The Classic Tales Podcast
Join award-winning narrator B.J. Harrison on a quest through the greatest stories ever put to paper. From the jungles of South America to the Mississippi Delta, from Victorian England to the sands of the Arabian Desert, come with us on a series of fantastic adventures – unabridged as the authors intended. Critically acclaimed and highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story with plenty of substance. (Shortlisted by The Wall Street Journal, iTunes, and TIME. Winner of multiple w3 and Voice Arts Awards, a HEAR NOW and an Independent Audiobook Award.)
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Ep. 1098, A Christmas Carol, Part 4 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
12/23/2025
Ep. 1098, A Christmas Carol, Part 4 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
Can Ebenezer Scrooge become convinced to change his ways? Charles Dickens, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Did you know Charles Dickens wrote several Christmas Stories similar in length to A Christmas Carol? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can download The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens and get not only the entire reading of A Christmas Carol, but also The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Goblins and the Gravedigger, and The Life of Our Lord. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, A Christmas Carol, Part 4 of 4, by Charles Dickens
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Ep. 1097, A Christmas Confession, by Agnes McClelland Daulton
12/19/2025
Ep. 1097, A Christmas Confession, by Agnes McClelland Daulton
How can a good deed at Christmas backfire? Agnes McClelland Daulton, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Do you plan on tackling some of those books you’ve always meant to get to next year? Is it time to take a whack at Ivanhoe, David Copperfield, or Plutarch’s Lives? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can sample all you want until you find the special title for that sweet spot. Unlimited downloading and streaming of the Classic Tales Library can be yours for even less! Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, A Christmas Confession, by Agnes McClelland Daulton
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Ep. 1096, A Christmas Carol, Part 3 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
12/16/2025
Ep. 1096, A Christmas Carol, Part 3 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
What message does The Ghost of Christmas Present bring Ebenezer Scrooge from beyond the grave? Charles Dickens, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Did you know Charles Dickens wrote several Christmas Stories similar in length to A Christmas Carol? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can download The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens and get not only the entire reading of A Christmas Carol, but also The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Goblins and the Gravedigger, and The Life of Our Lord. Sign up during our holiday promotion, and lock in your low price of $6.99 a month, and enjoy all the Classic Tales you want all year round. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, A Christmas Carol, Part 3 of 4, by Charles Dickens
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Ep. 1095, The Christmas Surprise on Enderly Road, by Lucy Maud Montgomery
12/12/2025
Ep. 1095, The Christmas Surprise on Enderly Road, by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Who can lighten the friction between the folks on Blackburn Hill and those on Enderly Road? Lucy Maud Montgomery, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. This is the final week where you can get a subscription for the Audiobook Library Card for only $6.99, instead of the typical ridiculously low price of $9.99. This is your chance to lock in a monthly subscription at the lower price, saving $3 a month. Unlimited downloading and streaming of the Classic Tales Library can be yours for even less! Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, The Christmas Surprise on Enderly Road, by Lucy Maud Montgomery
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Ep. 1094, A Christmas Carol, Part 2 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
12/09/2025
Ep. 1094, A Christmas Carol, Part 2 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
What message does The Ghost of Christmas Past bring Ebenezer Scrooge from beyond the grave? Charles Dickens, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Did you know Charles Dickens wrote several Christmas Stories similar in length to A Christmas Carol? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can download The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens and get not only the entire reading of A Christmas Carol, but also The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Goblins and the Gravedigger, and The Life of Our Lord. Sign up during our holiday promotion, and lock in your low price of $6.99 a month, and enjoy all the Classic Tales you want all year round. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. I’m performing as Ebenezer Scrooge at Payson Community Theatre’s production of Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol right now. Fun fact – Austin Bateman, the actor in the show who plays Young Scrooge, is a fan of the podcast. He’s done a great job interpreting how a younger BJ Harrison would sound as Scrooge. My son Seven picked up on what he was doing and complimented him on it. It’s a great show. If you’re in the area, there are three more performances. Today’s VINTAGE episode was recorded in 2018, when my son was Scrooge in high school. I thought it was time to revisit the story. There’s a reason it’s a classic! And now, A Christmas Carol, Part 2 of 4, by Charles Dickens Photo by Ruth Lyons
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Ep. 1093, A Christmas Dream, by Louisa May Alcott
12/05/2025
Ep. 1093, A Christmas Dream, by Louisa May Alcott
How much joy can a little girl’s dream inspire? Louisa May Alcott, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. For a limited time, you can get a subscription for the Audiobook Library Card for only $6.99, instead of the typical ridiculously low price of $9.99. This is your chance to lock in a monthly subscription at the lower price, saving $3 a month. Unlimited downloading and streaming of the Classic Tales Library can be yours for even less! Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, A Christmas Dream, and How it Came True, by Louisa May Alcott
