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.)

Ep. 1157, David Balfour, Part 6 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson 07/17/2026

Ep. 1157, David Balfour, Part 6 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson Can David overcome the insurmountable to testify in favor of James of the Glens? Robert Louis Stevenson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook approach delivers an immersive experience in classic literature. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. I just want to give you a quick reminder that this show is independently curated, produced, narrated, directed, copywritten, edited, mixed, and marketed by one person – myself. I also produce the artwork, update the websites, and manage the customer service. And this isn’t my full-time job, even though I’m in my twentieth year of podcasting. So if you’re looking for a way to support the actual creative artists who make the stuff you enjoy, this is really a great place to support. And by supporting with a subscription for the Audiobook Library Card, you get so much bang for your buck. In this crazy world where AI and big businesses are really working hard to make it difficult for little creative guys like me to make a go of it, your support is really felt on a personal level. So thank you for your support. And if you can’t financially support us, just tell a friend about your favorite episode. You can talk about how Jules Verne wrote a book about Russian spies you didn’t know about. Or how this Scottish adventure is working out for you. Or one of our vintage episodes with Sherlock Holmes or from L. Frank Baum. Honestly, that’s why I do this. To get people to discover the wonders of these stories, especially folks who otherwise wouldn’t run across them. So come and enjoy the show. If you can lend a hand, it’s very appreciated. Go to classictalesaudiobooks.com today and choose the best way for you to support the show. Every little bit helps. And now, David Balfour, Part 6 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson /episode/index/show/classictales/id/42125015

Ep. 1156, The Mandarin and the Butterfly, and The Glass Dog, by L. Frank BaumVINTAGE 07/14/2026

Ep. 1155, David Balfour, Part 5 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson 07/10/2026

Ep. 1154, The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, by Arthur Conan Doyle VINTAGE 07/07/2026

Ep. 1153, David Balfour, Part 4 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson 07/03/2026

Ep. 1152, The Invisible Man, Part 3 of 3, by H.G. WellsVINTAGE 06/30/2026

Ep. 1151, David Balfour, Part 3 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson 06/26/2026

Ep. 1150, The Invisible Man, Part 2 of 3, by H.G. WellsVINTAGE 06/23/2026

Ep. 1149, David Balfour, Part 2 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson 06/19/2026

Ep. 1148, The Invisible Man, Part 1 of 3, by H.G. WellsVINTAGE 06/16/2026

Ep. 1147, David Balfour, Part 1 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson 06/12/2026

Ep. 1147, David Balfour, Part 1 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson Can David start to piece together a life while still wanted as an accomplice for the Appin Murder? Robert Louis Stevenson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook approach delivers an immersive experience in classic literature. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. With the audiobook library card, you gain access to the entire Classic Tales Library that I’ve been working on for 19 years. Hundreds of titles, and thousands of hours of classic audiobooks in tons of genres. These are the same titles found on Audible, Spotify, Barnes and Noble, etc.. They already have thousands of five-star ratings. Many have won awards. And you can download all you want. No limits. Stop counting credits, or waiting for Libby, and get your Audiobook Library Card for only $9.99 a month. It’s the best deal on the internet. You’re going to love it. Go to and choose the plan that’s right for you. If you know someone who’s shy about reading the classics, Robert Louis Stevenson is a great introduction. Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and his wonderful short stories like Markheim, The Body Snatcher, and The Bottle Imp to name a few. Today we begin an episodic journey through the novel Catriona, published as David Balfour in the US. Though the name looks to be spelled Catriona, apparently it’s correctly pronounced as Katrina. So that’s what we’ll do. This second volume of David Balfour’s story is less a straightforward adventure story, and is more of a novel of manners with some adventure sprinkled in. To me it feels like a natural progression as the youth gets older, has more responsibility, and learns to make his way in the wider world of Scottish traditions. And now, David Balfour, Part 1 of 9, by Robert Louis Stevenson /episode/index/show/classictales/id/41619635

