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Short Stories in english

Under the Swan´s Light.

by Elena Méndez

A tale brimming with color and fantasy: Mario reaches out to Susan after 27 years, igniting a resurgence of emotions and feelings in both of them. This leads them to reunite on a paradisiacal island where they experience moments of intense connection. Both must decide whether the love they once shared can overcome the obstacles of their current reality, or if they must fight to break free from the magic that holds them captive.

The Dream of the Goal

In a quiet town called San Juan Tepezontes, Gabo, a boy passionate about soccer, wakes up excited on a sunny morning. The reason for his enthusiasm is the grand final of his favorite team, which will be played that afternoon on the Costa del Sol. Gabo has been eagerly awaiting this day and knows it will be even more special because he will share it with his inseparable friends, Chino, Choco, and Poliducto.

by Gustavo Vinocour

A couple survives a crash an deals with a vital decision about their future.

by Marjorie E Cole

Bo and Bae are two grey squirrels. They are a happy couple. The two of them share a cozy nest located in a hole inside of a tall oak tree. The hole is high above the ground. When you look out of it, you can see almost everything in the wooded area and across the lake. Bo and Bae go out to gather nuts and berries quite often. They also like to help others whenever possible.

Good Guys and Bad Guys

by EM Ariza

Don’t ask me why, but I have to confess that it has always been a secret dream of mine to get to be the bad guy in a movie. I know it sounds weird, but what can I tell you? The truth is, however, that this would not be...

The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales

by Brothers Grimm

The first volumes of Grimm's Tales were much criticized because, although they were called "Children's Tales", they were not regarded as suitable for children, both for the scholarly information included and the subject matter. Many changes through the editions were probably made with an eye to such suitability. But for almost two centuries, the stories of magic and myth gathered by the Brothers Grimm have been part of the way children — and adults — learn about the vagaries of the real world.

The Black Cat

by EDGAR ALLAN POE

"The Black Cat" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's most memorable stories. The tale centers around a black cat and the subsequent deterioration of a man. The story is often linked with "The Tell-Tale Heart" because of the profound psychological elements these two works share.

The Devoted Friend

by OSCAR WILDE

The two main characters in "The Devoted Friend" are a poor man known as little Hans and a rich Miller. The Miller claims to be a devoted friend of little Hans. In truth, he selfishly takes advantage of little Hans at every opportunity. Little Hans' desire to remain the Miller's friend ultimately proves fatal for him.

The Pit and the Pendulum

The unnamed narrator is brought to trial before sinister judges of the Spanish Inquisition. He is condemned to death, whereupon he faints and later awakens to find himself in a totally dark room. He explores the cell and soon finds a pit. The story is especially effective at inspiring fear in the reader because of its heavy focus on the senses, such as sound, emphasizing its reality, unlike many of Poe's stories which are aided by the supernatural.

Beauty and the Beast

by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont

In order to save her father's life, Belle has no choice but to go the Beast's palace and live with him. But will she learn there's more to this monster than first meets the eye? That charming 18th-century tale of the transforming power of love has enchanted generations of readers and listeners down to the present day.

Reluctant Reader Books

63 Short Stories for Middle School: Free PDF Downloads

Below you’ll find the best short stories for middle school: our 16 favorites, One Page Stories, Funny Stories, Mysteries, Horror, Science Fiction, Literary, Classics, and Adventure.

Want stories for high school ? Go here .

Lamb to the Slaughter

The landlady, the most dangerous game, the pedestrian.

• The Monkey’s Paw

The Hitchhiker

Sorry, wrong number, third from the sun, time enough at last, the black cat, the cask of amontillado, the lottery, the 9 billion names of god, harrison bergeron, the disciple, the scholarship jacket, hearts & hands, story of an hour, the dinner party, a tent in agony, one of these days, names/nombres, the story of the bad little boy, seventh grade, affair at 7 rue de m, ransom of red chief, adventure of the speckled band, three tools of death, night drive, on the sidewalk bleeding, click clack the rattlebag, the elevator.

• Dracula’s Guest
• The Wife’s Story

The Terrible Old Man

The necklace, the lady or the tiger, after 20 years, the rocking horse winner, an occurrence at owl creek bridge, the gift of the magi, the boar hunt, the treasure in the forest, three skeleton key, a sound of thunder, hey you down there, the eyes have it, mars is heaven, there will come soft rains, the friday that changed everything, a christmas memory, the circuit, treasure of lemon brown, everyday use, one friday morning, rules of the game, 41 short stories for high school: free pdf, the funniest book ever set in a cadaver lab, best short stories for middle school: free pdf.

Below we’ve selected our favorite 16 short stories for middle school. These 16 stories can be found in our free PDF download (click thumbnail to preview). Accompanying lesson plans can also be found at TpT with over 182 pages of thought-provoking and engaging material.

What’s in our lesson plans? See here .

By Roald Dahl In a fit of rage, a wife murders her husband. Now what is she to do? How will she get rid of the evidence?

By Roald Dahl A young man in search of lodging for the night finds more than he bargained for at a mysterious bed & breakfast run by a strange old woman.

By Richard Connell A madman hunts human beings for sport on his private island. But with his latest “guest” he may have finally met his match.

By Ray Bradbury A man goes out for a walk in a dark, lonely city of the future only to discover that sometimes even walking is an act of rebellion.

By Ray Bradbury The classic tale of the dangers of technology replacing reality and a critique of lackadaisical parenting.

The Monkey’s Paw

By WW Jacobs The greatest tale ever told about being careful what you wish for, with one of the finest endings ever penned.

By Lucille Fletcher A radio play written by a master of the form about a man driving the lonely American highways, and the hitchhiker who appears time & again.

By Lucille Fletcher A woman asks an operator to connect her call but ends up dialed into a party line where two men are discussing a murder.

By Richard Matheson A family looks to escape their home planet to avoid impending nuclear war. Can they make it out without getting caught?

By Lynn Venable All he wanted was a little time to read. Then the bombs fell, and he finally had all the time he could ever want.

By Edgar Allan Poe A man descends slowly into alcoholism, madness and murder in Poe’s twisted tale of a man haunted by the ghost of the cat he has killed.

By Edgar Allan Poe The all-time classic tale of the perfect revenge. Fortunato thinks he’s getting a rare taste of wine, but Montresor has other plans.

By Shirley Jackson Perhaps the greatest twist ending in 20th Century fiction. A wicked tale of a small town lottery and the danger of tradition.

By Arthur C Clarke A group of monks atop a mountain need a computer to help them write down all nine billion names of God.

By Kurt Vonnegut In the future, excellence in any way. is forbidden and strictly controlled. Until one young man decides to rebel.

One Page Short Stories for Middle School

Some days all you have time for is a one page short story. Or maybe a two pager. The stories below are some of the shortest tales you can find for free online, written by a variety of masters: O. Henry, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Martha Salinas, Philip K. Dick and more.

By Anton Chekhov “Who is the more humane executioner, one who kills you in a few seconds or one who draws the life out of you incessantly, for years?”

By Oscar Wilde Everyone knows the story of Narcissus who wasted away staring at his reflection. But what about the pool’s point of view?

By Marth Salinas Martha spent years earning that jacket. But some teachers want to give it to a school board member’s daughter.

By O Henry “Among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence…the other a ruffled, glum-faced person…The two were handcuffed together.”

By Kate Chopin “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.”

By Mona Gardner A lovely and lively dinner party. A daring wager put to all in attendance. A cunning guest who knows more than she’s letting on.

By Stephen Crane An encounter with the local wildlife goes horribly wrong when an old black bear walks into a tent looking for some food.

By Gabriel Garcia Marquez A dentist must remove the tooth of the local Mayor, who happens to be a sworn enemy. He takes the job.

By Julia Alvarez “At the hotel my mother was Missus Alburest, and I was little girl, as in, ‘Hey, little girl, stop riding the elevator up and down. It’s not a toy.’”

Funny Short Stories For Middle School

Few writers have the knack for crafting funny short stories for middle school. Laughter on the page is a tough trick, but some authors pull it off time and again.

By Mark Twain Once there was a bad little boy named Jim — though, if you notice, you’ll find that bad little boys are nearly always called James…

By Gary Soto A seventh grade boy finds himself trying to impress his crush and relying on the suspect advice of his friends.

By John Steinbeck A young boy who loves to chew gum discovers one day that his wad of bubble gum enjoys chewing him! An amusing tale of the supernatural.

By O Henry “We chose for our victim the only child of an influential citizen named Ebenezer Dorset. He was a boy of ten, with red hair.”

Mystery Short Stories for Middle School

Who doesn’t love a good mystery short story for middle school? Whether a story of classic detection like Sherlock Holmes or a wonderful twist on murder most foul, mystery stories are a delight.

By Arthur Conan Doyle A classic mystery of a locked room murder, Doyle considered this to be the finest short story he ever wrote.

By GK Chesterton A troubled girl’s father is found dead, and Father Brown must unravel his mysterious murder by one of three deadly weapons.

By Will F Jenkins Madge just wanted to pick up her husband, but an unexpected passenger leads to dark and terrible truth about the human soul.

By Shirley Jackson Why did Charles hit the teacher? Was it just because the teacher made him write with red crayons?

By Evan Hunter “He lay on the sidewalk, bleeding, and he thought only:  That was a fierce rumble. They got me good that time , but he did not know he was dying.”

Scary Short Stories For Middle School

We love scary short stories for middle school. Better yet though: middle school kids love scary stories themselves. Of all the tales we’ve used in the classroom, few have as much impact as the dark and spooky journeys found here.

By Neil Gaiman “We walked along the upper corridor in the shadows, walking from patch of moonlight to patch of moonlight. It really was a big house.”

By Ray Bradbury A young man returns to his hometown after getting married only to discover the ghost of a girl he once loved as a boy.

By William Sleator Twelve year old Martin is afraid of the elevator in his new apartment building. He tries to avoid it. He should have tried harder.

Dracula’s Guest

By Bram Stoker Removed by Stoker from the novel, this tale serves as an excellent introduction to the greatest of all vampires: Count Dracula.

The Wife’s Story

By Ursula K LeGuin “He was a good husband, a good father. I don’t understand it. I don’t believe in it. I don’t believe that it happened. I saw it happen but it isn’t true.”

By HP Lovecraft Not all old men are as weak and helpless as they seem. This is a truth three misguided thieves discover all too late.

Classic Short Stories For Middle School

Classic short stories for middle school stand the test of time. They continue to resonate with readers of every new generation. The classic short stories here are among some of the best ever written.

By Guy de Maupassant One of the finest short stories by one of the great practitioners of the form, with a gut kick of a twist ending.

