Short Stories Audiobooks | Literature

"The characters in Dominic Hoffman's tales of Late Rehearsals are familiar. Their choices are recognizable, and the people are far from perfect. Humor is a constant. However, their most significant commonality is the sense that every day is a rehearsal for the next. In this compilation of narratives, contemporary fables and intimate accounts, we travel cultures and cities, contemplate life and death to discover that our lives can be justified, vilified or distanced by the simple act of viewing the lives of others. The individuals in these stories walk their own paths, and their late rehearsals will continue into the inevitable closing night."

Dominic Hoffman (Author), Dominic Hoffman (Narrator)

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Marrying Off Mother and Other Stories

"Beloved naturalist and author Gerald Durrell introduces an eccentric cast of characters in this entertaining collection of stories, first published in 1991. Which of these stories is true and which is semi-true I have, of course, not the slightest intention of telling you, but I hope this will not detract from your enjoyment . . . In the title story, part of the inspiration behind the ITV drama The Durrells, we join his family in Corfu, where Gerry joins forces with Larry and Margo in encouraging Mother to consider finding a new husband, only to rue the consequences. Highlights from the other tales in this collection are the acquisition of a strongly perfumed pig named Esmerelda, a foul-mouthed parrot called Moses, and a compulsive gambler who inspires a miracle. Written with Durrell's usual sharp eye for observing humour in any situation, Marrying Off Mother will delight fans both old and new and is the perfect celebration of Durrell's centenary. 'A renegade who was right . . . He was truly a man before his time' - Sir David Attenborough"

Gerald Durrell (Author), Elliot Chapman (Narrator)

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Duluthians: A Collection of Short Stories

"Duluthians is a collection of short fiction that illustrates the folks who call Northern Minnesota their home. Here you will find stories of transplants who have found themselves reluctantly placed in the wild northland (Heiland Daze), and those where Duluth has always been their home and they would live in no other place. Follow a young boy who discovers the love of his half-wolf half-dog. Or the ski jumper who is destined for the Olympics if he can only overcome his fear of heights, and, more importantly, his thoughts of letting go and flying away. Listen to the dummy with Tourette's as he destroys a young man with a dream. Feel the pain of the man who must tend a garden, while he fights his age and vicious, swarming deer. You might laugh, you might cry, but you will be entertained by these tales from the Northland."

Trevor Scott (Author), Matt Godfrey (Narrator)

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The Doll and Other Stories

"FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCA. 'I want to know if men realise when they are insane. Sometimes I think that my brain cannot hold together, it is filled with too much horror - too much despair . . . I cannot sleep, I cannot close my eyes without seeing his damned face. If only it had been a dream.' This collection showcases the budding talent and fierce imagination of Daphne du Maurier, before she went on to write one of the most beloved novels of all time. In these tales of human frailty and obsession, a waterlogged notebook washes ashore, revealing a dark story of jealousy and passion; a vicar coaches a young couple divided by class issues and an older man falls perilously in love with a much younger woman. Each tale demonstrates du Maurier's extraordinary storytelling gifts and her deep understanding of human nature. 'She wrote exciting plots, she was highly skilled at arousing suspense' GUARDIAN 'One of the last century's most original literary talents' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Du Maurier employs well the assured balancing of uncanny possibilities ... and the bitterly wry sense of absurdity that were to characterise her finest fiction' HELEN TAYLOR, INDEPENDENT"

Daphne du Maurier (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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The Breaking Point and Other Stories

"FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCA. 'The apathy of Sunday lay upon the streets. Houses were closed, withdrawn. 'They don't know,' he thought, 'those people inside, how one gesture of mine, now, at this minute, might alter their world. A knock on the door, and someone answers - a woman yawning, an old man in carpet slippers, a child sent by its parents in irritation; and according to what I will, what I decide, their whole future will be decided . . . Sudden murder. Theft. Fire.' It was as simple as that.' In this collection of suspenseful tales in which fantasies, murderous dreams and half-forgotten worlds are exposed, Daphne du Maurier explores the boundaries of reality and imagination. Her characters are caught at those moments when the delicate link between reason and emotion has been stretched to the breaking point. Often chilling, sometimes poignant, these stories display the full range of Daphne du Maurier's considerable talent. 'In this collection, Daphne du Maurier's peerless craftmanship, her eerie sense of the macabre, her gift for sheer story telling come to full fruition' KIRKUS REVIEWS 'She wrote exciting plots ... a writer of fearless originality' PATRICK MCGRATH, GUARDIAN 'The appeal of romance and the clash of highly-charged emotions' NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE"

Daphne du Maurier (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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After Midnight: Thirteen Chilling Tales for the Dark Hours

"INTRODUCED BY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER STEPHEN KING A STUNNING COLLECTION OF DAPHNE DU MAURIER'S THIRTEEN DARKEST STORIES - INCLUDING 'THE BIRDS' AND 'DON'T LOOK NOW' Amid the reflections and twisting alleyways of Venice, a grieving couple are haunted by the past. On a sharp December day, the wind changes - and the birds begin to gather. A group of wartime scientists attempt to capture the power of death, an eye operation reveals a monstrous reality, and a woman returns home to find she doesn't exist. From murderous desires to supernatural forces, du Maurier's masterful short stories stare into the dark heart of our relationships: between men and women, humanity and nature, love and obsession, the future and the past. Whatever you do, don't look now . . ."

