anton Chekhov. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday.

If you have found value in the show, please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Help us to help other folks like you.

Go to http://classictalesaudiobooks.com and become a supporter today.

Today's story won the O. Henry Memorial Award in 1923, but it was written by a relatively unknown writer. Edgar Valentine Smith sold two stories to Harper's Magazine in his brief career as a writer – Prelude and 'Lijah. Not much more is readily available about him.

There are many things notable about today's story. The craft of the story is very elegant. We are effortlessly drawn into the descriptions of the heroine's early life. We sympathize with her so much, in her efforts to improve herself. Interesting how the "big break" is crafted. I hope you like it.

Just a heads up – the "n" word is used a couple of times.

And now, Prelude, by Edgar Valentine Smith.

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Ep. 940, A Scandal in Bohemia, by Arthur Conan Doyle VINTAGE Jun 18, 2024

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Can Sherlock Holmes discover a way to save the honor of the masked stranger in his chambers? Arthur Conan Doyle, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the seventh novel in the Arsène Lupin series. Two boxed sets are now available. We'll let you know when we're ready to kick off.

Sherlock Holmes is a confirmed bachelor, with some touches of misogyny that creep up every now and then. But when he locks horns with Irene Adler, his opinion of women goes through the roof with respect.

There's actually a fun book series for kids called Sherlock, Lupin and Me, written by an author that goes by the pseudonym of Irene Adler. It traces the adventures of three young detectives who haven't hit the big time yet. It's a lot of fun.

And now, A Scandal in Bohemia, by Arthur Conan Doyle

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Ep. 939, Leave It to Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse Jun 14, 2024

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Can Jeeves scheme up a way for Corky's uncle to approve of Corky's fiancée? P.G. Wodehouse, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

The Vintage Episode for the week is "A Scandal in Bohemia", by Arthur Conan Doyle. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday.

If you have found value in the show, please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Help us to help other folks like you.

Go to http://classictalesaudiobooks.com and become a supporter today.

Today's story is the final story in the series of P.G. Wodehouse short stories found in the volume My Man Jeeves. In case you haven't noticed, I'm recording anew all the stories in this volume. Some we've heard before, and some we haven't. So while today's story has shown up before, I hope you won't mind it again.

And now, Leave It to Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse.

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Ep. 938, The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg, by Mark Twain VINTAGE Jun 11, 2024

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When an offended stranger seeks to corrupt the town, will the good citizens of Hadleyburg stand up to the test? Mark Twain, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the seventh novel in the Arsène Lupin series. We'll let you know when we're ready to kick off.

Some consider today's story a replay of the Garden of Eden story. Twain was very interested in pointing out the vulnerability of folks who overtly professed piety and purity. Whether it's Pudd'nhead Wilson, Huckleberry Finn, or The Prince and the Pauper, oftentimes reading Twain leads to introspection, and a reinvestigation of things we may have taken for granted. Of course, he leads you to this personal place with his razor wit and wisdom. I hope you like our journey to Hadleyburg.

And now, The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg, by Mark Twain

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Ep. 937, Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest, by P.G. Wodehouse Jun 07, 2024

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Will Jeeves rally round when the goggle-eyed Wilmot is foisted on Berty? P.G. Wodehouse, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

The Vintage Episode for the week is "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg", by Mark Twain. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday.

If you have found value in the show, please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Help us to help other folks like you.

Go to http://classictalesaudiobooks.com and become a supporter today.

Today's story is another in the series of P.G. Wodehouse short stories found in the volume My Man Jeeves. In case you haven't noticed, I'm recording anew all the stories in this volume. Some we've heard before, and some we haven't. So while today's story has shown up before, I hope you won't mind it again, recorded 15 years later.

And now, Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest, by P.G. Wodehouse.

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Ep. 936, Ligeia, by Edgar Allan Poe VINTAGE Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

When the brilliant, raven-haired beauty Ligeia falls ill, will her genius be enough to help her recover? Edgar Allan Poe, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.

Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.

A Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. If the show has helped you find comfort, peace, or a quiet place to mentally rest, please help us to help more people like you by going to http://classictalesaudiobooks.com, and becoming a supporter. New stories are coming your way on Friday.

Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the seventh novel in the Arsène Lupin series. We'll let you know when we're ready to kick off.

Playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw said of today's story, "The story of the Lady Ligeia is not merely one of the wonders of literature: it is unparalleled and unapproached". I hope you like it.

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