By Frank Stockton Behind one door a beautiful lady. Behind the other a voracious and hungry tiger. Make your choice very carefully.

By O. Henry Two men agreed to meet again in one spot 20 years later. But when two strangers collide in that spot in the night, they discover the irony of fate.

By DH Lawrence A little boy believes that he can correctly guess the derby winners each time by riding his rocking horse.

By Ambrose Bierce A man is to be hung at Owl Creek Bridge. But the rope snaps and he escapes. Or does he? One of the great twist endings of all time.

By O. Henry The classic tale of a man and wife who sacrifice their greatest treasures for each other on Christmas Eve.

Adventure Short Stories for Middle School

Adventure short stories for middle school take readers far and away. Deep into the jungle. Onto deserted (or not so deserted) islands. Into lonely lighthouses. All these adventure stories are exciting, engaging and full of surprises.

By Jose Vasconcelos A hunting party deep in the jungle believes they’ve come across the ultimate score. But the tables quickly turn.

By HG Wells Two ruthless treasure hunters have murdered a man for his treasure map. But what they find in the forest i smore than they imagined.

By George Toudouze My most terrifying experience? Well, one does have a few in thirty-five years of service in the Lights, although it’s mostly monotonous…

By Liam O’Flaherty “On a rooftop near O’Connell Bridge, a Republican sniper lay watching. Beside him lay his rifle and…a pair of field glasses.”

By Ray Bradbury In the future, hunters use time travel to venture back into the past to hunt the most dangerous game of all time.

Science Fiction Short Stories for Middle School

Science fiction short stories for middle school push the boundaries of the imagination. They ask what if in ways that few other types of stories can. These science fiction short stories stand out as some of the most powerful of the form.

By Harold Rolseth A wickedly humorous story about a couple digging a well who discover an unknown race deep underground.

By Philip K Dick It was quite by accident I discovered this incredible invasion of Earth by lifeforms from another planet…

By Ray Bradbury They land on Mars only to discover themselves in a town that looks exactly like one they left on Earth, and it’s filled with people they know.

By Ray Bradbury What happens in the future when nuclear war has wiped out all of humanity and all that’s left is our technology winding down?

Literary Short Stories for Middle School

Literary short stories for middle school explore life and all of its mysteries. The stories below capture life at a variety of extremes and reveal powerful insights into life, death, greed, fear and more.

By Anne Hart A school teacher considers changing the rules, pitting the boys against the girls in a tale of power and jealousy.

By McKnight Malmar A woman arrives home alone on the eve of a great storm. Waiting for her husband, she believes she’s found a body in the cellar.

By Truman Capote The classic short story recounting Capote’s childhood memories of him and his best friend as they try to gather money to purchase what they need to bake fruitcakes for Christmas.

By Francisco Jimenez The peak of the strawberry season was over and the last few days the workers, most of them braceros, were not picking as many boxes.

By Walter Dean Myers “There weren’t any more scraping noises, but he was sure he had heard something in the darkness—something breathing!”

By Alice Walker “In real life I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands…I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man.”

By Langston Hughes “Casually, one day, Miss Dietrich asked Nancy Lee what color frame she thought would be best on her picture. That had been the first inkling.”

By Amy Tan “I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others…”

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175 Free Collections of Short Stories for Instant Download

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Short Story Collections in All Genres

Short stories are a fantastic way to get reading without investing huge amounts of time in a novel. We’ve all started a book, got busy and then picked it up only to have forgotten what we have read and have to go back a chapter just to get caught up. If you don’t have time to read every day this is a common problem.

With a short story you can usually get from start to finish in one sitting. In fact, that is basically the definition of a short story.

You can expect all kinds of stories, plots, relationships, and characters. The common theme with shorts is just that – short. It crosses every genre so whether you want action and adventure , science fiction , love stories , or something to make you think differently about the word, it will be available as short fiction.

Shorts have been mainstream popular from the late 18th century but picked up in the 19th century as distribution of the written word grew through newspapers, magazines and books. Many famous authors of well known novels have written short stories when starting out as a way to get published and get their name out there. Others write them for the enjoyment between their big novels. Charles Dickens even wrote shorts.

Fairy tales are also considered to be in this genre. The Brothers Grimm (early 19th century) are especially well known and their stories are read by children and teenagers  to this day.

As already mentioned, the rise of newspapers and magazines supported growth of the short story. In the late 19th century Arthur Conan Doyle wrote short fiction about his famous detective character, Sherlock Holmes. These were published in magazines of the day and brought notoriety to the author and, of course, the character. The success of the Sherlock Holmes is still obvious today in the form of film and television.

Around the same time that Sherlock Holmes was becoming famous, H. G. Wells was writing his short science fiction stories and building his own fan base. Wowing audiences with stories of space and the future.

Today, the internet allows anyone to publish free downloadable ebooks : you'll be familiar with 'posts' on facebook and the like. And there is no shortage of short story anthologies ... but you need to know where to find them! Choosing from the collection here at obooko is one of the easier ways to get into the literary world. Even if you have never read a book before, make it a resolution this year to download a free short story and see how it goes. Then try a novelette before starting your first novel.

Another interesting area that has become popular with the Internet is fan fiction. This is where fans of more famous novels and characters write their own short fiction online using the characters and settings in new ways.

At obooko we have an abundance of free short story collections available to download. Get yourself a collection and sink your teeth into a new story every day. There are many genres to choose from and why not try something new – you don’t have to invest as much time as a full length novel.

All titles in this category are legally licensed for free download in PDF ePub, & Kindle Formats.

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Great Short Stories Of The World

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Introspective stories, morality tales, other-worldly stories, feel-good/love stories, dramatic stories, political farce.

Looking for more? Check out our Favorite Short Stories Collection . You may also enjoy 100 Great Poems Read about the authors' own stories in American Biographies

Free English Story Books (Level 1) – PDF

Reading English story books can show you magical new worlds and help you to improve your English. Reading English stories one of the best way to upgrade your English skills.

Reading books will give you a chance to contact with the English language without thinking grammar rules and it is also fun! If you are afraid of reading full novels, check out following popular short stories.

If you take books in your life, you don’t have to look for research papers for sale .  If you have beginner, elementary level of understanding, you will enjoy these English stories for beginners.

1. Girl Meets Boy – Beginner Level

Plot Summary:

“Donna meets Mark on a boat to Spain. She likes him and he likes her, but then Mark sees Donna dancing with his brother Dave. Is Donna in love with Mark and, if so, why is she dancing with Dave?”

  Girl Meets Boy PDF – download

2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Beginner Level

“The adventures and pranks of a mischievous boy growing up in a nineteenth-century Mississippi River town as he witnesses a crime, hunts for the pirates’ treasure, and becomes lost in a cave.”

  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer PDF – download

Check also: English Story Books for Beginners (Level 2-3) Alice in Wonderland Story Book (PDF) Little Red Riding Hood Short Story (PDF) 10+ Classic Books to Read in English PDF

3. The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories – Beginner Level eBook

“A husband and wife sell their most prized possessions in order to purchase the perfect gift for each other, along with other stories.”

  The Gift of the Magi PDF – download

4. Brown Eyes

  Brown Eyes PDF – download

5. The Wizard of Oz

  The Wizard of Oz Story Book PDF – (download)

6. The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

One of the best stories of all time. You can download and read The Little Prince e-book in English down below.

  The Little Prince PDF – download

7. Robinson Crusoe – Beginners Level

Robinson Crusoe is a classic adventure story that has captivated readers for generations. Now we’re delighted to offer a beginner’s level e-book download of this timeless tale, specially designed for English language learners. If you’re just starting to learn English or want to improve your language skills, this e-book is a fantastic way to embark on a literary journey with the story of Robinson Crusoe.

  Robinson Crusoe PDF – download

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Free Stories for Kids

Showing 21 - 30 of 50 Free Children's Books

021: DO YOU WONDER ABOUT RAIN, SNOW, SLEET AND HAIL?

Categories:  Age 4-7  /  Age 8-12

“What’s to wonder about water?”, you might ask. Professor Ture will tell you why.  Filled with compelling illustrations, this free children’s book takes a dive  into a whirlpool of knowledge about the ubiquitous water that we often take for granted.

022: I FOUND A FROG

Something magical was happening in the fish bowl  and he wasn’t  quite ready for what lay in store.  Read this captivating free illustrated book for kids that encourages them to explore and be awed by the many wonders of nature. 

023: A DOG ON A LOG

Categories:  Age 0-3  /  Age 4-7

Is there ever an ordinary day at the beach? Read what happens when a flea, a dog and a hog meet on a warm sunny day by the sea.  This Free Children’s Book is great read for children aged 3 to 8. 

024: ARE WE THERE YET?

Looking for a Free Bedtime story books? Jim and Jen are going to the zoo and the drive never seems to end. EVER! They just made a song for the road and the tune is growing on mom and dad.Let’s tap our feet and sing along..

025: DRAGONS

Dragons come in many shapes and sizes and speak different tongues. Some are mean, some are kind, some have legs while some don’t. No matter what they all have one thing in common..they grab eyes wherever they go.  Join our free children’s book giveaway to read more about these wonderful creatures.

026: THE HIKE

Mandy and grandpa went on a hike . But it was more than that. Together they explored the woods, learnt to be at peace with nature and talked their hearts out about things that mattered. It was a special bond between them and you’ve got to read this great free illustrated children’s book to experience it. Happy Exploring!!

027: PIRATES COVE

Sandy chances upon an old treasure map and as the events roll out one after another, he becomes richer both by pennies and by thoughts. Here’s a treasure hunt to embark upon  in this free children’s storybook. Sail Away Captain! The seven seas are yours.

028: THE WAY OF THE WOODS

Shh!  Did you hear that? The jungle’s saying a story and you cannot afford to miss it. A colorful narrative set in the woods..camouflaged as a free children’s dog story. Happy Reading!

029: JIMMY'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Jimmy’s starting school and he doesn’t know what’s in store. One step at a time, slowly but surely, he made it to the school bus. And off he went! Just like that. The illustrations in the free bed time book for children evoke sweet memories of that very special first day at school.

030: BULLY BILL

He thought he was the Lord of the Farm. He thought he was Boss. But his vanity was short lived and soon he learnt a lesson he’ll never forget. Follow this funny and thoughtful story of a certain farm we chanced upon in this free bedtime storybook.

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20+ Short Stories for Adults for Free! [PDF]

Short stories for adults in PDF format can be read in one sitting, without interruptions, and at the end you will have the feeling that you will need more. Short stories have special characteristics that we will talk about in more detail below.