Ep. 1146, Kidnapped, Part 3 of 3, by Robert Louis StevensonVINTAGE 06/09/2026

Ep. 1145, The Traitor, by Baroness Orczy 06/05/2026

Ep. 1144, Kidnapped, Part 2 of 3, by Robert Louis StevensonVINTAGE 06/02/2026

Ep. 1143, The Absence of Mr. Glass, by G.K. Chesterton 05/29/2026

Ep. 1142, Kidnapped, Part 1 of 3, by Robert Louis StevensonVINTAGE 05/26/2026

Ep. 1142, Kidnapped, Part 1 of 3, by Robert Louis StevensonVINTAGE Murder? Kidnapping? How low will the miserly Ebenezer Balfour stoop to keep his nephew David from his rightful inheritance? Robert Louis Stevenson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook approach delivers an immersive experience in both familiar and new-to-you classic literature. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. With the audiobook library card, you gain access to the entire Classic Tales Library that I’ve been working on for 19 years. Hundreds of titles, and thousands of hours of classic audiobooks in tons of genres. These are the same titles found on Audible, Spotify, Barnes and Noble, etc.. They already have thousands of five-star ratings. Many have won awards. And you can download all you want. No limits. Stop counting credits, or waiting for Libby, and get your Audiobook Library Card for only $9.99 a month. It’s the best deal on the internet. You’re going to love it. Go to and choose the plan that’s right for you. As you may know, I like to do a spot of adventure over the summer. This summer, I thought of something a little different. Robert Louis Stevenson, my gateway drug to the classics, wrote a sequel to Kidnapped that is quite good, but not as well known. I’ve been wanting to do it for some time, but the time didn’t seem right. This summer I think we’ll give it a go. So that you all can refresh yourselves on David Balfour’s story, I’m planning a few more robust vintage episodes during the next few weeks, where we’ll hear the entire novel of Kidnapped in three episodes. Now, here’s the thing – this is like, one of the first audiobooks I’ve ever recorded. So while it still gets a fair rating on Audible, you’ll hear that I’m still getting my sea legs. Kidnapped has never appeared on The Classic Tales Podcast and has only been available in our retail outlets. And if you’ve never heard it before, you’re in for a real treat. Warts and all. And now, Kidnapped, part 1 of 3, by Robert Louis Stevenson /episode/index/show/classictales/id/41391655

Ep. 1141, The Maugham Obsession, by August Derleth 05/22/2026

Ep. 1140, The Adventure of the Stock Broker's Clerk, by Arthur Conan Doyle VINTAGE 05/19/2026

Ep. 1139, Tuppy Changes His Mind, by P.G. Wodehouse 05/15/2026

Ep. 1138, The Yellow Sign, by Robert W. Chambers VINTAGE 05/12/2026

Ep. 1137, The Indian Summer of an Uncle, by P.G. Wodehouse 05/08/2026

Ep. 1136, The Adventure of the Yellow Face, by Arthur Conan Doyle 05/05/2026

Ep. 1135, Jeeves and the Old School Chum, by P.G. Wodehouse 05/01/2026

Ep. 1134, The Furnished Room, by O. Henry VINTAGE 04/28/2026

Ep. 1133, Jeeves and the Love that Purifies, by P.G. Wodehouse 04/24/2026

Ep. 1132, The Squaw, by Bram Stoker VINTAGE 04/21/2026

Ep. 1132, The Squaw, by Bram Stoker VINTAGE When a vengeful cat casts a spell, it’s best to tread lightly. Bram Stoker, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook format gives you an immersive experience in classic literature. You can get friendlier with the classics you know, and discover new favorites. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. I sent out a newsletter this week with links to our new products, a note on other stuff we’ve got coming down the pike, and a link to a hidden gem in the library. If you missed it, check your inboxes. I try to keep it short, sweet, and convenient. For years, I listened to David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens every year. There was just something nourishing when I revisited that story. There still is. The characters, the themes, the masterful language, it was a literary feast – and I always picked up something new. I don’t know how you are, but sometimes I’m not at a place where I can handle a book. It just doesn’t work for some reason. Then, a year or two later maybe, the same book absolutely hits the spot. With the audiobook library card, you can always find something that will meet you where you are. And you can start, stop, try again, as much as you want. In a Wodehouse mood? Dozens of hours. Need to scratch a historical itch? How about Plutarch’s Lives of famous Greeks and Romans, or The Count of Monte Cristo? Coming up on 19 years of personally narrated audiobooks. Also, you don’t need to place orders. Buttons to download each title are found in the product description. It’s super easy to bop around and see what you like. Now, you can share it with friends, family, or clients. Whatever works. Go to and choose the plan that’s right for you. And now, “The Squaw”, by Bram Stoker /episode/index/show/classictales/id/40907325