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Ep. 1092, A Christmas Carol, Part 1 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
12/02/2025
Ep. 1092, A Christmas Carol, Part 1 of 4, by Charles Dickens VINTAGE
What message does Jacob Marley bring Ebenezer Scrooge from beyond the grave? Charles Dickens, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Did you know Charles Dickens wrote several Christmas Stories similar in length to A Christmas Carol? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can download The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens and get not only the entire reading of A Christmas Carol, but also The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Goblins and the Gravedigger, and The Life of Our Lord. Sign up during our holiday promotion, and lock in your low price of $6.99 a month, and enjoy all the Classic Tales you want all year round. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. I’m performing as Ebenezer Scrooge at Payson Community Theatre’s production of Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol right now. Fun fact – Austin Bateman, the actor in the show who plays Young Scrooge, is a fan of the podcast. He’s done a great job interpreting how a younger BJ Harrison would sound as Scrooge. My son Seven picked up on what he was doing and complimented him on it. It’s a great show. If you’re in the area, there are three more performances. Today’s VINTAGE episode was recorded in 2018, when my son was Scrooge in high school. I thought it was time to revisit the story. There’s a reason it’s a classic! And now, A Christmas Carol, Part 1 of 4, by Charles Dickens Photo by Ruth Lyons
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Ep. 1091, Christmas in the Forest, by André Theuriet
11/28/2025
Ep. 1091, Christmas in the Forest, by André Theuriet
What simple delights are in store in a visit to the wooden clog maker who lives in the forest? André Theuriet, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Well, it’s Black Friday, and for a limited time, you can get a subscription for the Audiobook Library Card for only $6.99, instead of the typical ridiculously low price of $9.99. This is your chance to lock in a monthly subscription at the lower price, saving $3 a month. Unlimited downloading and streaming of the Classic Tales Library can be yours for even less! Go to or follow the link in the show notes. As a side note, I’m going to be playing Ebenezer Scrooge in Payson Community Theatre’s production of Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol. To celebrate, our VINTAGE episodes for December will be the original text of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which I recorded in 2018, when my son Seven was playing Scrooge in High School. I guess we’ve come full circle. Today’s story appeared in a collection of Christmas stories by French and Spanish writers, translated by Antoinette Ogden. It’s a sweet story with some beautiful imagery. By the way, a sabotier is a maker of wooden shoes, or clogs. Enjoy! And now, Christmas in the Forest, by André Theuriet
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Ep. 1090, The Adventure of the Empty House, by Arthur Conan Doyle VINTAGE
11/25/2025
Ep. 1090, The Adventure of the Empty House, by Arthur Conan Doyle VINTAGE
Can Sherlock Holmes solve an impossible locked room murder? Arthur Conan Doyle, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you wanted to try an audiobook and see if you’ll like it? Are you apprehensive to spend $15 on an audiobook you might not like? With the audiobook library card, you can sample as many titles as you like until you find one that sticks. For only $9.99 a month, you get unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just heavily curated, well produced audio, in so many genres, you’re sure to find something that hits that sweet spot. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. Arthur Conan Doyle faced immense public pressure to bring back his famed sleuth after his showdown with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. Today’s story is included in the anthology, The Return of Sherlock Holmes. And now, The Adventure of the Empty House, by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Ep. 1089, The Life-Eater, by Harold Ward
11/21/2025
Ep. 1089, The Life-Eater, by Harold Ward
What otherworldly creature is terrorizing a sleepy Louisiana bayou town? Harold Ward, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you wanted to try an audiobook and see if you’ll like it? Are you apprehensive to spend $15 on an audiobook you might not like? With the audiobook library card, you can sample as many titles as you like until you find one that sticks. For only $9.99 a month, you get unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just heavily curated, well produced audio, in so many genres, you’re sure to find something that hits that sweet spot. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now for something completely different. Today’s story was originally published in the June 1937 edition of Weird Tales, magazine. It’s a good example of weird fiction, with some numinous moments that are particularly effective. And now, The Life-Eater, by Harold Ward
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Ep. 1088, Rothschild's Fiddle, by Anton Chekhov VINTAGE
11/18/2025
Ep. 1088, Rothschild's Fiddle, by Anton Chekhov VINTAGE
How can a small-town coffin maker’s side hustle force him to face his prejudice? Anton Chekhov, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you wanted to try an audiobook and see if you’ll like it? Are you apprehensive to spend $15 on an audiobook you might not like? With the audiobook library card, you can sample as many titles as you like until you find one that sticks. For only $9.99 a month, you get unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just heavily curated, well produced audio, in so many genres, you’re sure to find something that hits that sweet spot. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. Shostakovich suggested that today’s story from Anton Chekhov be made into an opera. I’ll let the story speak for itself.