Well, this is an excellent choice in either case, so stay until the end because you can access the most complete collection on the web.

Although the plot and characters cannot be developed with total freedom of length (words), the mastery of the short story is that it does not feel incomplete.

Here we present our complete selection of Short Stories for Adults Books:

Herman Melville

Oscar Wilde

Washington Irving

Robert Louis Stevenson

H. G. Wells

Charlotte Perkins Stetson

Nikolai Gogol

Richard Connell

Edgar Allan Poe

Sir. Arhutr Conan Doyle

W. W. Jacobs

Kate Chopin

The Lady with the Toy Dog

Anton Chekhov

Ernest Hemingway

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Ambrose Bierce

Horacio Quiroga

If you found this list useful, do not forget to share it on your social networks. Remember that “Sharing is Caring” .

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Blog – Posted on Sunday, Jun 17

Best short stories and collections everyone should read.

If you are on the lookout for great storytelling but don’t want to commit to a full-length novel, then short story collections are the answer. Whether it’s just before bed, during your commute, or waiting to see your doctor, small chunks of time are perfect for reading short stories.

Here we have gathered thirty-one of the best short stories and collections , from all sorts of backgrounds and sources, to help you grow your “To Be Read” pile.

For your convenience, we've divided this post into two parts: 1. the ten best free short stories to read right now , and 2. best short story collections. Feel free to jump to the section that you prefer!

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great short stories out there, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized short story recommendation 😉

Which short story should you read next?

Discover the perfect short story for you. Takes 30 seconds!

Free Short Stories to Read Right Now

These individual short stories are the best of the best — and the even better news is that they're available for free online for you to peruse. From classics published in the 1900s to a short story that exploded in late 2017, here are ten of the greatest free short stories for you to read.

1. “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl

While not exactly a philosophical or political tale like our first two examples, this twisty short story from Dahl does delve into some shady moral territory. We are introduced to Mary Maloney: a loving wife and dedicated homemaker. In just a few short paragraphs describing how she welcomes her husband home, Dahl makes us sympathize with Mary — before a rash act turns her life upside down and takes the reader with her on a dark journey.

For those who haven’t read it, we won’t spoil the rest. However, it’s safe to say that Dahl serves up a fiendish twist on a platter.

2. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

A perennial feature in many a high school syllabus, Shirley Jackson’s best-known short story clinically details an unusual ritual that takes place in a small town. There’s not exactly a lot of plot to spoil in The Lottery — but within a few short pages, Jackson manages to represent the mob mentality that can drive reasonable people to commit heinous acts.

3. “How to Become a Writer” by Lorrie Moore

Told in the second person point of view , this story from Moore’s debut anthology Self-Help takes an honest look at the inner life of a struggling artist. Through the use of an unusual POV, the author manages to turn her reader into a confidante — making it abundantly clear that the ‘you’ the narrator is speaking about is actually herself.

This story is a standout, but the entire collection is well worth a read for its insight, humor, and disregard for literary norms.

4. “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian

In the Social Media Age, no short story has gone viral the way this New Yorker contribution from Roupenian has. Arriving at the height of #MeToo, it begins with 20-year-old Margot embarking on the early stages of flirtation with an older man, Robert. As she gets to know more about this man (as well as filling in the gaps with her imagination), the power dynamic in their relationship starts to fluctuate.

Lauded for its portrayal of Margot’s inner life and the fears many modern women face when it comes to dating, it also has its fair share of detractors — many are critical of the central character, some are downright outraged by the story’s success. Still, this story undeniably struck a chord with the reading public, and will likely remain relevant for some time.

5. “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver

First published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1981, “Cathedral” is today known as one of Raymond Carver’s finest works. When it opens, we meet a narrator whose wife is expecting a visit from an old friend, a blind man. Dissatisfied and distrusting of people not like him, our narrator struggles to connect until the blind man asks him to describe a cathedral to him. 

 “Cathedral” is one of Carver’s own personal favorites, and deservedly so. His characteristic minimalist style is devastating as the story builds up to a shattering moment of emotional truth — an ultimate reminder that no-one else can capture the quiet sadness of working-class people like him. 

6. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

Innocuously titled, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is nevertheless Flannery O’Connor’s bleakest — and most famous — work. It begins unassumingly with a Southern family who’s planning to go on a road trip. Yet the journey is rudely interrupted when their car overturns on an abandoned dirt road — and they are met by an enigmatic group of three men, coming up over the far hill. 

This short story inspired some strong reactions from the public upon publication — and the conversation continues today as to its frank depiction of the nature of good and evil. Again, we won’t spoil anything for you, except to say that “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is well worth your time. 

7. “Symbols and Signs” by Vladimir Nabokov

The famous author of Lolita wrote “Signs and Symbols” in 1948. Its premise is seemingly simple: an elderly couple visits their mentally ill son in the sanatorium in America. Yet their background and trials come into sharp focus as the story develops, until an explosive ending disrupts everyone’s peace of mind. 

As you might expect, the somber “Symbols and Signs” diverges sharply from Lolita in terms of both tone and subject — but its ending will keep you awake at night thinking about its implications.  

8. “Sticks” by George Saunders

Not so much a short story as it is flash fiction, “Sticks” is written from the perspective of a young man whose father has an unusual habit: dressing up a crucifix that’s built of out a metal pole in the yard. One of America’s greatest living short story writers, George Saunders explained: "For two years I'd been driving past a house like the one in the story, imagining the owner as a man more joyful and self-possessed and less self-conscious than myself. Then one day I got sick of him and invented his opposite, and there was the story." 

The result is a masterful piece of fiction that builds something out of seemingly nothing — all in the space of only two paragraphs. 

9. “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury

If there’s anyone who you can trust to deliver thought-provoking, terrifying science fiction on the regular, it’s Ray Bradbury. In “The Veldt,” George and Lydia Hadley have bought an automated house that comes with a “nursey,” or a virtual reality room. Worried about the nursery’s effect on the kids, George and Lydia think about turning off the nursey — but the problem is that their children are obsessed with it. 

As an ominously prescient prediction of the downside of technology, “The Veldt” is a short and shining example of how Ray Bradbury was an author before his time. 

10. “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes

In this classic short story, we are privy to the journals of Charlie Gordon, a cleaner with an IQ of 68. ("I reely wantd to lern I wantid it more even then pepul who are smarter even then me. All my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb.”) Charlie’s luck changes when he is selected for an experiment that purports to turn him into a genius — but everything that goes up must come down in the end. 

“Flowers for Algernon” won the Hugo Award in 1960 for its groundbreaking presentation. Heartbreaking and rich with subtle poignance, it is likely to remain a staple for centuries to come.  

Best Short Story Collections to Devour

If you'd like many short stories at your fingertips all at once, short story collections are where you should look. Here, we've collected 21 of the best short story collections — along with the standout story in each volume.

11. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin

Standout Story: “A Manual for Cleaning Women”

12. Blow-up and Other Stories by Julio Cortázar

Standout Story: “House Taken Over”

13. Drifting House by Krys Lee

Standout Story: “Drifting House”

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14. Dubliners by James Joyce

Standout Story: “The Dead”

15. Everything’s Eventual: 14 Dark Tales by Stephen King

Standout Story: “Riding the Bullet”

16. Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

Standout Story: “The Garden of Forking Paths”

17. Florida by Lauren Groff

Standout Story: “Above and Below”

18. Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman

Standout Story: “The Flints of Memory Lane”

19. Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl

Standout Story: “The Pig”

20. Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami

Standout Story: “Samsa in Love”

21. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

Standout Story: “For Esme - With Love and Squalor”

22. Rashōmon and Seventeen Other Stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Standout Story: “In a Bamboo Grove”

23. Runaway by Alice Munro

Standout Story: “Runaway”

24. Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel García Márquez

Standout Story: “The Trail of Your Blood in the Snow”

25. The Collected Stories by Grace Paley

Standout Story: “A Man Told Me the Story of His Life”

26. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway by Ernest Hemingway

Standout Story: “Hills Like White Elephants”

27. The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor

Standout Story: “A Good Man is Hard to Find”

28. The Essential Tales of Chekhov by Anton Chekhov

Standout Story: “The Lady with the Dog”

29. The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Standout Story: “I’d Love You to Want Me”

30. The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Standout Story: “The Thing Around Your Neck”

31. The Youngest Doll by Rosario Ferré

Standout Story: “When Women Love Men”

Ready to write your own short story? Check out these short story ideas for all your inspiration needs.

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Learn English Through Story

Reading English stories is one of the most effective ways of improving your language skills. We have a lot of story books for all levels to learn English easily and quickly. Each English stories has audio files with subtitles. You can also free download them in PDF book form. We offer you to learn English through stories.

Learn English Through Stories

1. «Robinson Crusoe» for Beginner Levels

My name is Robinson. I am from England. I am eighteen years old. My father is German. My mother is English. I have two brothers. I have one sister. We are a good family… Read Online and Free Download

2. “ Robinson Crusoe (for Elementary Levels A2)

I was born in England in 1632. My father was German and my mother was English. I had two brothers and one sister. We were a good family. My father was a good businessman. We had a lot of money… Read Online and Free Download

3. «The Little Prince» for Beginner Levels

The book says, “Snakes eat the whole animal. And they sleep for six months.” I think about the life in the forest. I make my first picture. This is my picture number one… Read Online and Free Download

4. The Little Prince (for Elementary Levels A2)

When I was six years old, I saw a picture in a book. It was a picture of a snake who was eating a big animal. Here is a copy of the picture. In the book it said, “Snakes eat the whole animal. Then they are not able to move… Read Online and Free Download

5. “Rich Man, Poor Man” (for Beginner Levels A1)

One day a postman came to my village. The postman brought me a letter from my son, Saul… Read Online and Free Download

6. Lost love (for Elementary Levels A2)

There things happened to me nearly ten years ago. I lived in a city, but the city was hot in summer. I wanted to see the country. I wanted to walk in the woods and see green trees… Read Online and Free Download

7. «The Girl with Red Hair (for Elementary Levels A2)

My name is Mark Sellers. I’m twenty-two years old, and I work in security in Mason’s store. You can get everything here- books, TVs, hats, flowers, sandwiches, beds, bicycles… Read Online and Free Download

8. The Fisherman and His Soul (for Elementary Levels A2)

Every evening the fisherman went out fishing. He sometimes sold his fish at the market. Sometimes he did not catch many fish and he could not sell them… Read Online and Free Download

9. The Girl with Green Eyes (for Elementary Levels A2)

‘Of course,’ the man in the brown hat said, ‘there are good policemen and there are bad policemen, you know.’… Read Online and Free Download

