Public Domain Stories

In The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, Mark Twain delivers a sharp and biting satire on greed, hypocrisy, and human nature. Hadleyburg is a town renowned for its honesty—until a mysterious stranger arrives with a scheme to expose the townspeople’s true character. When a tempting bag of gold is introduced under the guise of a moral test, the once-principled citizens find themselves entangled in deception, proving that even the most v...

In The City of the Singing Flame, Clark Ashton Smith transports listeners to a surreal and otherworldly dimension, where beauty and terror intertwine. When a traveler discovers a hidden portal to an alien world, he is drawn to an awe-inspiring city unlike anything on Earth. At its heart burns the Singing Flame—a hypnotic and irresistible force that calls to all who approach. As the traveler ventures deeper, he faces a choice betwee...

In The Slithering Shadow, Robert E. Howard delivers a thrilling tale of sorcery, survival, and ancient horror featuring the legendary Conan the Barbarian. Lost in a vast desert, Conan and his companion stumble upon Xuthal, a mysterious and decayed city where the inhabitants live in a dreamlike stupor, sustained by strange narcotics. But beneath the city’s eerie stillness lurks an unspeakable terror—a slithering, shadowy entity that...

In The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans, Sherlock Holmes is faced with a case of espionage, betrayal, and national security. When the body of a government clerk is found on the tracks of the London Underground, missing crucial submarine design plans, Holmes and Watson are drawn into a web of intrigue that could have devastating consequences for Britain. As Holmes pieces together the clues, he must outwit spies and uncover th...

In The Great Return, Arthur Machen blends mysticism, legend, and the supernatural in a haunting tale of divine mystery. Set in a quiet Welsh village, the story follows strange and miraculous occurrences that suggest the return of the Holy Grail. As unexplainable visions, healings, and eerie lights appear, the villagers begin to sense the presence of something ancient and sacred.

Rich in atmosphere and spiritual wonder, The Great Ret...

In The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, Fyodor Dostoevsky crafts a profound and philosophical tale of despair, revelation, and redemption. The story follows a man on the brink of suicide, convinced of the meaninglessness of life, until a surreal dream transports him to a utopian world untouched by corruption. As he experiences pure innocence and harmony, he soon witnesses the tragic fall of this paradise—mirroring the flaws of human natu...

In The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, Sherlock Holmes is called upon to solve a case of theft, betrayal, and scandal involving one of England’s most valuable treasures. A distraught banker, entrusted with the priceless Beryl Coronet, discovers it has been damaged—and his own son appears to be the culprit. Desperate to clear his name and recover the missing jewels, he turns to Holmes and Watson for help. As Holmes unravels the trut...

In The Bottle Imp, Robert Louis Stevenson weaves a captivating tale of fate, temptation, and the cost of desire. When Keawe, a humble Hawaiian man, acquires a mysterious bottle containing a wish-granting imp, he is promised wealth and success—but with a sinister catch. The bottle must be sold for less than its purchase price, and the final owner will be condemned to eternal damnation. As Keawe struggles against greed, love, and the...

Daphne du Maurier’s The Birds is a chilling tale of survival and suspense, where nature turns against humanity in a terrifying, unexplained attack. In a quiet English countryside, Nat Hocken notices unusual behavior among the local birds—restlessness, aggression, and an eerie sense of impending danger. As flocks grow in number and violence escalates, Nat and his family find themselves trapped in a desperate struggle against an enem...

In The Army Ensign, Aleksandr Kuprin presents a gripping tale of duty, honor, and the harsh realities of military life. Set in the Russian Empire, the story follows a young ensign as he navigates the challenges of army service, facing both the rigid discipline of the military and the personal trials that shape his character. With Kuprin’s keen eye for human nature and rich, immersive storytelling, the narrative captures the complex...

In The Adventure of the Priory School, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson take on a baffling case involving a missing nobleman’s son. When a prestigious boarding school reports the sudden disappearance of its young heir, Holmes is called upon to unravel a mystery that leads him deep into a web of deception, betrayal, and unexpected danger. With only a few puzzling clues—a missing bicycle, a strange trail, and a tragic discovery—Holmes ...

In The Devil in Iron, Robert E. Howard delivers a thrilling tale of sword and sorcery, featuring his legendary hero, Conan the Barbarian. When an ancient demon is awakened on the mysterious island of Xapur, Conan finds himself caught in a deadly trap—facing an indestructible foe, a treacherous city risen from the past, and a cunning scheme to end his reign as a warrior.

Packed with action, intrigue, and supernatural horror, The Devi...

In The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving weaves an eerie and atmospheric tale of superstition, mystery, and the supernatural. Set in the quiet, haunted village of Sleepy Hollow, the story follows Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolteacher who becomes entangled in local legends—particularly that of the Headless Horseman. As Ichabod vies for the affection of the wealthy Katrina Van Tassel, his fate takes a chilling turn on...

In The £1,000,000 Bank-Note, Mark Twain spins a witty and satirical tale about luck, social perception, and the power of wealth. When a penniless American in London is handed a one-million-pound banknote as part of an eccentric bet, he finds himself in a bizarre situation where no one will cash it, yet everyone assumes he is a man of immense fortune. As doors open to him and his life takes an unexpected turn, the story explores how...

In Imprisoned with the Pharaohs, H. P. Lovecraft delivers a thrilling tale of mystery, ancient horrors, and supernatural suspense. Written as a fictionalized account for famed magician Harry Houdini, the story follows the illusionist as he is kidnapped and trapped beneath the Great Pyramids of Egypt. What begins as a desperate struggle for escape soon turns into an unearthly nightmare, revealing dark secrets buried beneath the sand...

In Grace, James Joyce offers a sharp and contemplative exploration of morality, redemption, and social hypocrisy. The story follows Tom Kernan, a Dublin businessman whose excessive drinking leads to an embarrassing accident. As his friends stage an intervention, urging him toward spiritual renewal, the narrative unfolds with Joyce’s signature wit and keen observation of human nature.

Part of Dubliners, Grace is a masterful study of ...

In Elaine’s Tomb, G. Peyton Wertenbaker crafts a haunting tale of love, loss, and the eerie passage of time. When a man returns to the tomb of his beloved Elaine, he is drawn into a chilling mystery that defies logic and reality. As memories blur with the present and the boundaries between life and death seem to shift, the story unfolds with an unsettling and dreamlike intensity.

Blending gothic atmosphere with deep emotional resona...

In An Adventure in Futurity, Clark Ashton Smith transports listeners to a distant and enigmatic future where time, civilization, and human destiny take unexpected turns. When a traveler from the year 6000 arrives in the present, he invites a skeptical narrator on a journey beyond imagination. As they step into a world of advanced intellect, lost wonders, and eerie forewarnings, the line between utopia and doom becomes unsettlingly ...

In The Adventure of the Speckled Band, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are drawn into one of their most chilling cases. A young woman, terrified for her life, seeks Holmes’ help after the mysterious death of her sister under eerie circumstances. With only a cryptic dying message and an oppressive country estate filled with secrets, Holmes must unravel the truth before tragedy strikes again.

Filled with suspense, deduction, and a sini...