Pop stars were not supposed to get married. When his then girlfriend, Cyn, became pregnant John Lennon reluctantly decided to break the old showbiz rule. Manager Brian Epstein was the unlikely best man and there were numerous no-shows, including Aunt Mimi, most of Cyn's family and the new Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr. There was no photographer so Cynthia did an illustration, complete with the 'ear-splitting' pneumatic drill that drowned out their vows

ESOL Extras

The First Beatles Wedding

Why did the owners of Titanic not provide more lifeboats? Were they breaking the law

Why were there not enough lifeboats on Titanic?

Things you might not know about the world's most spoken language.

Ten Fun Facts About the English Language

Opening of classic Anthony Hope adventure story (1893) retold for audio. Rudolf Rassendyll, an underemployed London playboy, decides to attend the coronation of his distant cousin, Rudolf Elphberg, in Ruritania.  By a strange quirk of genetics, the two Rudolfs look like identical twins.

The Prisoner of Zenda:  1. Rassendylls and Elphbergs

The first meeting of Holmes and Watson, adapted for audio. With linked learning materials here: https://esolepacks.com/sherlock-holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Doctor Watson Meets Sherlock Holmes

The narrator climbs down onto the line to join the signalman. "I looked at his staring eyes and gloomy face. A terrible thought came into my mind. Perhaps this was a ghost, not a man!"

2. Strange_meeting

Opening of classic Katherine Anne Porter's classic 'very autobiographical' story of a doomed romance during the Spanish flu pandemic. Abridged and adapted for audio - complete (adapted) story free read with link to original text here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhc453x

Pale Horse, Pale Rider

New illustrated adaptation of the Doctor Dolittle stories, based on 
The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920) by Hugh Lofting. The stories were originally created for letters Lofting wrote to his children during the First World War.

This episode has Doctor Dolittle accompanying Toggle the Horse at an optician's appointment. Linked to text and worksheet here: https://doctor-dolittle.englishforyounglearners.org/eye_test.html

Doctor Dolittle - Toggle's Eye Test

Classic coming of age tale in a Dublin seaside suburb in 1920. Nancy Gulliver writes her diary on her eighteenth birthday as the world changes around her.

The Old Jest by Jennifer Johnston 1.1 Eighteenth Birthday

All his life George Harrison celebrated his birthday on February 25th. In the 1990s rumours spread of a 'hospital document' proving that this was a mistake.

George Harrison birthday mystery

A spooky country ballad telling the story of love beyond the grave. A young man unjustly hanged watches a woman dressed in black visiting his grave. He explains he was offered him the chance to escape the gallows: 
"The judge said, "Son, what is your alibi?
If you were somewhere else then you won't have to die"
But the narrator prefers death to dishonour:
"I spoke not a word though it meant my life
For I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife

Though set in a mythical Wild West , The Long Black Veil was in fact  written by in the late 1950s by two Nashville songwriters Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin.  Wilkin had in fact been a young war widow herself, while the lyricist Dill aimed to create an 'instant folk song' for Lefty Frizzell, a country legend trying to emerge from a long fallow patch. 

Frizzell duly had a major hit with The Long Black Veil in 1959. Numerous country versions quickly followed and it became a favourite of Johnny Cash. He performed the song on the first episode of The Johnny Cash Show in 1969, in an unlikely duet with Joni Mitchell. 

The Band recorded it on their legendary first studio album, Music From Big Pink and played it at Woodstock. Bob Dylan performed a version of the song in 1970, as an outtake to the Self Portrait/New Morning sessions. This version was finally officially released on the Bob Dylan 1970 compilation in 2020, fifty years after the recording. 

Other notable recording include a collaboration between Mick Jagger and the Irish traditional group The Chieftans, on an album of covers called Long Black Veil. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for also do a version for their 1986 covers album Kicking Against the Pricks.

I first recorded the song on a tenor ukulele. For this take I switched to a baritone to get a softer sound.

Lyrics and listening comprehension teaching activity here eslreading.org/long_black_veil

The Long Black Veil

Final part of classic Stephen Crane tragi-comedy of the old West, adapted for audio. Scratchy Wilson roams Yellow Sky, drunk and dangerous, in search of old nemesis, town marshall, Jack Potter. Potter has just returned from San Antonio with his new bride.