10. «South for the Winter» for Beginners

I never stay in one country for a long time. It gets boring.  I like to move on, see new places, meet different people. It’s a good life, most of the time… Read Online and Free Download

11. “Mr. Harris and the Night Train” (for Elementary Levels A2)

Mr. Harris liked trains. He was afraid of aeroplanes, and didn’t like buses. But trains —  they were big and noisy and exciting.  When he was a boy of ten… Read Online and Free Download

12. «Blue Moon Beach» — for Beginners

I’m sitting and watching birds. I’m at Blue Moon Beach. I think it is the best beach in the world. The water is warm and blue. The sand is very white. Blue Moon Beach is my beach. I’ve lived here all my life… Read Online and Free Download

13. The Young King (for Elementary Levels A2)

There was once an old King. He had no son to be King when he died. His people were very worried. «Who will be the next King?» they asked. But before the King died he Revealed a secret: his only daughter… Read Online and Free Download

14. «The Bet» for Advanced Levels

It was a dark autumn night.  The old banker was pacing from corner to corner of his study, recalling to his mind the party he gave in the autumn fifteen years before… Read Online and Free Download

15. 10 Very Funny Short Stories — for Beginner Levels

“When I sleep in my bed, I think that there is somebody under my bed. I look under my bed and I think there is somebody on my bed. On, under, on, under. I think that I am crazy!”… Read Online and Free Download

16. The Star — Child (for Elementary Levels A2)

One winter night in a big forest of pine trees, two woodcutters were walking home. It was very, very cold and there was snow on the ground. The trees were cold, the birds were cold… Read Online and Free Download

17. «Sister Love» for Beginner Levels

Marcia met Howard Collins at church. Marcia was thirty-five years old, Howard was forty-one. Howard lived with his mother in a small house on the south side of the town… Read Online and Free Download 

18. «The Umbrella» for Beginner Levels

It is raining. The sky is grey. Carla goes to the market. She looks at the umbrellas. She likes a red umbrella. It’s very smart. It costs ten dollars. Carla is a student. She doesn’t have much money… Read Online and Free Download

19. «The Lottery» for Advanced levels

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green… Read Online and Free Download

20. New Yorkers (for Elementary Levels A2)

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Every day, when she went to the shops, she spent very little money. She bought the cheapest meat, the cheapest vegetables… Read Online and Free Download

21. «Jane Eyre» for Beginner Levels

In 1825, I was ten years old. My father and mother were dead. I lived with my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mr.’s Reed. Their house was called Gates head Hall… Read Online and Free Download

22. «A Pretty Face» for Beginner Levels

Zoe is seventeen years old. She works in a bookstore, in the little town of Newport. Zoe likes books and she likes her work. But after work she likes to act in plays with the Newport Players… Read Online and Free Download

23. «The Story of Doctor Dolittle» for Pre-Intermediate Levels

ONCE upon a time, many years ago when our grandfathers were little children—there was a doctor; and his name was Dolittle… Read Online and Free Download.

24. The Love of King (for Elementary Levels A2)

Prince Edward was born in 1894. His father, King George V, was a tall, cold man who did not like children. ‘Why does Edward talk all the time?’ he once said. ‘He’s a very noisy child!’… Read Online and Free Download

25. «The Old Man and The Sea» for Advanced levels

He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him… Read Online and Free Download

26. «Marcel and the Shakespeare Letters» for Beginner Levels

     Marcel is a French mouse. He’s a detective and he lives in Paris. But Marcel doesn’t live in Paris all year… Read Online and Free Download

27. «The Million Pound Bank Note» for Pre-Intermediate Levels

When I was 27 years old, I worked in an office in San Francisco. I did my job well and my future was promising. I was alone in the world and I was happy… Read Online and Free Download

28. «The Happy Prince» for Intermediate Levels

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires,… Read Online and Free Download

29. «The Gift Of The Magi» for Advanced levels

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable… Read Online and Free Download

30. Marley and Me (for Elementary Levels A2)

My name is John Grogan and I love dogs. When I was ten years old, my father gave me my first dog. I called him Shaun… Read Online and Free Download

31. «The Story of An Hour» for Advanced levels

Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death… Read Online and Free Download

32. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (for Elementary Levels A2)

 Alice was beginning to get very bored. She and her sister were sitting under the trees. Her sister was reading, but Alice had nothing to do… Read Online and Free Download

33. “The Swimmer” for Advanced levels

It was one of those midsummer Sundays when everyone sits around saying, “I  drank  too much last night.” You might have heard it whispered by the parishioners leaving church… Read Online and Free Download

34. «Meet Me in Istanbul» for Pre-Intermediate Levels

It is early morning on a sunny spring day in April. Heathrow Airport, London, is busy, as usual.  Hundreds of people are arriving, leaving, or waiting for planes… Read Online and Free Download

35. The Bird of Happiness (for Elementary Levels A2)

A long time ago, a little boy called Igor lived with his mother and father in a small house which was made of wood… Read Online and Free Download

36. «The Little Match Girl» for Advanced levels

Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening— the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded.… Read Online and Free Download

37. «A Dark Brown Dog» for Advanced levels

A Child was standing on a street-corner. He leaned with one shoulder against a high board-fence and swayed the other to and fro, the while kicking carelessly at the gravel… Read Online and Free Download

38. Good luck or bad luck? (for Elementary Levels A2)

Along time ago an old man lived in a small village in the mountains, in the middle of China. He had a son that he loved very much, but this son was a student in a city very far… Read Online and Free Download

39. «The Secret Garden» for Pre-Intermediate Levels

Nobody seemed to care about Mary.  She was born in India, where her father was a British official.  He was busy with his work, and her mother, who was very beautiful… Read Online and Free Download 

40. «An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge» for Advanced levels

A man stood upon a railroad bridge in northern Alabama, looking down into the swift water twenty feet below. The man’s hands were behind his back, the wrists bound with a cord… Read Online and Free Download

41. «Black Beauty» for Intermediate Levels

The first place I can remember well was a pleasant field with a pond of clear water in it. Trees made shadows over the pond, and water plants grew at the deep end… Read Online and Free Download

42. The Thief of Smells (for Elementary Levels A2)

There was once a baker who had a shop in a small town in America. This baker was not a very kind man. He never gave his customers any more bread than necessary for their money, and he never smiled… Read Online and Free Download

43. The Secret of the Stones (for Elementary Levels A2)

Laura and Max are twins. They live in London with their mum and dad. They always have interesting adventures on holiday. They visit different cities and countries… Read Online and Free Download

44. Anne of Green Gables (for Elementary Levels A2)

One fine spring afternoon in Avonlea, Mrs.  Rachel Lynde sat by her kitchen window.  She often sat there because she could see the Avonlea road very well from there… Read Online and Free Download

45. The Cactus (for Advanced levels C1-C2)

«The garments of his soul must have appeared sorry and threadbare. Vanity and conceit? These were the joints in his armor… Read Online and Free Download

46. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (for Beginner Levels A1)

So Aunt Polly looked, and Tom was out of the house in a second. She laughed quietly. ‘I never learn. I love that Tom, my dead sister’s child, but he isn’t an easy boy for an old lady… Read Online and Free Download

47. A Little Princess (for Beginner Levels A1)

One cold winter day a little girl and her father arrived in London. Sara Crewe was seven years old, and she had long black hair and green eyes… Read Online and Free Download

48. My Cousin Rachel (for Intermediate Levels B2)

My father and mother died before I was two years old. I cannot remember them. My father died first, fighting in the war against the French in 1815… Read Online and Free Download

49. The Monkey’s Paw (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnum villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly… Read Online and Free Download

50. About a Boy (for Intermediate Levels B2)

Will Freeman was thirty-six years old and he had never had a job in his life. Sometimes he thought about working… Read Online and Free Download

51. Alien at School (for Elementary Levels A2)

My name is Jennifer Dale. My friends call me Jenny. I’m 16 years old and I live near Boston. My town is beautiful and very green. I live here with my parents and my dog, Fred… Read Online and Free Download

52. Three Men in a Boat (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

There were four of us – George, William Samuel Harris, myself (my friends call me J), and Montmorency. We were sitting in my room and were smoking and talking about our bad health… Read Online and Free Download

53. The Cask of Amontillado (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul… Read Online and Free Download

54. Little Women (for Intermediate Levels B2)

 The four young faces round the fire cheered up as they thought of this, but then Jo said sadly, ‘We haven’t got Father, and… Read Online and Free Download

55. Regret (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

One morning Mamzelle Aurlie stood upon her gallery, contemplating, with arms akimbo, a small band of very small children who… Read Online and Free Download

56. Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp (for Beginner Levels A1)

Many years ago, in a city in Arabia, there was a boy called Aladdin. He lived with his mother in a little house near the market, and they were very poor… Read Online and Free Download

57. Don Quixote (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

In the Spanish village of La Mancha, there lived a gentleman who loved to read. His favorite stories were of knights and their code of chivalry: full of dragons… Read Online and Free Download

58. The Skylight Room (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

First Mrs. Parker would show you the double parlours. You would not dare to interrupt her description of their advantages and of the merits of the gentleman who had occupied them for eight years… Read Online and Free Download

59. Island for Sale (for Beginner Levels A1)

There are many islands in the sea near Scotland. This story is about one of these islands. The name of the island is Lana… Read Online and Free Download

60. Anna and the Fighter (for Beginner Levels A1)

 Anna did not sleep all night. She was excited. Early in the morning, her father called her… Read Online and Free Download

61. The Last of the Mohicans (for Beginner Levels A1)

It was the year 1757. The place was the dangerous and wild land, west of the Hudson River. It was the third year of the war in North America… Read Online and Free Download

62. The Street Lawyer (for Intermediate Levels B2)

The old black man got into the elevator behind me. He smelled of smoke and cheap wine and life on the streets without soap. His beard and hair were half-gray and very dirty… Read Online and Free Download

63. Cinderella Man (for Intermediate Levels B2)

There were nineteen thousand boxing supporters around the center ring in Madison Square Garden, and most were waiting for just one thing-for one fighter to murder another… Read Online and Free Download

64. The Yellow Wallpaper (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

 IT is very seldom that mere ordinary people like John and myself secure ancestral halls for the summer… Read Online and Free Download

65. Ali and his Camera (for Beginner Levels A1)

 Ali lives in Istanbul, a big city in Turkey. He lives in an old building near the famous Blue Mosque. After school, Ali comes home and sits at the window. He looks at the boats. They are going out to sea… Read Online and Free Download

