The Classic Tales Podcast
Designed to make classic literature less intimidating, The Classic Tales Podcast has been showcasing the greatest literary authors for years. Narrating with gusto, BJ Harrison performs each word of the classic texts, elevating them with character voices, sharp accents and bridled emotion. Adventure, Mystery, Horror, Humor and more - The Classic Tales Podcast has something for everybody. It really is The Cure for the Common Commute. Winner - Outstanding Podcast Host: Arts and Entertainment , Society of Voice Arts and Sciences- 2022 Winner of w3 Silver Award by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts-2022 Winner of w3 Gold Award by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts-2021 Winner of Independent Audiobook Award for "Scaramouche", by Raphael Sabatini - 2021
info_outline
Ep. 924, The Machine Stops, by E.M. Forster VINTAGE
04/23/2024
Ep. 924, The Machine Stops, by E.M. Forster VINTAGE
The earth's surface is no longer habitable, and all humanity is sequestered beneath the ground, couched in isolation and contentment. The Machine provides the needs of humanity. But what happens when the Machine stops? E.M. Forster, 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. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , 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’re getting ready with boxed sets, special editions, and more! We’ll let you know when we’re ready to kick off. E.M. Forster, largely known for his novels such as A Room with a View, Howard’s End, and A Passage to India, also delved in the realm of science fiction, and he was no slouch. Today’s story is often heralded as one of the greatest science fiction stories of all time, and was included in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume 2. Versions of this story have often made their way into film, including George Lucas’ THX 1138 and the original Logan’s Run film from 1967 bear similarities to it. Even the Pixar film Wall-E depicts a future where the world in uninhabitable, and humanity is dependent upon machines for survival. And now, The Machine Stops, by E.M. Forster.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30895748
info_outline
Ep. 923, A Voyage to Lilliput, Part 3 of 3, from Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift
04/19/2024
Ep. 923, A Voyage to Lilliput, Part 3 of 3, from Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift
With capital punishment in the offing, how can Gulliver escape the land of Lilliput? Jonathan Swift, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Machine Stops”, by E.M. Forster. Be sure to check out this science fiction classic on Tuesday. If you enjoy the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us continue to highlight these amazing stories. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing sparkling audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. And now, A Voyage to Lilliput, part 3 of 3, from Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30895723
info_outline
Ep. 922, Leave It to Jeeves, by P.G. WodehouseVINTAGE
04/16/2024
Ep. 922, Leave It to Jeeves, by P.G. WodehouseVINTAGE
Can the artistic Corky court his bird-loving uncle to continue supporting him? Maybe Jeeves can help. P.G. Wodehouse, 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. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Part 3 of Gulliver’s Travels coming your way on Friday. Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the sixth novel in the Arsène Lupin series. We’re getting ready with boxed sets, special editions, and more! We’ll let you know when we’re ready to pull the trigger. And now, Leave It to Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30793793
info_outline
Ep. 921, A Voyage to Lilliput, Part 2 of 3, from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
04/12/2024
Ep. 921, A Voyage to Lilliput, Part 2 of 3, from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
How can Gulliver stop a war without any bloodshed? Jonathan Swift, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “Leave It To Jeeves”, by P.G. Wodehouse. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you enjoy the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us continue to highlight these amazing stories. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing sparkling audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. And now, A Voyage to Lilliput, part 2 of 3, from Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30793778
info_outline
Ep. 920, The Yellow Wallpaper VINTAGE, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
04/09/2024
Ep. 920, The Yellow Wallpaper VINTAGE, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