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Ep. 1087, The Dead, Part 2 of 2, by James Joyce
11/14/2025
Ep. 1087, The Dead, Part 2 of 2, by James Joyce
What hidden memory of Gretta’s is unlocked by a song? James Joyce, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you wanted to try an audiobook and see if you’ll like it? Are you apprehensive to spend $15 on an audiobook you might not like? With the audiobook library card, you can sample as many titles as you like until you find one that sticks. For only $9.99 a month, you get unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just heavily curated, well produced audio, in so many genres, you’re sure to find something that hits that sweet spot. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. Today we conclude our dance in Dublin. I enjoyed recording this part of the tale particularly. I hope you like it. And now, The Dead, Part 2 of 2, by James Joyce
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Ep. 1086, A Meeting, by Guy de Maupassant VINTAGE
11/11/2025
Ep. 1086, A Meeting, by Guy de Maupassant VINTAGE
A wife’s indiscretion is answered with cruelty. But what happens when the two meet again six years later? Guy de Maupassant, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for the ideal audiobook to fit your mood? To hit that sweet spot? The Audiobook Library Card is the just what the doctor ordered. Need some colorful characters? Check out our Charles Dickens selections. Need a laugh? Wooster and Jeeves have you covered. Adventure? We’ve got pirates, and swashbucklers aplenty. Looking for a classic thrill? Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, or any of our other selections. Take the guesswork out of your listening experience with unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And of course, you can always listen to the podcast for free for a great listening experience. Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. Guy de Maupassant was a master of the short story, using every literary device and turn of phrase with masterful effect. A Meeting is an elegant tale that explores the consequences of unbridled, and bridled, passion.
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Ep. 1085, The Dead, Part 1 of 2, by James Joyce
11/07/2025
Ep. 1085, The Dead, Part 1 of 2, by James Joyce
What sparks fly at a holiday get together in Dublin? Hopefully the good kind…James Joyce, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you listened to the Fu-Manchu trilogy? How about the John Carter Trilogy? How about all 51 hours of The Count of Monte Cristo? With the audiobook library card, you can listen to all this and more for only $9.99 a month. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just is heavily curated, well produced audio, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. Today’s story is considered one of the great short stories of English literature. Appearing as the final tale in his short story collection, Dubliners, James Joyce builds the complex atmosphere of a Holiday dance in Dublin. One thing to look out for is how the point of view of the narrative changes constantly, almost like it’s a living thing. The use of phrasing is also noteworthy, sometimes sharp and staccato, and sometimes smooth and flowing. It’s as though the language itself has a tempo, texture, and pitch all its own. As though the story were a musical piece in and of itself. Hopefully this becomes even clearer in an audio format. I hope you like it. And now, The Dead, Part 1 of 2, by James Joyce
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Ep. 1084, The 39 Steps, Part 4 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
11/04/2025
Ep. 1084, The 39 Steps, Part 4 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
Richard Hannay’s journey is brought to its earth-shattering conclusion. John Buchan, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for the ideal audiobook to fit your mood? To hit that sweet spot? The Audiobook Library Card is the just what the doctor ordered. Need some colorful characters? Check out our Charles Dickens selections. Need a laugh? Wooster and Jeeves have you covered. Adventure? We’ve got pirates, and swashbucklers aplenty. Looking for a classic thrill? Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, or any of our other selections. Take the guesswork out of your listening experience with unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And of course, you can always listen to the podcast for free for a great listening experience. Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. And now, The 39 Steps, Part 4 of 4, by John Buchan
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Ep. 1083, The House on the Borderland, Part 5 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
10/31/2025
Ep. 1083, The House on the Borderland, Part 5 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
Who comes to claim our narrator at the end of his cosmic experience? William Hope Hodgson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you ever had a book that you wanted to read, but you couldn’t get into? Then you tried it a few years later, and it was your favorite book? Something really clicked, and you identified with it so much? That’s how I was with Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott. After a while, something just clicked. It’s now one of my favorites. With the audiobook library card, you can listen to all this and more for only $9.99 a month. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just is heavily curated, well produced audio, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, The House on the Borderland, Part 5 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