66. The Elephant Man (for Beginner Levels A1)

My name is Dr Frederick Treves. I am a doctor at the London Hospital. One day in 1884, I saw a picture in the window of a shop near the hospital. I stopped in front of the shop and looked at the picture… Read Online and Free Download

67. The Silver Swans (for Elementary Levels A2)

 My name is Doctor Horatio Fundoby. But I am not the kind of doctor who sees sick people. I am called a doctor because I have spent many, many years studying. I studied history… Read Online and Free Download

68. The Black Cat (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

I have always been a kind and loving person – everyone will tell you this. They will also tell you that I have always loved animals more than anything. When I was a little boy, my family always had many… Read Online and Free Download

69. The Lady with the Little Dog (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

IT was said that a new person had appeared on the sea-front: a lady with a little dog. Dmitri Dmitritch Gurov, who had by then been a fortnight at Yalta, and so was fairly at home there… Read Online and Free Download

70. Billy Elliot (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

My brother Tony is stupid, but he likes good music. I listen to his records before school when he and my dad are out on the picket line. My grandmother – we call her Nan — likes the music too… Read Online and Free Download

71. Love or Money? (for Beginner Levels A1)

The Clarkson family lived in the country near Cambridge, about half a mile from the nearest village and about a mile from the river. They had a big, old house with a beautiful garden… Read Online and Free Download

72. Washington Square (for Elementary Levels A2)

 Many years ago in the city of New York, there lived a doctor. America likes doctors and New York liked Dr Sloper. At the time our story begins, in 1843, Dr Sloper was fifty years old… Read Online and Free Download

73. The Most Dangerous Game (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

“You’ve good eyes,” said Whitney, with a laugh,” and I’ve seen you pick off a moose moving in the brown fall bush at four hundred yards, but even you can’t see four miles or so through a moonless… Read Online and Free Download

74. Forrest Gump (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

 I was born an idiot – but I’m cleverer than people think. I can think things OK, but when I have to say them or write them down, sometimes they come out all wrong. When I was born, my Mom named me Forrest… Read Online and Free Download

75. White Fang (for Elementary Levels A2)

A young wolf, White Fang, is born near the Mackenzie River, in north-west Canada, in about 1893. One day he meets some Indians and they take him and his mother to their camp… Read Online and Free Download

76. Vanka (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

VANKA ZHUKOV, a boy of nine, who had been for three months apprenticed to Alyahin the shoemaker, was sitting up on Christmas Eve. Waiting till his master and mistress and their workmen had gone to the midnight… Read Online and Free Download

77. A Kiss Before Dying (for Intermediate Levels B2)

It was nearly dark in the small room near the Stoddard University campus. The two people in the room that Sunday evening were both second-year students at the college. They were looking at each other in silence… Read Online and Free Download

78. The Snows of Kilimanjaro (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

The cot the man lay on was in the wide shade of a mimosa tree and as he looked out past the shade onto the glare of the plain there were three of the big birds squatted obscenely… Read Online and Free Download

79. Walkabout (for Elementary Levels A2)

The bush boy walked alone. He was on his walkabout. He had to live in the desert alone for six months. He had to find food and water. He had to kill animals, and find fruit on the trees… Read Online and Free Download

80. Journey to the Centre of the Earth (for Beginner Levels A1)

Otto Lidenbrock is the famous professor of geology at the University of Hamburg, in Germany. He is also my uncle. He is sixty-five years old, not very tall, with grey hair. He wears small round gold glasses that make him look very serious… Read Online and Free Download

81. Prince William (for Beginner Levels A1)

It is the evening of 21 June 1982 — the first day of summer. Newspaper and television reporters near the doors of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, talk quickly into their telephones… Read Online and Free Download

82. Henry VIII and His Six Wives (for Elementary Levels A2)

   My name is Catherine Parr. A month ago I was the Queen of England, the wife of King Henry the Eighth. Henry died and we buried him last week in St George’s Church, Windsor. Two days ago, on 16th February 1547… Read Online and Free Download

83. Crooked House (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

I first met Sophia Leonides in Egypt towards the end of World War II. She had quite an important job working for the government, and when I worked with her I soon realized how good at her job she was… Read Online and Free Download

84. “1984” (for Intermediate Levels B2)

It was a bright, cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith hurried home to Victory Mansions with his head down to escape the terrible wind. A cloud of dust blew inside with him… Read Online and Free Download

85. Cold Mountain (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

At the first light of dawn, flies began gathering around Inman’s eyes and the long wound in his neck. Their touch woke him immediately… Read Online and Free Download

86. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

My name is Gilbert Markham and my story begins in October 1827, when I was twenty-four years old. I was living with my mother and my nineteen-year-old sister, Rose… Read Online and Free Download

87. Goodbye, Mr Hollywood (for Beginner Levels A1)

There was a cafe in the village, with tables outside, and at one of these tables sat a young man. He finished his breakfast, drank his coffee, looked up into the blue sky, and felt the warm sun on his face… Read Online and Free Download

88. Round the World in Eighty Days (for Elementary Levels A2)

In 1872, the Reform Club in London’s Pall Mall was a club for men only. Phileas Fogg went to the Preform Club every day. He left his house at 7 Savile Row at 11.30 in the morning and walked to the club… Read Online and Free Download

89. Love Story (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

You can say that she was beautiful and intelligent. She loved Mozart and Bach and the Beatles. And tne. Once, when she told me that, I asked her who came first… Read Online and Free Download

90. The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

It was now lunch time and they were all sitting under the double green fly of the dining tent pretending that nothing had happened… Read Online and Free Download

91. Gulliver’s Travels (for Elementary Levels A2)

 This is Gulliver in Lilliput. He travels across the sea from England and has an accident. He arrives in a country of very, very small people. What will they do with him? How will he talk to them… Read Online and Free Download

92. The Signal Man (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

When he heard a voice thus calling to him, he was standing at the door of his box, with a flag in his hand, furled round its short pole. One would have thought, considering the nature of the ground, that he could not have doubted from what quarter the voice came… Read Online and Free Download

93. The Dead (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

LILY, the caretaker’s daughter, was literally run off her feet. Hardly had she brought one gentleman into the little pantry behind the office on the ground floor and helped him off with his overcoat than the wheezy hall-door bell… Read Online and Free Download

94. Gone with the Wind (Part 1, for Intermediate Levels B2)

Scarlett O ’Hara was not beautiful, but men did not realize this when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were. Her eyes were green, and her skin was that soft white skin which Southern women valued so highly, and covered so carefully… Read Online and Free Download

95. Gone with the Wind (Part 2, for Intermediate Levels B2)

On a cold January afternoon in 1868, Scarlett O’Hara was writing to Aunt Pitty when Will Benteen came into the room. ‘Miss Scarlett,’ he said, ‘how much money do you have?’ She stared at him, wondering if something was wrong… Read Online and Free Download

96. A Rose for Emily (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

WHEN Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old man-servant… Read Online and Free Download

97. The Last Leaf (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

In a little district west of Washington Square the streets have run crazy and broken themselves into small strips called «places.» These «places» make strange angles and curves… Read Online and Free Download

98. The Gift of the Magi And Other Stories (for Beginner Levels A1)

The year is 1905. We are on the streets of New York, with its tall buildings, expensive stores, and important people. But what do we know about the little people? Who lives behind that door… Read Online and Free Download

99. Bartleby, the Scrivener (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me into more than ordinary contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of men… Read Online and Free Download

100. Kidnapped (for Elementary Levels A2)

My name is David Balfour and my story begins one morning in June 1751. This was the day I left my father’s house in Essendean for the last time. My friend Mr Campbell was waiting for me… Read Online and Free Download

101. Diamonds Are Forever (for Intermediate Levels B1)

The large bush stood in the moonlight at the meeting place of three African countries. The man from the diamond mines had waited under the bush for nearly two hours. Suddenly, he heard the noise of a helicopter… Read Online and Free Download

102. Teacher Man (for Intermediate Levels B2)

This is how Frank McCourt’s teaching career begins—and it doesn’t get easier! As a young man, Frank McCourt leaves his poor, miserable childhood in Ireland behind him and moves to New York… Read Online and Free Download

103. The Monkey’s Paw (for Beginner Levels A1)

It was cold and dark out in the road and the rain did not stop for a minute. But in the little living-room of number 12 Castle Road it was nice and warm. Old Mr White and his son… Read Online and Free Download

104. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (for Elementary Levels A2)

 My name is Ishmael and this is my story I’m a sailor and I work on different ships. I love my life on the ocean. It’s sometimes dangerous but never, never boring. I feel sad when I’m not on a ship.… Read Online and Free Download

105. The Count of Monte Cristo (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

On 24th February 1815 the ship Pharaoh came in to Marseilles. A man on the shore jumped into a boat and went out to the ship. A young man, about twenty years old, looked over the side of the ship.… Read Online and Free Download

106. Titanic (for Beginner Levels A1)

In April 1912 the Titanic arrived in Southampton in the south of England. Everyone was excited about the new ship. It was the biggest ship in the world, the most beautiful, perhaps the fastest. And it was much safer than older ships.… Read Online and Free Download

Daniel wanted to visit a farm. He asked his parents to take him to a farm. His teacher told him about the animals on a farm. There are lots of animals on a farm. Daniel wanted to see the animals. He wanted to see the cows. He wanted to see the chickens. He wanted to see the pigs. He wanted to pet the animals.

He wanted to feed the animals. He loved animals. He wanted to live on a farm. He wanted to live with cows and chickens and pigs. They would be his friends. He didn’t have any friends in school.

Source:  grammar.yourdictionary.com

Horse Rider-short stories in english

“Can I ride my horse, Mommy?” Sara asked her mom. Sara loved to ride her horse. She rode her horse almost every Saturday. “Okay, honey, get ready to go,” her mom said. Sara was happy. She went into her bedroom. She put her pink socks on. She put her pink sneakers on. She grabbed her pink hat. She went to the front door. “I’m going to wait in the car,” she told her mom. “Okay, I’ll be there in a minute,” her mom said. Sara opened the car door. She sat down in the front seat. She put on her hat. She was excited.

Source:  eslyes.com

Good Teacher

Jeff sat down. He was in class. He was at school. He was in English class. He liked his English class. He liked his teacher. His teacher was friendly. His teacher helped all the students. His teacher answered everyone’s questions. Jeff asked a new question every day short stories in english.

Yesterday he asked his teacher a spelling question. He asked his teacher how to spell “myself.” His teacher told him how to spell it. Jeff thanked his teacher. His teacher said, “You’re welcome. Ask me anything anytime. That’s what I’m here for, to help you.”