What does our nervous heroine see in the yellow wallpaper, that no one else can? Charlotte Perkins Gilman, 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. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. New content is still coming your way on Fridays. Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the sixth novel in the Arsène Lupin series. We’re getting ready with boxed sets, special editions, and more! We’ll let you know when we’re ready to pull the trigger. And it’s time for the Classic Tales Book Club to meet again! Keep an eye on your inboxes today for our monthly newsletter which will contain the zoom link. Our zoom meeting will be on Wednesday, April 10th at 4:00 Pacific time, 7:00 Eastern. We’ll talk about the satirical nature of Gulliver’s Travels, and the power of satire. See you then! Follow the link in the show notes to subscribe to our newsletter, and get the zoom link later today. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was raised by her three aunts – one of which was Harriet Beecher Stowe. Apart from The Yellow Wallpaper, she is also known for writing Herland, the story of a lost civilization populated entirely by women. And now, The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30691568
info_outline
Ep. 919, A Voyage to Lilliput, Part 1 of 3, from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
04/05/2024
Ep. 919, A Voyage to Lilliput, Part 1 of 3, from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
How can Lemuel Gulliver escape from the Lilliputians? They’re only six inches tall – should be a cinch, right? Jonathan Swift, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Yellow Wallpaper”, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you enjoy the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us continue to highlight these amazing stories. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing sparkling audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. I’ve been having fun designing the specials for our Kickstarter for the next Arsène Lupin book – The Golden Triangle. Things are moving along nicely. Keep an ear open for when we pull the trigger, hopefully in a couple of weeks! And it’s time for the Classic Tales Book Club to meet again! Keep an eye on your inboxes on Tuesday for our monthly newsletter which will contain the zoom link. Our zoom meeting will be on Wednesday, April 10th at 4:00 PM Pacific time, 7:00 PM Eastern. We’ll talk about the satirical nature of Gulliver’s Travels, and the power of satire. See you then! Follow the link in the show notes to subscribe to our newsletter, and get the zoom link on Tuesday. Mark Twain is quoted as saying that, “a classic is a book which people praise and don’t read”. Gulliver’s Travels likely fits into this category for a lot of us. We’ve seen the Max Fleisher cartoon, or the Ray Harryhausen film in the 70s, or the film with Jack Black in 2010. But we’ve probably never read it. Or we tried, and gave it up. So, what is the lasting appeal of this difficult book? Gulliver’s Travels was originally published in 1727. Swift’s novel is a satire of British monarchy and Imperialism. He succeeds in taking the mundane, or something we largely take for granted, and pushing it to the extreme to show its absurdity. This goes for everything from governments to our own physical bodies. And yeah, nothing is safe, so get ready for some bodily functions we’d rather not talk about to come front and center. Gulliver records his travels to several different lands of adventure. Instead of going through the entire book now, we’ll tackle them one voyage at a time. Then we’ll take a breather. This first stint will be the first part of the book – A Voyage to Lilliput in three parts. Gulliver travels to the land of Lilliput, as well as a land of giants, and also visits the dystopian world of the Houyhnhnms (hoo-IH-nims), among others. I hope you like it. And now, A Voyage to Lilliput, part 1 of 3, from Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30691528
info_outline
Ep. 918, Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and A Horseman in the Sky, by Ambrose BierceVINTAGE
04/02/2024
Ep. 918, Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and A Horseman in the Sky, by Ambrose BierceVINTAGE
What knavery occurred during the Civil War at Owl Creek Bridge? Ambrose Bierce, 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. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. New content is still coming your way on Fridays. Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the sixth novel in the Arsène Lupin series. We’re getting ready with boxed sets, special editions, and more! We’ll let you know when we’re ready to pull the trigger. Ambrose Bierce actually fought in the Civil War. Known as the “Devil’s Lexicographer”, he was known for his sharp wit and biting satire. He wrote several stories set during the Civil War, and also delved into the ghost story genre with great success. H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen Crane, among others, were influenced by his work. He was last known to join Pancho Villa’s revolutionary army as an observer in October 1913. He was never heard from again. And now, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and A Horseman in the Sky, by Ambrose Bierce.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30592383
info_outline
Ep. 917, Green Tea, by Sheridan LeFanu
03/29/2024
Ep. 917, Green Tea, by Sheridan LeFanu