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Ep. 1082, The 39 Steps, Part 3 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
10/28/2025
Ep. 1082, The 39 Steps, Part 3 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
The true nature of the 39 Steps is brought to light. John Buchan, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for the ideal audiobook to fit your mood? To hit that sweet spot? The Audiobook Library Card is the just what the doctor ordered. Need some colorful characters? Check out our Charles Dickens selections. Need a laugh? Wooster and Jeeves have you covered. Adventure? We’ve got pirates, and swashbucklers aplenty. Looking for a classic thrill? Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, or any of our other selections. Take the guesswork out of your listening experience with unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And of course, you can always listen to the podcast for free for a great listening experience. Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. And now, The 39 Steps, Part 2 of 4, by John Buchan
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Ep. 1081, The House on the Borderlands, Part 4 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
10/24/2025
Ep. 1081, The House on the Borderlands, Part 4 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
Have you ever had the longest day? What about the horror of sensing the days getting shorter? William Hope Hodgson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you listened to the Fu-Manchu trilogy? How about the John Carter Trilogy? How about all 51 hours of The Count of Monte Cristo? With the audiobook library card, you can listen to all this and more for only $9.99 a month. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just is heavily curated, well produced audio, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, The House on the Borderland, Part 4 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
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Ep. 1080, The 39 Steps, Part 2 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
10/21/2025
Ep. 1080, The 39 Steps, Part 2 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
Richard Hannay’s adventures continue! John Buchan, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for the ideal audiobook to fit your mood? To hit that sweet spot? The Audiobook Library Card is the just what the doctor ordered. Need some colorful characters? Check out our Charles Dickens selections. Need a laugh? Wooster and Jeeves have you covered. Adventure? We’ve got pirates, and swashbucklers aplenty. Looking for a classic thrill? Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, or any of our other selections. Take the guesswork out of your listening experience with unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And of course, you can always listen to the podcast for free for a great listening experience. Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. And now, The 39 Steps, Part 2 of 4, by John Buchan
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Ep. 1079, The House on the Borderland, Part 3 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
10/17/2025
Ep. 1079, The House on the Borderland, Part 3 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
Where did the swine creatures go after the attack on the house? William Hope Hodgson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you listened to the Fu-Manchu trilogy? How about the John Carter Trilogy? How about all 38 hours of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield? With the audiobook library card, you can listen to all this and more for only $9.99 a month. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just is heavily curated, well produced audio, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, The House on the Borderland, Part 3 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
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Ep. 1078, The 39 Steps, Part 1 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
10/14/2025
Ep. 1078, The 39 Steps, Part 1 of 4, by John Buchan VINTAGE
How is Richard Hannay’s retirement suspended by Franklin Scudder, a freelance spy? John Buchan, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for one place where you can get a dynamite audiobook every time? The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. The 39 Steps introduces John Buchan’s dashing adventurer Richard Hannay, who went on star in four more novels. It’s one of the earliest instances of a “man-on-the-run” adventure, now a commonly used trope in action and adventure. It’s been adapted into many films and plays over the years, and was included in BBC’s 2003 Big Read poll as one of Britain’s “best-loved books”. And now, The 39 Steps, Part 1 of 4, by John Buchan
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Ep. 1077, The House on the Borderland, Part 2 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
10/10/2025
Ep. 1077, The House on the Borderland, Part 2 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
What benighted creatures lurk in the pit where the trickle of river springs from the ground? William Hope Hodgson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Have you listened to the Fu-Manchu trilogy? How about the John Carter Trilogy? How about all 38 hours of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield? With the audiobook library card, you can listen to all this and more for only $9.99 a month. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library. No limits, just is heavily curated, well produced audio, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. And now, The House on the Borderland, Part 2 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