A Baby and a Sock

The mother gave her baby a red apple. The baby tried to eat the apple. His mouth was too small. And he didn’t have any teeth. His brother took the apple. His brother ate the apple. The baby cried. His brother gave the baby a blue ball to play with. The baby smiled.

His brother took the ball from the baby. He rolled the ball on the floor. The brown and white dog picked up the ball. The dog chewed on the ball. The baby cried again. His brother picked up the cat. He put the cat on the bed with the baby. The baby pulled the cat’s tail. The cat jumped off the bed. The dog chased the cat. The baby cried again. His brother let the baby hold a sock. The baby played with the sock. The baby was happy.

Source:  thepunctuationguide.com

Go to the Park

Chuck wanted to go to the park after dinner. His mom wanted him to stay home after dinner. She didn’t want him to go to the park. She said it was dark at the park. But Chuck said it wasn’t dark at the park. “There are lights at the park, Mom,” he said.

But she said there were only a few lights at the park. She said there were many dark places in the park. “Bad people go to the park at night,” she said. “Bad people do bad things. They do bad things to good people. You are a good person. I don’t want something bad to happen to you.” Chuck said, “Nothing bad will happen to me. I will go with my two friends. We will be together.

All three of us will be together. We will stay away from the dark places. We will stay under the lights.”

Her 10th Birthday

It was Emily’s 10th birthday. She was 10 years old. She was so happy. “I’m so happy,” she said. “I’m finally 10. Ten is two numbers. Ten is an adult number. Ten is a grown‐up number. I’m an adult now. I’m a grown‐up. I used to be nine short stories in english.

Nine is a kid number. Nine is for kids. I’m not a kid anymore.” Her sister Irene said, “Of course you’re still a kid. Teenagers are kids. You’re not even a teenager yet. You’re in fifth grade. Fifth grade is for kids. Twelfth grade is for kids, too. When you are 18, you will be in twelfth grade. You will still be a kid. You will be a kid for eight more years.”

Emily said, “No, you’re a kid. You’re only seven. Seven is a kid.” Irene said she wasn’t seven. She said she was seven and a half.

The World Map

Jerry was looking at a map. It was a map of the world. The map showed many countries. It showed all the countries in the world. All the countries were different colors. There were red countries, green countries, and blue countries. Jerry pointed at one country.

“Daddy, why is this country red? Is it on fire? Did someone paint the ground red? Does it have a lot of tomatoes?” Jerry pointed at another country. It was a green country.

“Daddy, why is this country green? Does it have a lot of grass? Did someone paint the ground green?” Jerry pointed at another country. It was a blue country.

“Daddy, why is this country blue? Is it full of blue water? Does it have a lot of bluebirds? Did someone paint the ground blue?”

His daddy said, “No, the colors make the map pretty. They don’t mean anything.”

A man has a big garden around his house. An old dog comes to his garden. The dog looks at the man and then lies down next to him.

When the man stands up and walks to the house, the dog walks behind him. When they are inside, the dog jumps on the sofa, closes his eyes and sleeps for one hour. Then he B short stories in english wakes up and walks to the door. The man lets the dog out.

The next day the dog comes again. He jumps on the sofa and sleeps for an hour. This is happening every day for three weeks. The man wants to know why the dog comes to his house. He writes on a piece of paper these words, “Every afternoon your dog comes to my house and sleeps for one hour on my sofa.” Then the man puts this piece of paper on his collar.

The next day the dog comes with a different piece of paper on his collar. It says, “He lives in a home with four children. He needs some quite place to relax. Can I come with him tomorrow?”

School Fight

One day at school Harry pushed Scott. Scott pushed Harry back. Harry punched Scott in the face. Scott went home with a bruise on his face. He had a red bruise on his face. His mom said, “Who did this to you? Who hit you?” His dad asked, “Did you hit him back? I hope you hit him back. Don’t be a chicken. You must not be a chicken.” Scott said he had pushed Harry back. His dad told him to punch Harry next time.

Scott went to school the next day. Harry pushed him to the floor. Scott got up and punched Harry in the face. Harry fell down. His nose was bleeding. A teacher walked by. He picked up Harry off the floor. The teacher called Scott’s dad. “Scott punched Harry,” he said. “Harry’s nose is bleeding.” Scott’s dad said, “That’s my boy!”

Drive the Car

Charley wanted to drive the car. “Can I drive the car, Dad?” he asked. “You can drive the car,” his dad said. Charley followed his dad out to the car. His dad opened the driver’s door. “You are the driver,” he said. Charley got into the car. His dad closed the driver’s door. His dad walked around the car. He opened the passenger door. He sat next to Charley. He gave Charley the key. Charley put the key into the ignition. Charley turned the key.

The car started. Charley was so excited. He turned the steering wheel left. He turned the steering wheel right. Left, right, left, right. He honked the horn. He honked the horn again. Honk! Honk! He turned on the left blinker. He turned on the right blinker. Blink! Blink!

He asked, “Am I a good driver, Dad?” His dad said, “Son, you’re a very good driver.”

Cookies for Students -short stories in english

Cindy’s teacher was Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Jones was old. But she didn’t walk slow. She walked fast. She didn’t have white hair. She had black hair. She wasn’t bent over. Her back was straight. All the students liked Mrs. Jones.

They especially liked her on Friday. On Friday she brought cookies to class. She gave cookies to all the students. The cookies were delicious. All the students liked the cookies. All the students ate the cookies. Today was Friday. Mrs. Jones gave cookies to all the students. All the students said thank you. Then they ate the cookies.

But Cindy didn’t eat her cookie. Mrs. Jones asked, “Why aren’t you eating your cookie, Cindy?” She said, “I’m not eating my cookie because I will take it home. I will share it at home with my sister.” Mrs. Jones said, “You’re so sweet. Here’s a cookie for your sister.”

Daddy Likes Beer

The little girl was thirsty. She wanted something to drink. She opened the refrigerator. She looked inside. She saw milk. She saw soda. She saw orange juice. She saw beer.

She wondered what beer tasted like. Her daddy drank beer every day. Beer must be good. If Daddy likes it, it must taste good. She grabbed a can of beer. She opened the beer. She smelled it. She couldn’t smell anything. She swallowed some.

“Yuck!” she said. The beer was horrible. How could Daddy drink that stuff? She put the can back into the refrigerator. Daddy could finish it when he got home. She grabbed the milk. She poured some into a glass. She added chocolate syrup to the milk. She stirred the milk. Now she had chocolate milk. She loved chocolate milk. Poor Daddy, she thought short stories in english . He likes beer more than chocolate milk.

She’s So Hungry

She likes magazines. She likes to look at the pretty photos. Magazines have photos of people. They have photos of animals. They have photos of clothes. They have photos of food. She sees a photo of a hamburger. It looks so delicious. The photo of the hamburger makes her hungry.

She goes to the refrigerator. She opens it. She wants a hamburger. But there is no hamburger in the refrigerator. The hamburger is at McDonald’s. But she is a little kid. She can’t drive to McDonald’s. She can’t call McDonald’s, because they don’t deliver. A hamburger place is not like a pizza parlor. A pizza parlor delivers. Her mom was at work. She would have to wait until mom came home. Mom would drive her to McDonald’s.

She sat down again. She turned the page. There was a photo of chocolate ice cream. The ice cream was in a cone. Oh, what a beautiful photo. She licked her lips. It looked so delicious. Mom, please come home soon, she thought.

My Best Friend

Laura is my best friend. We are in the third grade. We do everything together. We walk to school together. We eat lunch together at school. Laura’s mother gives her tuna sandwiches for lunch. My mother gives me peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. We share our sandwiches with each other.

Sometimes Laura gets apples for lunch. Sometimes I get peaches. We share our fruit with each other. We help each other with our homework. She helps me with history. I help her with arithmetic.

We spend the weekends together. Her parents invite me to their house, or my parents invite her to our house. We sleep over. I spend the night at her house, or she spends the night at my house. We talk about everything. We talk about our brothers. They are so silly. We talk about our teachers and our parents. We love them. We talk about the boys in class. We don’t like them. They are so silly. Why in the world do some girls like boys?

Boys never grow up. We will never like boys.

A School Day

School starts at 8:00 in the morning. His mom woke him up at 6:30. He yawned and got out of bed. He got dressed. He ate breakfast. He ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast. His favorite cereal was Cheerios. He also ate a banana. Bananas are yellow outside and white inside. He drank a glass of orange juice. Oranges are orange outside and orange inside. He ate a piece of toast with butter on it. Brown toast, yellow butter. He drank a glass of milk.

Then he brushed his teeth. He kissed his mom goodbye. He walked outside to the school bus stop. It was two blocks away. He met his friend Bobby. They talked while they waited for the bus. The bus arrived. He said hello to the bus driver. He and Bobby sat together on the bus. They talked about baseball.

The bus ride took 20 minutes. They got to school at 7:30. The bus driver said, “Have fun in school.” They always did.

Boys Will Be Boys-short stories in english

The two brothers loved each other. But sometimes they argued with each other. Sometimes they yelled at each other. Sometimes they pushed each other. Sometimes they hit each other. Sometimes they got into a fight with each other. Bobby was the older brother. Billy was the younger brother.

Bobby was older than Billy. Billy was younger than Bobby. Bobby climbed into a tree. His kite was in the tree. short stories in english He could not reach his kite. He fell out of the tree. Billy laughed. He laughed when he saw Bobby fall to the ground. Bobby was not hurt. But he was angry. “Why are you laughing?” he asked Billy. “That was funny!” Billy said. Bobby said it wasn’t funny. Billy said it was funny. Bobby pushed Billy. Billy pushed Bobby. Bobby punched Billy in the stomach. Billy punched Bobby in the stomach. They put their arms around each other. They wrestled on the ground. They rolled around and around.

Their mom came outside. “What are you two doing?” she asked. She separated them. She said, “You shouldn’t hit each other. That’s not nice. Wait till your father gets home.” She sent them to their rooms.

Source: parenting.firstcry.com

I love my dad. He was a good man. He taught me to work hard. He taught me to keep trying. He taught me to do things right or don’t do them at all. He grew up on the streets of New York City. His parents didn’t speak English. He had three brothers and one sister. His brothers ended up in jail. His sister died in a car crash. My dad married my mom when they were both 19.

My dad joined the army. He jumped out of airplanes. Then he became a military policeman. He did this for 20 years. He liked his job. He was a hard worker. He went to college while he was in the army. He got two college degrees. One college degree is good. Two college degrees is very good. He retired from the army and became a teacher. He taught high school kids. He taught high school kids for 20 years.