Why is Reverend Jennings so distracted when he gives his sermons? Is it just because he’s partial to green tea? Sheridan LeFanu, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and A Horseman in the Sky”, two stories from Ambrose Bierce. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you enjoy the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us continue to highlight these amazing stories. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing sparkling audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. I’ve been having fun designing the specials for our Kickstarter for the next Arsène Lupin book – The Golden Triangle. I have the artwork done for the pins and the cover, now it’s on to creating the boxed sets and other bonus goodies. I’ve got a lot to do, and I want to get it all ready so we can hit the ground running. Keep an ear open for when we pull the trigger! Today’s story is from a collection entitled: Through a Glass Darkly, by J. Sheridan Lefanu, originally published in 1872. It’s a collection of five stories that include the vampire classic Carmilla, and the mysterious The Room in the Dragon Volant. LeFanu was one of the foremost writers of the ghost story in his time, and helped to shape what is now considered Victorian fiction. App users can hear The Room in the Dragon Volant in its entirety. It’s over three hours long! It’s located in the special features for today’s episode. And now, Green Tea, by Sheridan LeFanu.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30592213
info_outline
Ep. 916, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, from The Arabian NightsVINTAGE
03/26/2024
Ep. 916, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, from The Arabian NightsVINTAGE
Can Ali Baba discover the secret words that open the den of the forty thieves? The Arabian Nights, 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. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. New content is still coming your way on Fridays. Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the sixth novel in the Arsène Lupin series. We’re getting ready with boxed sets, special editions, and more! We’ll let you know when we’re ready to pull the trigger. The Arabian Nights is a collection of stories that has been augmented by many authors and translators through the years. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is among the most famous of the collection, along with the Aladdin stories. And now, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, from The Arabian Nights.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30493473
info_outline
Ep. 915, The Prussian Officer, by D.H. Lawrence
03/22/2024
Ep. 915, The Prussian Officer, by D.H. Lawrence
Why does the Prussian officer pick on his orderly so much? Seriously, what’s eating the guy? D.H. Lawrence, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”, from the Arabian Nights. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you enjoy the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us continue to highlight these amazing stories. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing sparkling audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. I’ve been having fun designing the specials for our Kickstarter for the next Arsène Lupin book – The Golden Triangle. Boxed sets, special editions, enamel pins – I’ve got a lot to do, and I want to get it all ready so we can hit the ground running. Keep an ear open for when we pull the trigger! Today’s story is about two soldiers – an officer and his orderly. The officer is a little older, comes from a wealthy family, has squandered his inheritance and must make a living in the military. He’s angry and ornery all the time. This orderly is the opposite – he’s young and sensitive. His name is Schöner, which means “more beautiful” in German. I hope you like it. And now, The Prussian Officer, by D.H. Lawrence.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30493213
info_outline
Ep. 914, The Million-Pound Bank Note, by Mark Twain VINTAGE
03/19/2024
Ep. 914, The Million-Pound Bank Note, by Mark Twain VINTAGE
An outrageously generous gift proves increasingly inconvenient, when no one has change for a million-pound bank note. Mark Twain, 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. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. New content is still coming your way on Fridays. Keep an ear open for our Kickstarter for The Golden Triangle – the sixth novel in the Arsène Lupin series. We’re getting ready with boxed sets, special editions, and more! We’ll let you know when we’re ready to pull the trigger. Mark Twain – I mean, he’s Mark Twain. This story was first published in 1893, and has been dramatized several times, first in a silent film, then radio plays, television, and even a film in 1954 with Gregory Peck. I hope you like it! And now, The Million Pound Bank Note, by Mark Twain.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30384848
info_outline
Ep. 913, The Wrong Shape, by G.K. Chesterton
03/15/2024
Ep. 913, The Wrong Shape, by G.K. Chesterton