Daphne du Maurier (Author), Cecilia Appiah, Elliot Cowan, Hattie Morahan, Jeff Harding, Matt Addis, Owen Findlay, Ruth Lass, Sam Marks (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pictures of You

"From Australia’s master storyteller comes this retrospective of his best short stories from the past two decades. Pictures of You: Collected Stories brings together the best of acclaimed writer Tony Birch’s short fiction. Cherrypicking from across his oeuvre, this anthology showcases his skills at finding the extraordinary in ordinary lives, and the often-unexpected connections and kindnesses between strangers. His work is by turns poignant, sad, profound and funny – and always powerful. Throughout this stellar collection, Birch’s preoccupation with the humanity of those who are often marginalised or overlooked, and the search for justice for people and the natural environment shines bright."

Tony Birch (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood

Roy Merkin (Author), Roy Merkin (Narrator)

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The Twelve Days of Christmas

"Brought to you by Penguin. The air glitters with hope as the snowy village of Merrywake celebrates the Christmas season after the tumult of the Napoleonic Wars. As the Viscount’s famous Twelfth Night Ball draws closer, many of the villagers have a story to tell – we meet a lovelorn vicar and kindly maid reunited after a misunderstanding, three sisters vying for the hand of a dastardly duke, two servants hiding a dangerous secret and a solider making his way home, unsure of the welcome he might receive. As their tales braid together, we see life and love in the village from belowstairs to high society. Reimagining each of the traditional carol's gifts, and written in tribute to Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, The Twelve Days of Christmas is a collection of festive tales filled with seasonal cheer and heart-warming characters. Will the challenges and mysteries that the Viscount’s guests encounter be resolved by the night of the ball? © Susan Stokes-Chapman 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Susan Stokes-Chapman (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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The Best Short Stories 2025: The O. Henry Prize Winners

"The prestigious annual story anthology, featuring prize-winning stories by a diverse and exciting array of writers, including Wendell Berry, Alice Hoffman, Dave Eggers, Ling Ma, Lori Ostlund, and Anthony Marra. Continuing a century-long tradition of cutting-edge literary excellence, this year's edition contains twenty prizewinning stories chosen from the thousands published in magazines over the previous year. Guest editor Edward P. Jones has brought his own refreshing perspective to the prize, selecting stories by an engaging mix of celebrated names and emerging voices. The winning stories are accompanied by an introduction by Jones, observations from the winning writers on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines that publish short fiction. THE WINNING STORIES "The Stackpole Legend," Wendell Berry "The Arrow," Gina Chung "That Girl," Addie Citchens "The Pleasure of a Working Life," Michael Deagler "Blackbirds," Lindsey Drager "Hearing Aids," Clyde Edgerton "Sanrevelle," Dave Eggers "Stump of the World," Madeline ffitch "Shotgun Calypso," Indya Finch "City Girl," Alice Hoffman "Sickled," Jane Kalu "The Spit of Him," Thomas Korsgaard, translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken "Winner," Ling Ma "Countdown," Anthony Marra "Just Another Family," Lori Ostlund "Mornings at the Ministry," Ehsaneh Sadr "Rosaura at Dawn," Daniel Saldaña París, translated from the Spanish by Christina MacSweeney "Three Niles," Zak Salih "Strange Fruit," Yah Yah Scholfield "Miracle in Lagos Traffic," Chika Unigwe"

Edward P. Jones (Author), Abigail Reno, Angel Pean, Ari Fliakos, Chandler Gregoire, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Heni Zoutomou, JD Jackson, Kaleo Griffith, Michelle H. Lee, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Philip Hernandez, Rebecca Lowman (Narrator)

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It Was the Way She Said It: Short Stories, Essays, and Wisdom

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Waiting to Exhale comes a remarkable, career-spanning collection of short fiction and essays about love, aging, culture and all the things in between. For the first time, a single volume brings together renowned author Terry McMillan's previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works. Before McMillan found success as a novelist in the early 1990s, she published provocative, boundary-pushing short stories, capturing the struggles and triumphs of Black life in America with vitality and honesty, from the workaday factory man's malaise in "The End" to the cast-aside lover's resolve in "Touching" to the elderly woman's wiles in "Ma'Dear." McMillan's inimitable voice bravely explores the dark corners of human relationships with compassion, humor, and nuance. This collection also features five unpublished stories that reveal how she wrestled with controversial topics rarely addressed in short fiction, from domestic abuse in "Mama, Take Another Step" to extreme poverty in "Can't Close My Eyes to It." Whether she's revealing life lessons, pontificating about aging, recalling her sources of inspiration, or laying bare the beginnings of her life as a writer, McMillan approaches every piece with enduring candor, wit, and fearlessness. Devoted fans and new readers alike will be delighted to discover these treasures spanning McMillan's long, groundbreaking career. Indeed, it wasn't only what Terry McMillan has said that made her so beloved . . . it was the way she said it."

Terry McMillan (Author), Christopher Grant, Robin Miles (Narrator)

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Burning Chrome

"Tautly-written and suspenseful, BURNING CHROME collects 10 of William Gibson’s best short stories with a preface from Bruce Sterling, co-Cyberpunk and editor of the seminal anthology MIRRORSHADES. These brilliant, high-resolution stories show Gibson's characters and intensely-realized worlds at his absolute best. Contains 'Johnny Mnemonic' (filmed starring Keanu Reeves) and title story 'Burning Chrome' - both nominated for the Nebula Award - as well as the Hugo-and-Nebula-nominated stories 'Dogfight' and 'The Winter Market'."

William Gibson (Author), Oliver James Parkins, William Hope (Narrator)

Audiobook

Short Stories Audiobooks in Literature