He had a lot of patience. Teachers need a lot of patience. Then my dad retired. He traveled around the world with my mom. They both died in a plane crash. That was bad. But they died together. That was good.

Daddy Is Watching

 “Let’s go to the beach, Daddy,” Susan suggested. “That sounds like a good idea,” her daddy replied. It was a hot, sunny day. The ocean was only two blocks away. Susan went into her room. She put short stories in english on her swimsuit. She grabbed a big beach towel. She put on a hat and grabbed her sunglasses. She put on her flip‐flops. “I’m ready, Daddy,” she said.

“Do you have any sunscreen?” he asked. “No, I forgot. Where is it?” she asked. He told her it was in the top drawer in the bathroom. She went into the bathroom and opened the drawer. “I’ve got it,” she said.

They walked outside. The sun was bright. Susan put on her sunglasses. She loved to wear her sunglasses. They made her look like an adult. She gave the beach towel to her dad. She grabbed her dad’s hand and they started walking. Ten minutes later they were at the beach. It was crowded. Dad found a spot. He put the beach towel on the sand. Susan took off her hat and sunglasses. She ran into the water.

Dad watched her play in the water. She was having fun. Suddenly a wave knocked her over. She went under water. Dad ran into the water. He pulled her up. “Daddy, I almost drowned,” Susan said. “No, you didn’t,” he said. “That wave only knocked you over. Don’t worry. I’m watching you.”

A Birthday Bike

January 7 is Benny’s birthday. He will be eight years old. He is in the third grade. He goes to Park Elementary School. An elementary school is for kids. It is only one mile away. He walks to school. It only short stories in english takes 20 minutes. When it rains, he wears a raincoat.

He used to take an umbrella. But he lost the umbrella. His mother gave him another umbrella. He broke that one. His mom said, “You and umbrellas don’t get along.” For his eighth birthday, Benny wants a bicycle. He can ride the bike to school. After school he can ride with his friends. He can ride the bike to the swimming pool. He can ride the bike to the library.

His mom and dad took him to the bike store. They asked him to look at the bikes. He looked at all the bikes. He chose a red bike. He showed his parents. Dad said it cost too much. He told Benny to choose another bike. Benny chose a blue bike. Dad said the blue bike was the right price.

Source:  learnenglish.britishcouncil.org

Short Stories in English for beginners pdf

Introduction.

Lucas: What is your name? Paul : Paul. Lucas: Are you from American? Paul :   No, I ‘m Australian.

Lucas:   How old are you?

Paul :   I am 30.

Lucas:   Are you a teacher? Paul :

No, I am a Lawyer.

Lucas:   Are you married?

Paul :   Yes, I am.

Lucas: Is your wife a lawyer?

Paul :   No, She is a teacher.

Lucas: Where is she from?

Paul :   She is Italian .

Lucas: What is her name? Paul :   Anna.

Lucas: How old is she?

Paul : She is 27.

Short stories in English for beginners pdf

The silly mother.

Once upon a time, there lived a girl short stories in english called Maya. One day when she came home from school she went straight to her mother and said ” Mummy, today my teacher punished me for something I didn’t do.

The mother was very angry and went straight to her teacher and scolded her, but she didn’t ask Maya what she didn’t do. When she came home she said “I scolded your teacher nicely for just scolding you ” then she asked “by the way Maya what is that you didn’t do her mother asked “My homework” said Maya.

Once upon the time, there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Maybe,” replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. “Maybe, ”  answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “Maybe,” said the farmer.

The Rooster

 A very hungry rooster was scratching and digging in the dirt looking for food. He scratched and dug and finally found a beautiful jewel. He was amazed at how the gem shone glittered .

»This is a very fine and beautiful thing,» he thought, «but I would rather have one tasty kernel of corn instead.»

Once upon a time, a Bear lived in the forest. He was huge and would eat a lot of food. However, he was very lazy. So, he enjoyed eating the remains of the prey left by the bigger animals short stories in english.

One day, the lazy Bear felt very hungry. He could not find any food around his den. The poor Bear waited and waited. Then, he started walking in search of food.

He thought to himself, ‘Oh! How I would love to eat some bamboo or fruits! But I would be the happiest if I found a beehive with honey!’

Now, at the end of the forest, there was a rocky shore along the big blue sea. The Bear soon reached the rocky shore. There, he found a firm rock and held on to it. He lowered his furry legs into the cold water and waited. Some Crabs that lived in the sea caught the`               

Bear’s fur, thinking it was their prey. The Bear, at once, pulled his legs up and shook off the Crabs on the rock. Then he enjoyed the food he had cleverly collected all over his legs.

Even the lazy think of good ideas, when they are hungry.

Short stories in English for beginners pdf Download

Simple english stories for beginners

The Large Tree

 Once, three Crows and two Sparrows lived in a forest. They all were good friends. They would meet every day and fly around together from one place to another. The Crows would constantly look for food and the Sparrows for a place to make their short stories in english nests.

One day, the Crows said, “Let’s explore this part of the forest.  Someone told us there is lots of food here.” The new part of the forest was beautiful and there was, indeed, plenty of food. However, there was only one large tree. The Sparrows and the Crows wanted to live there.

The Sparrows told their aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends about the new place. Everyone wanted to live there. The Crows also did the same.

Soon, a big fight broke out among the birds. The Crows said, ‘We found the place first, so we will live on the tree.” The Sparrows said, “So what? We will live there. We found the tree first.” After this, the two Sparrows and three Crows also could not be friends.

They constantly fought with each, “You Crows are bad.” “You Sparrows are fools!” Thus, they went back to their own kind.

Birds of a feather flock together.

THE MONKEY AND THE CAT

Once upon a time a Cat and a Monkey lived as pets in the same house. They were great friends and were constantly in all sorts of mischief together. What they seemed to think of more than anything else was to get something to eat, and it did not matter much to them how they got it.

One day they were sitting by the fre, watching some chestnuts roasting on the hearth. How to get them was the question. “I would gladly get them,” said the cunning Monkey, “but you are much more skillful at such things than I am. Pull them out and I’ll divide them between us.”

Pussy stretched out her paw very carefully, pushed aside some of the cinders, and drew back her paw very quickly. Then she tried it again, this time pulling a chestnut half out of the fre. A third time and she drew out the chestnut. This performance she went through several times, each time singeing her paw severely. As fast as she pulled the chestnuts out of the fre, the Monkey ate them up.

Now the master came in, and away scampered the rascals, Mistress Cat with a burnt paw and no chestnuts. From that time on, they say, she contented herself with mice and rats and had little to do with Sir Monkey.

Moral: The fatterer seeks some beneft at your expense.

Learn English Through Story Subtitles in youtube.com

Planting Flowers

Mrs. Mott and her granddaughter, Sally, are planting flowers in the garden. Mrs. Mott is using a trowel to dig small holes in the short stories in english dirt.

The holes are three inches deep and six inches apart. After Mrs. Mott digs a hole, Sally puts a flower in it. The flowers are in small plastic containers. Each container has dirt surrounding the roots of the plant. After Mrs. Mott and Sally plant the flowers, they will water them with a garden hose.

In a few weeks the flowers will grow taller. When they are about eight inches tall, Mrs. Mott will cut them and put them in a vase. She will put the vase of flowers on her kitchen table.

English stories for reading

Preparing for a Test

Whitney and Dion are preparing for a Spanish test. Their teacher, Mr. Hidalgo, is giving the test on Tuesday.

The test will be on the vocabulary words in chapter two of their Spanish textbook. There will be fifty questions on the test. Each correct answer is worth two points. Students who get all the answers correct will get one-hundred points.

Both Whitney and Dion want to get an A on the test. They wrote the vocabulary words on index cards. They wrote the words in Spanish on one side of the index cards and in English on the other side. Now, they are saying the words aloud.

Banana Splits

Banana splits taste delicious, and they are fast and easy to make. First, put a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and a scoop of strawberry ice cream in an oval bowl.

Then, pour strawberry, butterscotch, and pineapple syrup over the scoops of ice cream. Next, top each scoop short stories in english of ice cream with whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a cherry. Finally, peel a ripe banana and cut it in half lengthwise. Put the banana halves on opposite sides of the bowl.

Be sure to have plenty of napkins because banana splits are messy to eat.

New Cell Phone

Art’s wife bought him an expensive cell phone for his fiftieth birthday. Now, he can take pictures, record videos, access the Internet, download maps, play music, and send and receive text messages.

Unfortunately, Art doesn’t know how to use all the features on his new phone. He read the instructions, but he doesn’t understand them. He read the instructions a second time, but he still doesn’t understand them. Art’s wife told him to ask a friend at work to show him how to use his new phone. Art doesn’t want to ask for help.

He doesn’t want his co-workers to think he is not good with technology.

The Fish And The Ring

Short stories in English for beginners pdf – Once upon a time, there was a mighty baron in the North Countrie who was a great magician and knew everything that would come to pass. So one day, when his little boy was four years old, he looked into the Book of Fate to see what would happen to him. And to his dismay, he found that his son would wed short stories in english a lowly maid that had just been born in a house under the shadow of York Minster.

Now the Baron knew the father of the little girl was very, very poor, and he had five children already. So he called for his horse, and rode into York, and passed by the father’s house, and saw him sitting by the door, sad and doleful. So he dismounted and went up to him and said: ‘What is the matter, my good man?’ And the man said: ‘Well, your honour, the fact is, I’ve five children already, and now a sixth’s come, a little lass, and where to get the bread from to fill their mouths, that’s more than I can say.’

‘Don’t be downhearted, my man,’ said the Baron. ‘If that’s your trouble, I can help you. I’ll take away the last little one, and you won’t have to bother about her.’

‘Thank you kindly

‘Thank you kindly, sir,’ said the man; and he went in and brought out the lass and gave her to the Baron, who mounted his horse and rode away with her. And when he got by the bank of the River Ouse, he threw the little thing into the river, and rode off to his castle.

But the little lass didn’t sink; her clothes kept her up for a time, and she floated, and she floated, till she was cast ashore just in front of a fisherman’s hut. There the fisherman found her, and took pity on the poor little thing and took her into his house, and she lived there till she was fifteen years old, and a fine handsome girl.

One day it happened that the Baron went out hunting with some companions along the banks of the River Ouse, and stopped at the fisherman’s hut to get a drink, and the girl came out to give it to them. They all noticed her beauty, and one of them said to the Baron: ‘You can read fates, Baron, whom will she marry, d’ye think?’

‘Oh! that’s easy to guess,’ said the Baron; ‘some yokel or other. But I’ll cast her horoscope. Come here, girl, and tell me on what day you were born.’