Can Father Brown solve a murder in a curious household? G.K. Chesterton, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Million Pound Bank Note”, by Mark Twain. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you enjoy the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us continue to highlight these amazing stories. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing sparkling audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. The Classic Tales Book Club was so much fun! It was great getting to know you, and talking a little shop. I think next time we’ll have some giveaways, so keep your schedule clear for the second Wednesday in April. I’ve been having fun designing the specials for our Kickstarter for the next Arsène Lupin book – The Golden Triangle. Boxed sets, special editions, enamel pins – I’ve got a lot to do, and I want to get it all ready so we can hit the ground running. Keep an ear open for when we pull the trigger! G.K. Chesterton was a pioneer of the detective story. Many consider his creation of Father Brown the equivalent to, if not an improvement on, Sherlock Holmes. The window that a man of the cloth has to the dark secrets of crime is indeed fascinating and very effective in solving crime. One thing I noticed in today’s story is Chesterton’s use of racism as a plot device. This story will land differently on twenty-first century ears than it did when it was written in 1911. I don’t want to say much about it other than there are some racially charged terms in the story today – just a heads up. And now, The Wrong Shape, by G.K. Chesterton.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30384778
info_outline
Ep. 912, The Man Upstairs, by P.G. Wodehouse VINTAGE
03/12/2024
Ep. 912, The Man Upstairs, by P.G. Wodehouse VINTAGE
Annette Brougham can't get any composing done with all the racket from the apartment upstairs. But when she meets the handsome, pompous tenant, her humor only improves slightly. P.G. Wodehouse, 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. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. New content is still coming your way on Fridays. Tomorrow is the Classic Tales Book Club! We’ll be meeting on Zoom on March 13th at 4:00PM pacific time, 7 PM Eastern Time. Zoom links will be sent through the newsletter, so be sure you’re subscribed and watching your emails. See you then! Today’s story is part of a collection of short stories titled, The Man Upstairs and Other Stories. It’s a compilation of various stories that don’t contain any of Wodehouse’s typical characters, and fall outside of any canon. I hope you like today’s installment! And now, “The Man Upstairs”, by P.G. Wodehouse.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30286333
info_outline
Ep. 911, Referent, by Ray Bradbury
03/08/2024
Ep. 911, Referent, by Ray Bradbury
Roby Morrison attends a very privileged boarding school. But when a spherical space ship lands, everything changes. Ray Bradbury, 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 Upstairs”, by P.G. Wodehouse. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you enjoy the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us continue to highlight these amazing stories. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing sparkling audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. Wednesday, March 13th at 4 PM Pacific time, 7 PM Eastern time, we’ll have our meeting of The Classic Tales Book Club! I’ll be sending the link to the zoom meeting through the newsletter, which will go out on the 12th. So be sure you’re subscribed to the newsletter, and you’ll be able to join us! A link to subscribe to the newsletter is in the show notes, as well as on the classic tales website. See you then! “Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.” -Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury was the consummate writer, telling stories he loved, while thrilling us and challenging the things we thought we knew. Farenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Dandelion Wine, The Martian Chronicles, he wrote books, short stories, screenplays, and more. Today’s story was written under the pseudonym of Brett Sterling for the magazine Thrilling Wonder Stories in October 1948. I hope you like it. And now, Referent, by Ray Bradbury.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30286298
info_outline
Ep. 910, The Man Who Would Be King, by Rudyard Kipling VINTAGE
03/04/2024
Ep. 910, The Man Who Would Be King, by Rudyard Kipling VINTAGE
Adventurers Dravot and Carnehan have decided to take over a country. Not a big country, just a tiny one. Should be simple, right? Rudyard Kipling, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. Keep an ear open for our coming Kickstarter campaign to fund the audiobook of The Golden Triangle, the next in the Arsène Lupin series, by Maurice Leblanc. We’ve got a ton of special bonuses planned. More details coming soon! And mark your calendar for the Classic Tales Book Club! We’ll be meeting on Zoom on March 13th at 4:00PM pacific time. See you then! Today’s story has had many media iterations. Most famous is likely the 1975 film with Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Christopher Plummer. It’s been dramatized in radio on the program Escape, in 1943, and even the Dreamworks film “The Road to Eldorado” can be said to be loosely based on it. J.M. Barrie called it, “the most audacious thing in fiction”. It inspired T.S. Eliot to write a poem when he was young. Kingsley Amis called it, “grossly overrated”. Overrated? Maybe. Audacious? Absolutely. Either way, we hope you like it. And now, “The Man Who Would be King”, by Rudyard Kipling.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30184708
info_outline
Ep. 909, Clouds of Witness, Part 9 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
03/01/2024
Ep. 909, Clouds of Witness, Part 9 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