Ep. 1131, Jeeves and the Kid Clementina, by P.G. Wodehouse 04/17/2026

Ep. 1131, Jeeves and the Kid Clementina, by P.G. Wodehouse Bobbie Wickham has a sort of gravitational pull when it comes to Bertie Wooster and sticky wickets. And she’s at it again. P.G. Wodehouse, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook format gives you an immersive experience in classic literature. You can get friendlier with the classics you know, and discover new favorites. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. I sent out a newsletter this week with links to our new products, a note on other stuff we’ve got coming down the pike, and a link to a hidden gem in the library. If you missed it, check your inboxes. I try to keep it short, sweet, and convenient. For years, I listened to David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens every year. There was just something nourishing when I revisited that story. There still is. The characters, the themes, the masterful language, it was a literary feast – and I always picked up something new. I don’t know how you are, but sometimes I’m not at a place where I can handle a book. It just doesn’t work for some reason. Then, a year or two later maybe, the same book absolutely hits the spot. With the audiobook library card, you can always find something that will meet you where you are. And you can start, stop, try again, as much as you want. In a Wodehouse mood? Dozens of hours. Need to scratch a historical itch? How about Plutarch’s Lives of famous Greeks and Romans, or The Count of Monte Cristo? Coming up on 19 years of personally narrated audiobooks. Also, you don’t need to place orders. Buttons to download each title are found in the product description. It’s super easy to bop around and see what you like. Now, you can share it with friends, family, or clients. Whatever works. Go to and choose the plan that’s right for you. Now for our Word for the Week, by Ambrose Bierce. In this segment, we hear from the Devil’s Lexicographer himself, as he delivers one of his caustic definitions. The Word for the Week is Twice, and here to read it is Ambrose Bierce himself: TWICE, adv. Once too often Thank you Mr. Bierce. And now, Jeeves and the Kid Clementina, by P.G. Wodehouse /episode/index/show/classictales/id/40907310

Ep. 1130, The Moonlit Road, by Ambrose Bierce VINTAGE 04/14/2026

Ep. 1130, The Moonlit Road, by Ambrose Bierce VINTAGE Discover the roots of Akira Kurosawa’s film Rashomon. Ambrose Bierce, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook format gives you an immersive experience in classic literature. You can get friendlier with the classics you know, and discover new favorites. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. Well, you’ve heard me talk a lot about The Audiobook Library Card. It’s like Netflix for audiobooks, you can listen all you want, 18 years of recordings, there’s tons of stuff, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I’m so happy to announce that now it’s possible to buy multiple licenses and SHARE THE AUDIOBOOK LIBRARY CARD with your nearest and dearest. Maybe you’re a family with a few bookworms who commute. Maybe you’re a tutor with students who struggle to read. Maybe you’re a therapist whose clients have trouble sleeping. Whatever the case, now you can extend the wonders of unlimited listening of the Classic Tales Library to your kith, kin, colleagues and compatriots. And the introductory prices are outrageously low. Like, five licenses for $19.99/month. Five. And it just gets better from there. Again, it’s the best deal on the internet. Once you buy a subscription, we’ll set you up to share with the people on your plan. Cancel anytime. It’s a smorgasbord of listening enjoyment for all your friends and relations. Go to or follow the link in the show notes, and subscribe today. Today’s story established the format for the short story “In a Grove”, by , the father of the Japanese short story. “In a Grove” influenced the great Akira Kurosawa to create the film Rashomon. The concept being that two witnesses can give widely different accounts of the same factual event. It may also serve as 's thesis that "it is not so much the truth of events that matters, but how they are perceived, and the difference that they make to the perceiver”. I hope you like it. And now, “The Moonlit Road”, by Ambrose Bierce /episode/index/show/classictales/id/40798305