‘I don’t know, sir

Short stories in English for beginners pdf – ‘I don’t know, sir,’ said the girl, ‘I was picked up just here after having been brought down by the river about fifteen years ago.’ Then the Baron knew who she was, and when they went away, he rode back and said to the girl: ‘Hark ye, girl, I will make your fortune. Take this letter to my brother in Scarborough, and you will be settled for life.’ And the girl took the letter and said she would go. Now this is what he had written in the letter short stories in english.

DEAR BROTHER,–Take the bearer and put her to death immediately. Yours affectionately, HUMPHREY.

So soon after the girl set out for Scarborough, and slept for the night at a little inn. Now that very night a band of robbers broke into the inn, and searched the girl, who had no money, and only the letter.

So they opened this and read it, and thought it a shame. The captain of the robbers took a pen and paper and wrote this letter:

DEAR BROTHER,–Take the bearer and marry her to my son immediately.

Yours affectionately,

And then he gave it to the girl, bidding her begone. So she went on to the Baron’s brother at Scarborough, a noble knight, with whom the Baron’s son was staying. When she gave the letter to his brother, he gave orders for the wedding to be prepared at once, and they were married that very day.

Soon after, the Baron himself came to his brother’s castle, and what was his surprise to find the very thing he had plotted against had come to pass. But he was not to be put off that way; and he took the girl out for a walk, as he said, along the cliffs. And when he got her short stories in english all alone, he took her by the arms, and was going to throw her over short stories in english.

But she begged hard for her life. ‘I have not done anything,’ she said: ‘if you will only spare me, I will do whatever you wish. I will never see you or your son again till you desire it.’ Then the Baron took off his gold ring and threw it into the sea, saying: ‘Never let me see your face till you can show me that ring’; and he let her go.

The poor girl

Short stories in English for beginners pdf – The poor girl wandered on and on, till at last she came to a great noble’s castle, and she asked to have some work given to her; and they made her the scullion girl of the castle, for she had been used to such work in the fisherman’s hut.

Now one day, who should she see coming up to the noble’s house but the Baron and his brother and his son, her husband. She didn’t know what to do; but thought they would not see her in the castle kitchen. So she went back to her work with a sigh, and set to cleaning a huge big fish that was to be boiled for their dinner. And, as she was cleaning it, she saw something shine inside it, and. what do you think she found? Why, there was the Baron’s ring, the very one he had thrown over the cliff at Scarborough. She was glad indeed to see it, you may be sure. Then she cooked the fish as nicely as she could, and served it up.

When the fish

Well, when the fish came on the table, the guests liked it so well that they asked the noble who cooked it. He said he didn’t know, but called to his servants: ‘Ho, there, send the cook who cooked that fine fish.’ So they went down to the kitchen and told the girl she was wanted in the hall.

When the banqueters saw such a young and beautiful cook they were surprised. But the Baron was in a tower of temper, and started up as if he would do her some violence. So the girl went up to him with her hand before her with the ring on it; and she put it down before him on the table. Then at last the Baron saw that no one could fight against Fate, and he handed her to a seat and announced to all the company that this was his son’s true wife; and he took her and his son home to his castle; and they all lived happy as could be ever afterwards.

Quetzalcoatlus

There is a show in a museum in New York. It is about pterosaurs. Pterosaurs live 66 million years ago.

These animals can fly. However, they are not related to birds. They are related to dinosaurs. They are a unique group of animals andThey are the biggest flying animals. Their wings are really big. One wing is around 5 metres long.

The animals have a backbone and they can fly. This makes them really special.

Pterosaur– level 2

There is a new exhibition at a New York museum. It is about pterosaurs.

Pterosaurs were not related to bats, nor to birds. They were closely related to dinosaurs, but they were not dinosaurs. They were a unique short stories in english group. These animals lived 66 million years ago. They were the first animals with backbones to evolve powered flight and They were really unique in that way.

They were also the largest flying animals we know of right now. Some of the pterosaurs had wing spans up to ten meters across!

1 ) exhibition-noun  /ˌek.səˈbɪʃ.ən/- a public display of works of art or items of interest, held in an art gallery or museum or at a trade fair.

The  photographs  will be on exhibition until the end of the  month .

There’s a new exhibition of  sculpture  on at the  city   gallery .

The athlete’s third, and  winning ,  jump  was an exhibition of  skill  and  strength .

2) bat noun  /bæt/

3) closely adverb  /ˈkloʊs.li/ – in a way that is  directly   connected  or has a  strong   relationship :

English  and  German  are closely  related .

Both  politicians  have been closely  associated  with the  movement  for some  time .

We are  working  closely with the  police .

4) evolve verb  /ɪˈvɑːlv/ to  develop   gradually , or to  cause  something or someone to  develop   gradually :

Did  humans  evolve from  apes ?

The  company  has evolved over the  years  into a multi-million  dollar   organization .

Bacteria are evolving  resistance  to  antibiotics .

5) span noun  /spæn/ the  period  of  time  that something  exists  or  happens :

He has a  short   attention / concentration  span short stories in english.

an  average   life span of 70  years

Over a span of just three  years , the new  government  has  transformed  the country’s  economic   prospects .

Pterosaur– level 3

The largest flying vertebrates in earth’s history are taking to the air at The American Museum of Natural History.

A new exhibition at the New York museum will examine the life and history of the dinosaur era reptiles known as pterosaurs, which were the first back-boned animals to  evolve powered flight.

“Pterosaurs as their own unique group, they were the first animals with backbones to achieve true powered flapping flight, so that they’re really unique in that way. They also represent the largest animals we know of ever to have powered flight. Some of them have wing spans up to ten meters across, which is a huge, huge animal. But as their own group, they’re not related to birds, they’re not related to bats, they’re just a unique group of reptiles that are closely related to dinosaurs but aren’t dinosaurs. When they evolved, they were very diverse and they lived on every continent.”

While the reptiles may have become extinct 66 million years ago, scientists believe that pterosaurs diversified into more than 150 species of different shapes and sizes across the planet.

English short stories for beginners-5

short stories in english Short Stories You Can Read for Free Right Now

By  Jennifer Martin and BookBub Editors •Updated: October 27, 2020•10 min read

Those of us who love short stories know the magic behind a well-told tale. There are times when you just need a complete story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Well, we’ve got some great news: A lot of incredible short stories are actually available online, and you can read them for free right now!

It’s the perfect way to spend a work break, the moments while dinner is in the oven, or your last few minutes before bedtime. Without further ado, here’s our list of great short stories you can read for free right now. The list features a blend of works from contemporary authors, as well as short stories from your favorite classic authors. Read on for our complete list of free short stories!

Contemporary Free Short Stories

These stories are by contemporary authors. If you’ve never read these authors before, their free short stories short stories in english will give you a taste of their style before you commit to one of their longer works. There’s something for everyone, with genres ranging from science fiction to historical fiction to horror.

“ The Hunter’s Wife ” by Anthony Doerr

Gorgeous descriptions of nature fill this story of a hunter and his younger, psychic wife during a Montana winter. After reading it short stories in english, you’ll be amazed by Doerr’s talent, which was also behind his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel  All the Light We Cannot See .

“ Premium Harmony ” by Stephen King

King fans won’t want to miss this 2009 short story which appeared in  The New Yorker . A bickering couple stop at a convenience store and find their lives taking an unexpected dark turn. If you read closely, you’ll also catch references to the horror writer’s other works here.

“ Broads ” by Roxane Gay

You’ll get a kick out of this saucy story by Roxane Gay, author of  Bad Feminist . Jimmy has a thing for loud, bold women. But it’s not until he meets a diner waitress that he finally seems to get what he wants.

“ And of Clay Are We Created ” by Isabel Allende

We’re transfixed by this story based on a real-life natural disaster. A volcano erupted in Colombia in 1985 and caused mudslides that tragically killed 23,000 people. Weaving culture with a gripping personal drama, Allende’s story centers on the rescue of Azucena, a girl trapped in the mud.

In this section, read our entertaining short stories specially written for pre-intermediate (CEFR level A2) or intermediate (CEFR level B1) learners.

You will improve your reading fluency and comprehension and develop your vocabulary. Each story has interactive exercises to help you understand and use the language

Once upon a time there lived a poor widow and her son Jack. One day, Jack’s mother told him to sell their only cow. Jack went short stories in english to the market and on the way he met a man who wanted to buy his cow. Jack asked, “What will you give me in return for my cow?” The man answered, “I will give you five magic beans!” Jack took the magic beans and gave the man the cow. But when he reached home, Jack’s mother was very angry. She said, “You fool! He took away your cow and gave you some beans!” She threw the beans out of the window. Jack was very sad and went to sleep without dinner.

Short stories in english

The next day, when Jack woke up in the morning and looked out of the window, he saw that a huge beanstalk had grown from his magic beans! He climbed up the beanstalk and reached a kingdom in the sky. There lived a giant and his wife. Jack went inside the house and found the giant’s wife in the kitchen. Jack said, “Could you please give me something to eat? I am so hungry!” The kind wife gave him bread and some milk.

While he was eating, the giant came home. The giant was very big and looked very fearsome. Jack was terrified and went and hid inside. The giant cried, “Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he alive, or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread!”

The wife said, “There is no boy in here!” So, the giant ate his food and then went to his room. He took out his sacks of gold coins, counted them and kept them aside. Then he went to sleep. In the night,

Jack crept out of his hiding place, took one sack of gold coins and climbed down the beanstalk. At home, he gave the coins to his mother. His mother was very happy and they lived well for sometime.

These wonderful short books tell truly fascinating stories and valuable information. You can enjoy all their goodness by downloading them from our site and taking them anywhere short stories in english.

Select what you like best, you can search in multiple options that although they are free, you will have variety to choose from and you will not have an excuse to get bored.

One Reply to “Learn English Through Stories”

Very good short stories for learning English

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Diddy Accused of Another Sex Trafficking Charge by Ex-Porn Star

Accused of grooming and forcing the adult entertainment star to have sex with guests at hamptons parties..

Diddy has one again been named in another sex trafficking lawsuit, this time by ex-porn star Adria English. According to the latest lawsuit , English is claiming that Diddy had “groomed” her into sex trafficking as an employee.

The adult entertainment star alleges that she was involved in calculated grooming schemes where Diddy would hire her as an employee at his legendary Hamptons Labor Day “white parties.” While she worked as a “go-go dancer” at these annual parties for almost two decades, she claims that she was “required” to take narcotics offered at the party. She was first employed in 2004 by Diddy and she claims in the lawsuit that he had often “laced the liquor with ecstasy” and was given strict instructions to drink from certain bottles.

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