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Ep. 1076, The Zayat Kiss, by Sax Rohmer VINTAGE
10/07/2025
Ep. 1076, The Zayat Kiss, by Sax Rohmer VINTAGE
Can Nayland Smith catch the most nefarious villain nobody knows about - Dr. Fu-Manchu? Sax Rohmer, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for one place where you can get a dynamite audiobook every time? The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. Today’s episode also comprises the first 3 chapters of the book The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu. The first of the Fu-Manchu series. It was originally published as The Zayat Kiss in Colliers Magazine in February 1913. The characters of Nayland Smith, Petrie and Fu Manchu crossed over into the comic world in 1931 in a black and white daily. Nayland Smith made his first appearance in Detective Comics in Detective Comics #17 (DC). Marvel later acquired the rights to the characters, and in the 1970s developed a kung fu television series around the unknown son of Fu Manchu: Shang-Chi. Masters of Kung Fu was cancelled in 1983, and the Rohmer characters haven’t been seen at Marvel since, but Shang-Chi has, eventually headlining his own installment into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Let’s journey back to where it all began. And now, The Zayat Kiss, by Sax Rohmer
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Ep. 1075, The House on the Borderland, Part 1 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
10/03/2025
Ep. 1075, The House on the Borderland, Part 1 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
What weird tales hide within a decrepit book filled with cosmic horror? William Hope Hodgson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for one place where you can get a dynamite audiobook every time? The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. The Audiobook Library Card is an all-you-can-listen smorgasbord of classics I’ve been building for the last 18 years. Many have won awards! Only about a quarter of the library has been on the podcast. And with the Audiobook Library Card, you gain access to everything. So head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com and start listening. We had a great event at FanX last week – we filled the room! People were turned away for lack of seating. This rarely happens. It was such a fun performance, and so fun to be in character and in costume. I had a little front row cheering section, with a bunch of my kids and their significant others who came. It was so neat to see them there. We have five Fridays this October! Perfect for this incredible classic from the great William Hope Hodgson. First published in 1908, this installment to the genre of classic horror is legendary. H.P. Lovecraft and Terry Pratchett have both praised it at length. It’s kind of obvious that it helped them see what could be done, and inspire them to reach for the next level. But oh boy, what a level Mr. Hodgson established. I hope you like it. And now, The House on the Borderland, Part 1 of 5, by William Hope Hodgson
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Ep. 1074, Leiningen vs. the Ants, by Carl Stephenson VINTAGE
09/30/2025
Ep. 1074, Leiningen vs. the Ants, by Carl Stephenson VINTAGE
Can Leiningen defend his Brazilian plantation from a gargantuan swarm of soldier ants? Carl Stephenson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for one place where you can get a dynamite audiobook every time? The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. In case you haven’t noticed, we have now entered into a new phase of the VINTAGE episodes, and I’m really excited about it. The episodes we’re revisiting now have not been anthologized, and many have been off the feed and unable to purchase. Be sure not to miss a single Tuesday episode! Today’s story inspired a film starring Charleton Heston called Marabunta. I worked on a movie of the week with the same premise back in 1998. I was the set decorator. I was 23. The movie was so bad, you can’t even find it now. And now, Leiningen versus the Ants, by Carl Stephenson
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Ep. 1073, The Great Ruby Robbery, by Grant Allen
09/26/2025
Ep. 1073, The Great Ruby Robbery, by Grant Allen
Who stole an American heiress’s magnificent rubies? Grant Allen, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for one place where you can get a dynamite audiobook every time? The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. The Audiobook Library Card is an all-you-can-listen smorgasbord of classics I’ve been building for the last 18 years. Many have won awards! Only about a quarter of the library has been on the podcast. And with the Audiobook Library Card, you gain access to everything. So head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com and start listening. If you’re going to the FanX convention in Salt Lake City on Saturday, you can see me twice, if you like. Three other narrators and I will be in a panel on audiobooks. We will also do a live performance of Agatha Christie’s short mystery: The Mystery of Marsden Manor. I’ll be there not only in person, but in costume as Hercule Poirot, a la the 1982 version of Evil Under the Sun, with Peter Ustinov as Poirot. If you come, please say hi! You can listen to The Mystery of Marsden Manor and the full collection of Agatha Christie’s short stories: Poirot Investigates in the Mystery category at the website at classictalesaudiobooks.com. Or, if you have the Audiobook Library Card, it’s in the Mystery category there, as well. Today’s story first appeared in the Strand magazine, alongside the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and also featured illustrations by Sydney Paget. I hope you like it. And now, The Great Ruby Robbery, by Grant Allen
