The Three Hermits

The Three Hermits: Short story by Leo TolstoyIn this story by Leo Tolstoy, a bishop of the Roman Orthodox Church schools three devout hermits seeking salvation by living alone on a deserted island in reciting the Lord’s Prayer. He claims that although that their own prayer ‘Three are ye, three are we, have mercy upon us.’ encompasses the essence of Christianity, it is insufficient to please God. The bishop is humbled and admits his mistake when they miraculously follow him by gliding across the sea, having forgotten the words. Themes include humility and devotion, religious dogma vs. faith, the nature of prayer.

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A Horse in the Moon

A Horse in the Moon: Short story by Luigi PirandelloThis story by Luigi Pirandello opens with a wedding feast in which guests are concerned for the innocent, vivacious Italian bride. Although wealthy, the Sicilian groom appears physically and mentally ill. After seeing the guests off, the groom tries to hurry his new wife inside. She objects and, while heading towards the nearby village, they come across a dying horse. On seeing his reaction, she realizes the marriage was a mistake. A medical episode and vision he has as the moon rises behind the horse solves the problem for her. Themes include naivety, marriage, madness, suffering, compassion, death, culture clash.

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What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love: Short story by Raymond CarverThe power of this minimalist story from Raymond Carver about the difficulty of defining “real” love lies in its realism. The two couples involved in the alcohol-fueled conversation are not experts; each member has experienced a failed marriage. None of them can describe love, but they do manage to give examples of what it is and isn’t, and what can go wrong when it ends. The mood darkens along with the emptying bottle, and by story’s end all four are too despondent to move. Themes: the nature of love, the limits of language, marriage and divorce, alcohol abuse.

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The False Prince and True

The False Prince and True: Portuguese folktale from Andrew LangThis Portuguese folktale begins with a king learning about an argument between his son and a young nobleman on a tennis court. The prince spoke rudely to the noble, who lost his temper and hit him. Although the king is angrier with his son for not fighting back than the noble, hitting the prince is punishable by death. The only way the noble can save himself is to marry a very ugly, very old woman. As is often the case in folktales, there is a lot of magic around and some surprises are on the way for all involved.

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The Eyes Have It / The Girl on the Train

The Eyes Have It / Girl on the Train: Short story by Ruskin BondIn this story by Ruskin Bond, a blind man sitting in an empty train carriage is joined by a young woman. He is attracted by the sound of her voice as she farewells her family, and even the sound of her slippers. As he initiates a conversation, he decides to conceal the fact that he is blind. This extends to pretending to look out the window and describe the passing countryside. He is successful, only to learn after the woman exits the train that she is also blind. Themes include independence, loneliness, desire, self-consciousness, pretence, perception vs. reality.

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To Build a Fire

To Build a Fire: Short story by Jack LondonJack London is one of the leading authors in a literary style called “naturalism”. Such stories deal with the unforgiving power of nature and man’s struggle for survival. To Build a Fire takes place in the frozen wilds of Alaska. A poorly prepared prospector decides to return to his camp in dangerously cold weather conditions, ignoring advice from more experienced men never to travel through the snow alone. A single foolish mistake brings disaster and the most comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known. Themes include survival (man vs. nature), listening to advice, preparedness, instinct vs. intellect, death.

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Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution: Short story by Agatha ChristieThis classic crime thriller from Agatha Christie is better known for its screen and theater adaptions than the short story upon which they are based. There is no Hercule Poirot type detective here. The man charged with finding evidence to free a prisoner he is convinced was wrongly arrested for murder is a dogged solicitor. Things look grim when the man’s wife agrees to testify against him. Fortunately, a letter delivered the day before the trial leads to critical evidence that frees the man. Strangely, the solicitor is unlikely to be happy with the outcome. Themes: justice, deception, betrayal, perception.

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This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona

This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona: Short story by Sherman AlexieIn this story by Sherman Alexie a young Native-American man enlists the help of a boyhood friend he had grown away from to go on a road trip to bring back his father’s ashes. The focus of the story is the relationship between the two, and how it reflects growing individual and cultural disconnection among tribal Native-Americans. The other man’s help is not in recognition of their former friendship, but rather out of obligation for a deed of kindness once performed by the dead man. Themes include poverty, storytelling, friendship, alienation, loneliness, forgiveness, decline of Native-American culture.

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