All is revealed. Buckle up. Dorothy Sayers, 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 Would Be King”, by Rudyard Kipling. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep doing what we do. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. Mark your calendars for The Classic Tales Book Club! Our first meeting will be at 4:00 Pacific time, 7:00 Eastern time on March 13th. We’ll talk over Zoom about the podcast, and what genre you’d like to hear more often. See you then! I’m pivoting a bit on the Kickstarter for Bleak House. I just think it’s too long for our first Kickstarter. So, I’m thinking of the next in the Arsène Lupin series – The Golden Triangle. I’ll be making a custom enamel pin only available for supporters of the Kickstarter, among other fun deals. More details coming soon! And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 9 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30184643
info_outline
Ep. 908, The Body Snatcher, by Robert Louis Stevenson VINTAGE
02/27/2024
Ep. 908, The Body Snatcher, by Robert Louis Stevenson VINTAGE
Is an anatomy professor having murder done to secure his specimens? Robert Louis Stevenson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. Clouds of Witness, by Dorothy Sayers will continue episodically every Friday. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. Keep an ear open for our coming Kickstarter campaign to fund the audiobook of Bleak House, by Charles Dickens. We’ve got a ton of special bonuses planned. More details coming soon! And mark your calendar for the Classic Tales Book Club! We’ll be meeting on Zoom on March 13th at 4:00PM pacific time. See you then! Today’s story was inspired by true events. William Burke and William Hare committed 16 murders over a period of about 10 months in 1828 in Edinburgh, Scotland. They sold the bodies to Robert Knox, who used them in his anatomy lessons. Of course, Robert Louis Stevenson puts his wonderful spin on the tale. I hope you like it. And now, “The Body Snatcher”, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30076398
info_outline
Ep. 907, Clouds of Witness, Part 8 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
02/23/2024
Ep. 907, Clouds of Witness, Part 8 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
Peter runs off in a final mad dash to secure a secret testimony. But will it be enough to save his brother? Dorothy Sayers, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Body Snatcher”, by Robert Louis Stevenson. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep doing what we do. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. The Classic Tales Book Club’s first meeting is set! We will be meeting via Zoom on March 13th, at 4:00 Pm Pacific time. That should make it 7:00 Eastern time. I’ll be joined by the illustrious Christopher Oulette, and we’ll have a fun little chat talking about the show and whatever else comes up. Mark you calendars for March 13th. I’m working on setting up the Kickstarter project for Dickens’ Bleak House. This is a long one, and I can’t wait to dive in to an immersive story like this. I’m working on the artwork now, and I’ll have more information in the weeks to come. Big thanks to Ammon Anderson for helping me set this up. And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 8 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/30076293
info_outline
Ep. 906, The Blue Cross, by G.K. Chesterton VINTAGE
02/20/2024
Ep. 906, The Blue Cross, by G.K. Chesterton VINTAGE
Why does Inspector Valentin, while following the track of the thief Flambeau, keep crossing paths with two argumentative priests? G.K. Chesterton, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. Clouds of Witness, by Dorothy Sayers will continue episodically every Friday. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. Keep an ear open for our coming Kickstarter campaign to fund the audiobook of Bleak House, by Charles Dickens. We’ve got a ton of special bonuses planned. More details coming soon! Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a philosopher, writer, Christian apologist, and a critic of art and literature. He wrote around 80 books, 200 short stories, and 4,000 essays, (most of the essays appeared as newspaper articles). His most famous literary creation was Father Brown, a catholic priest that has heard the confessions of so many thieves, burglars, and law breakers over the course of his holy career, that he can usually anticipate and deduce the solution to any puzzling crime. Today’s story is the first Father Brown story, first published on July 23rd, 1910 in The Saturday Evening Post. And now, “The Blue Cross”, by G.K. Chesterton.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29981688
info_outline
Ep. 905, Clouds of Witness, Part 7 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
02/16/2024
Ep. 905, Clouds of Witness, Part 7 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
