Short stories 201-210

'Oh, whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad' by M.R. James. Originally from Ghost Stories of an Antiquary. An almost perfect little ghost story. Recommended. This one is not from Great Short Stories of the World - it was mentioned in a book I was reading (Maps & Legends) and I read it to be able to better understand the discussion of it in that book. I then decided it was perfect for the challenge.

“St. John’s Eve” by Nikolai Gogol. A story written in the form of an oral tale – rambling and very well rendered. Recommended.

“The District Doctor” by Ivan Turgenev. Another story in the oral form, even more confusing that the last one. (different translation)

“The Christmas Tree and the Wedding” by Feodor Dostoievsky. A well-told story about status and money and how they affect people. Recommended. (appears to be the same translation)

“The Long Exile” by Leo Tolstoy. This is what the editors of GSS call this story, but the original title is “God sees the Truth, but Waits”. A sad tale about an innocent man wrongly condemned to a life in a Siberian labour camp. A bit too sugary for my taste, but well-written. (same translation)

“The Old Bell-Ringer” by Vladimir Korolenko. A bitter-sweet story about the last hours in an old man’s life.

“The Signal” by Vsevolod Garshin. A story about service, gratitude and doing one’s duty. Also something of a thriller. (same translation)

“The Bet” by Anton Chekhov. A tense psychological tale. Recommended. (same translation)

“One Autumn Night” by Maxim Gorky. A tale about an unlikely angel of salvation. Recommended. (same translation)

“Silence” by Leonid Andreyev. A fine story about guilt and what it can do to a man. Recommended.

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How to make a simple origami bookmark

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Reading in Reykjavík

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