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Ep. 1072, Intelligence, by Raphael Sabatini VINTAGE
09/23/2025
Ep. 1072, Intelligence, by Raphael Sabatini VINTAGE
Why is the panicked Elphinstone ringing the professor’s doorbell in the middle of the night? Why does he declare they are both in great danger? Raphael Sabatini, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for one place where you can get a dynamite audiobook every time? The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. And now, Intelligence, by Rafael Sabatini
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Ep. 1071, The Problem of Cell 13, by Jacques Futrelle
09/19/2025
Ep. 1071, The Problem of Cell 13, by Jacques Futrelle
How can the man known as The Thinking Machine escape from a maximum-security prison? Jacques Futrelle, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Are you looking for one place where you can get a dynamite audiobook every time? The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Each title is heavily curated, so you get a great listen every time. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. The Audiobook Library Card is an all-you-can-listen smorgasbord of classics I’ve been building for the last 18 years. Many have won awards! Only about a quarter of the library has been on the podcast. And with the Audiobook Library Card, you gain access to everything. So head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com and start listening. I’m still reeling from the news that my recording of P.G. Wodehouse’s The Intrusion of Jimmy is a Finalist for a Narrator of Distinction Award from the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association (PANA). It’s going up against major titles from Macmillan and other major publishers. I’m going up against some of the biggest names in the business, and I couldn’t be more honored. I still can’t believe it. You can listen to The Intrusion of Jimmy in the Winner’s Circle category at the website at classictalesaudiobooks.com. Or, if you have the Audiobook Library Card, it’s in the Winner’s Circle category there, as well. Pirate Summer has kind of dipped in to September, but I thought we could still do some September Sleuthing. Here is the breakout story from Jacques Futrelle as he introduces his greatest creation: The Thinking Machine. And now, The Problem of Cell 13, by Jacques Futrelle
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Ep. 1070, Anthem, Part 2 of 2, by Ayn Rand VINTAGE
09/16/2025
Ep. 1070, Anthem, Part 2 of 2, by Ayn Rand VINTAGE
Ayn Rand’s dystopian tale is concluded, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. Did you know that some titles are only available with The Audiobook Library Card? Subscribe monthly, or yearly, and stream or download any title in the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99/month. Use the coupon code classictales2 and save $3 off your first month! Go to or follow the link in the show notes. It’s an all-you-can-listen smorgasbord of classics I’ve been building for the last 18 years. Many have won awards! Only about a quarter of the titles in the library have been on the podcast. There are thousands of hours of adventure, mystery, and more. So, head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com, hit the appropriate button, and start listening. And now, Anthem, Part 2 of 2 by Ayn Rand
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Ep. 1069, Blackbeard Buccaneer, Part 8 of 8, by Ralph D. Paine
09/12/2025
Ep. 1069, Blackbeard Buccaneer, Part 8 of 8, by Ralph D. Paine
A final voyage for Blackbeard’s treasure turns out to be more than the boys bargained for. Ralph D. Paine, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. The Audiobook Library Card is the perfect solution if you can’t get enough classic audiobooks. Unlimited downloads and streaming of the entire Classic Tales Library for $9.99 a month. Use the coupon code CLASSICTALES2 and save $3 on your first month. You can also subscribe yearly at the lower price, if you like. Go to or follow the link in the show notes. The Audiobook Library Card is an all-you-can-listen smorgasbord of classics I’ve been building for the last 18 years. Many have won awards! Only about a quarter of the library has been on the podcast. And with the Audiobook Library Card, you gain access to everything. So head on over to audiobooklibrarycard.com and start listening. I’m pleased to announce that my recording of P.G. Wodehouse’s The Intrusion of Jimmy is a Finalist for a Narrator of Distinction Award from the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association (PANA). It’s such an honor to be named a finalist among such esteemed narrators. You can listen to this title in the Winner’s Circle category at the website at classictalesaudiobooks.com. Or, if you have the Audiobook Library Card, it’s in the Winner’s Circle category there, as well. I’m so glad this title is getting some more attention. It was an absolute delight to record. And now, Blackbeard: Buccaneer, Part 8 of 8, by Ralph D. Paine
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