How can Wimsey escape the sucking mud pits of Peter’s Pot? Dorothy Sayers, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Blue Cross”, by G.K. Chesterton. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep the lights on. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. We have a couple of new developments. The first is The Classic Tales Book Club! We’re going to be having our first meeting in March! This will be a monthly meeting where we discuss the stories on the podcast, and we want you to come and chat with us. I’ll be joined by Classic Tales and classic literature enthusiast Christopher Oulette. Keep an eye on our social media channels for more information. You may have noticed that I haven’t been able to record the longer audiobooks like I used to. It’s just hard to justify reserving that time in my schedule – taking it away from recording something I could get paid for. But there are still so many books I still want to do. Well, I think I may have found a way around that. I’ve been wanting to record Bleak House, by Charles Dickens for some time, now. It’s got his outlandish and deep characters, amazing plot twists, and his beautiful prose tying it all together. So, I’m going to do a Kickstarter project for it! This way I can justify reserving time in my schedule to record and produce this audiobook. I’m planning to have TONS of bonus material and specials to make this happen. So get ready for a lot of fun, and some amazing deals in the near future. And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 7 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29981648
info_outline
Ep. 904, To Build a Fire, by Jack London VINTAGE
02/13/2024
Ep. 904, To Build a Fire, by Jack London VINTAGE
Every now and then, you need to build a fire in the Klondike. Should be a simple thing, right? Jack London, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. Clouds of Witness, by Dorothy Sayers will continue episodically every Friday. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. John Griffith Chaney (Jack London) was born on January 12, 1876 in the slums of San Francisco. His life was marked by poverty and struggle from beginning to end. Unwanted and abandoned by his parents, his foster mother was a former slave, Virginia Prentiss. He went to the University of California at Berkeley for one semester, then ran out of money. He then followed the Gold Rush to the Klondike, where he obtained an abundance of material to write about. He wrote 1,000 words a day, eventually gaining success as an author. He died at the age of 40. And now, “To Build a Fire”, by Jack London.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29869363
info_outline
Ep. 903, Clouds of Witness, Part 6 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
02/09/2024
Ep. 903, Clouds of Witness, Part 6 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
Now that they’ve secured the inflammatory Goyles, the case should be cut and dried, right? Dorothy Sayers, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “To Build a Fire”, by Jack London. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep the lights on. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. The Classic Tales Book Club is moving forward. We’ll be posting details through our Facebook and Instagram accounts. So be sure to follow us there. And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 6 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29869323
info_outline
Ep. 902, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge VINTAGE
02/06/2024
Ep. 902, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge VINTAGE
With the slaying of an albatross, the Ancient Mariner brings a curse that opens the workings of another world. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. Clouds of Witness, by Dorothy Sayers will continue episodically every Friday. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is the longest major poem from Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Originally published in 1798, it marks a shift to modern poetry and the beginning of British Romantic literature. If you’ve heard the saying of someone having an albatross around their neck, this is the thing they’re referencing. The Gustave Doré engraved illustrations for this book are absolutely wonderful. And now, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29766768
info_outline
Ep. 901, Clouds of Witness, Part 5 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
02/02/2024
Ep. 901, Clouds of Witness, Part 5 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
What does Mary bring to light in her long-awaited confession? Dorothy Sayers, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep the lights on. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. The Classic Tales Book Club is moving forward. We’ll be posting details through our Facebook and Instagram accounts. So be sure to follow us there. I’m very excited to get this started. And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 5 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29766703
info_outline
Ep. 900, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, by F. Scott FitzgeraldVINTAGE
01/30/2024
Ep. 900, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, by F. Scott FitzgeraldVINTAGE
Benjamin Button begins life as a 70-year-old man, and then things start to get weird. F. Scott Fitzgerald, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. Clouds of Witness, by Dorothy Sayers will continue episodically every Friday. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. Today’s story originally appeared in Collier’s magazine on May 27, 1922. It was later included in the short story collection: Tales of the Jazz age. The story was later adaped to a film in 2008, and a musical in 2019. This story was recorded when a listener reached out to me from New Orleans, and told me that they were filming a movie in her neighborhood based on this short story. And now, “Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29658798