Ep. 1129, Jeeves and the Spot of Art, by P.G. Wodehouse 04/10/2026

Ep. 1129, Jeeves and the Spot of Art, by P.G. Wodehouse Bertie is in love – he’s absolutely smitten with Gwladys. That’s right - Gwladys. And it gets worse. P.G. Wodehouse, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook format gives you an immersive experience in classic literature. You can get friendlier with the classics you know, and discover new favorites. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. Well, you’ve heard me talk a lot about The Audiobook Library Card. It’s like Netflix for audiobooks, you can listen all you want, 18 years of recordings, there’s tons of stuff, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I’m so happy to announce that now it’s possible to buy multiple licenses and SHARE THE AUDIOBOOK LIBRARY CARD with your nearest and dearest. Maybe you’re a family with a few bookworms who commute. Maybe you’re a tutor with students who struggle to read. Maybe you’re a therapist whose clients have trouble sleeping. Whatever the case, now you can extend the wonders of unlimited listening of the Classic Tales Library to your kith, kin, colleagues and compatriots. And the introductory prices are outrageously low. Like, five licenses for $19.99/month. Five. And it just gets better from there. Again, it’s the best deal on the internet. Once you buy a subscription, we’ll set you up to share with the people on your plan. Cancel anytime. It’s a smorgasbord of listening enjoyment for all your friends and relations. Go to or follow the link in the show notes, and subscribe today. Now for our Word for the Week, by Ambrose Bierce. In this segment, we hear from the Devil’s Lexicographer himself, as he delivers one of his caustic definitions. The Word for the Week is Slang, and here to read it is Ambrose Bierce himself: SLANG, n. The grunt of the human hog (Pignoramus intolerabilis) with an audible memory. The speech of one who utters with his tongue what he thinks with his ear, and feels the pride of a creator in accomplishing the feat of a parrot. A means (under Providence) of setting up as a wit without a capital of sense. Thank you Mr. Bierce. And now, Jeeves and the Spot of Art, by P.G. Wodehouse /episode/index/show/classictales/id/40798255

Ep. 1128, Aladdin, Part 5 of 5, from The Arabian Nights VINTAGE 04/07/2026

Ep. 1128, Aladdin, Part 5 of 5, from The Arabian Nights VINTAGE Aladdin’s adventures come to their stunning conclusion, today on The Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast, where an audiobook format gives you an immersive experience in classic literature. You can get friendlier with the classics you know, and discover new favorites. I’m your host BJ Harrison. I’m glad you could join us. Well, you’ve heard me talk a lot about The Audiobook Library Card. It’s like Netflix for audiobooks, you can listen all you want, 18 years of recordings, there’s tons of stuff, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I’m so happy to announce that now it’s possible to buy multiple licenses and SHARE THE AUDIOBOOK LIBRARY CARD with your nearest and dearest. Maybe you’re a family with a few bookworms who commute. Maybe you’re a tutor with students who struggle to read. Maybe you’re a therapist whose clients have trouble sleeping. Whatever the case, now you can extend the wonders of unlimited listening of the Classic Tales Library to your kith, kin, colleagues and compatriots. And the introductory prices are outrageously low. Like, five licenses for $19.99/month. Five. And it just gets better from there. Again, it’s the best deal on the internet. Once you buy a subscription, we’ll set you up to share with the people on your plan. Cancel anytime. It’s a smorgasbord of listening enjoyment for all your friends and relations. Go to or follow the link in the show notes, and subscribe today. With the Audiobook Library Card, you gain access to everything I’ve personally curated from the public domain and recorded over the past 18 years. Every title was purposely chosen because it was calling to me for some reason. I needed to record it. A lot of people tell me that they can tell that I love every story I record. Well, I do. I’m passionate about the classics. And I’m glad it shows. And now, “Aladdin, Part 5 of 5”, from the Arabian Nights /episode/index/show/classictales/id/40720685

The Classic Tales Podcast

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