info_outline
Ep. 899, Clouds of Witness, Part 4 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
01/26/2024
Ep. 899, Clouds of Witness, Part 4 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
What clue does Parker find in Paris that blows the case wide open? Dorothy Sayers, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep the lights on. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. The Classic Tales Book Club is moving forward. Details coming soon. And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 4 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29658493
info_outline
Ep. 898, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, by Oscar Wilde VINTAGE
01/23/2024
Ep. 898, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, by Oscar Wilde VINTAGE
From his vantage point high above the city, the statue of the happy prince gives of himself in a way that is most astonishing. Oscar Wilde, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. Clouds of Witness, by Dorothy Sayers will continue episodically every Friday. Please help us to continue producing amazing audiobooks by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. Today’s episode consists of three short stories. In "The Model Millionaire", the destiny of a young, ambitious, brilliant pauper changes with an act of his misplaced generosity. "The Happy Prince" is one of Oscar Wilde's renowned fairy tales. Sacrifice and empathy are layered into this beautiful story. Finally, in "The Sphinx without a Secret", we learn of an enigmatic woman who holds a secret so close, no suitor can win her. And now, "The Happy Prince and Other Tales", by Oscar Wilde.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29558093
info_outline
Ep. 897, Clouds of Witness, Part 3 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
01/19/2024
Ep. 897, Clouds of Witness, Part 3 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
The investigation leads Wimsey to a quaint Yorkshire farm. But why would the farmer set the dogs on him? Dorothy Sayers, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Happy Prince and Other Stores”, by Oscar Wilde. Three short stories you’re sure to enjoy. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep the lights on. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. The Classic Tales Book Club is moving forward. If any of you have an idea you’d like to contribute, or a special knowledge or skill you think might help, please send me an email through the website. I’d really like to make this a fun place where we can have great conversations, and I’m learning how difficult that is to create. So, if you’d like to pitch in, let me know. Details coming soon. And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 3 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29558053
info_outline
Ep. 896, The Captain of the Pole-Star, by Arthur Conan Doyle VINTAGE
01/16/2024
Ep. 896, The Captain of the Pole-Star, by Arthur Conan Doyle VINTAGE
While sailing in the Arctic the Pole-Star becomes trapped in ice. But when superstition begins to run rampant among the crew, the captain begins to cope in a strange way. Arthur Conan Doyle, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A new Vintage Episode is released every Tuesday. New content will be available every Friday. Please help us to keep the lights on by going to , and becoming a supporter. Thank you so much. While mostly famous for his creation of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle enjoyed crafting tales about the supernatural as well. The Captain of the Polestar and other tales includes many great pieces of short fiction. And now, The Captain of the Pole-star, by Arthur Conan Doyle.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29456563
info_outline
Ep. 895, Clouds of Witness, Part 2 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
01/12/2024
Ep. 895, Clouds of Witness, Part 2 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers
Could a green-eyed cat be the clue that cracks the mystery? Dorothy Sayers, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Vintage Episode for the week is “The Captain of the Pole Star”, by Arthur Conan Doyle. Be sure to check it out on Tuesday. If you’ve enjoyed the show, please become a monthly supporter, and help us keep the lights on. Please go to and become a monthly supporter for as little as $5 a month. As a thank you gesture, we’ll send you a coupon code every month for $8 off any audiobook order. Give more, and you get more! It’s a great way to help us keep producing amazing audiobook content. Go to and become a supporter today. I’m planning to start a new thing this year – The Classic Tales Book Club. It will be a monthly meeting over Zoom, where we can talk about the books we love. Might be about the stuff on the show, maybe not. But I figured it’s about time we start to know each other better. There’s a familiar comfort with the classics. I just love them. I’d love to have a discussion! So keep your ears open for the Classic Tales Book Club. Easiest book club ever. Details coming soon. And now, Clouds of Witness, Part 2 of 9, by Dorothy Sayers.
/episode/index/show/classictales/id/29456453