Text of this version free to download here: https://www.eslreading.org/bride_comes_to_yellow_sky.html

Adapted fromThe Bride Comes to Yellow Sky first published in McClure’s Magazine, February 1898 here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.loa.org/images/pdf/Crane_Bride_Yellow_Sky.pdf

The Bride Comes to  Yellow Sky - Part 3: Showdown

Part Two of Stephen Crane's tragi-comedy of the old West, adapted for audio. In the The Weary Gentlemen saloon they await the return of town marshall Jack Potter. Meanwhile news arrives that Scratchy Wilson is drunk and looking for trouble.

Complete original & adapted adapted text free to download here: https://www.eslreading.org/bride_comes_to_yellow_sky.html

The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky - Part 2

Part One of Stephen Crane tragi-comic elegy for the old West, adapted for audio. Marshall Jack Potter is returning to his home town with his new bride on a Pullman train. He is anxious about the reception he will receive.

Complete original & adapted text free to download here: https://www.eslreading.org/bride_comes_to_yellow_sky.html

The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky - Part 1

Opening of a classic story from The innocence of Father Brown by G.K Chesterton (1911). A cafe customer makes a very surprising proposal in a Camden Town cafe.

Condensed for audio in four parts - total duration around fifteen minutes.  Complete adapted version & link to original all free here: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/the-invisible-man-67fdcec84292

The Invisible Man  by G.K Chesterton - Part 1

Angus & Smythe team up to try and find Welkin. At Smythe's flat there is another disturbing message. Angus goes to fetch Father Brown. Smythe stays  in his apartment with his strange mechanical dolls.

Condensed for audio in four parts - total duration around fifteen minutes.  Complete adapted version & link to original all free here: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/the-invisible-man-67fdcec84292

The Invisible Man by G.K Chesterton -  Part 3

First part of The Lady with the Little Dog (1899) Chekhov's most famous story. 

Dmitri Gurov is nearly forty. He has a successful career and a young family but is bored and dissatisfied - with his wife and the direction of his life.   

Holidaying alone, Gurov meets a mysterious young woman - 'the lady with the little dog'  

Free illustrated transcript:  ⁠https://tinyurl.com/3wu6kbaz
Read the complete original story at Project Gutenberg: https://tinyurl.com/ycxactya⁠.

My adaptation has stayed very close to the Constance Garnett translation — changes mostly for length, though I have replaced the infamous phrase ''an inferior race' to 'an inferior sex' as that is what is meant in context.

Ten Minute Tales

The Lady with the Little Dog by Anton Chekhov

A comic story about a bell-ringer with a very unusual method

Ringing Bells - part one

“Arsène Lupin is on board your ship.” A telegram to a transatlantic liner alarms passengers sailing first class.

The Arrest Of Arsène Lupin is the opening chapter of Lupin, the Gentleman Thief, by Maurice Leblanc (1907) the first outing for the most famous anti-hero in French literature. 

This version has been adapted for audio shorter than the original but stays close to the spirit of the text. Adapted text free to access here: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/arrest-of-arsène-lupin-part-1-4fa63453416f

The Arrest Of Arsène Lupin

Story behind the unlikely 1963 Mercer & Mancini Oscar-winner and jazz standard. Linked to text with YouTube, clips and Spotify playlist here: https://medium.com/song-stories/days-of-wine-and-roses-77c790266bb1.

The Days of Wine and Roses - Song Story

A stranger comes to the Admiral Benbow looking for 'my mate, Bill'. From Chapter II Black Dog Appears & Disappears of  adapted version of Treasure Island - linked to  teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/chapter_2.html

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - Chapter II

Jim's father dies, the captain weakens and another mysterious shipmate arrives at the Admiral Benbow. Linked to teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/part_one.html

Treasure Island - Chapter III - The Black Spot

Thirteen-year-old Jack Howkins lives with his mother and sick father at the Admiral Benbow in a remote Cornish cove. One day a strange old seaman arrives, dragging an old sea chest behind him.... From Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (adapted for audio). Complete adapted text & audio with links to original text and teaching materials: https://treasureisland.eslreading.org/

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - Chapter I - The Old Sea Dog

Jim and his mother are alone with the dead captain in the Admiral Benbow. While they are searching the sea chest they hear the sound of Blind Pew retruning. Linked to teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/part_one.html

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - Chapter IV: The Seaman's chest

Blind Pew returns with his gang to the Admiral Benbow, while Jim & his mother hide nearby. Linked to teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/part_one.html

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson -  Chapter V: Last of the Blind men

Jim meets Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney. They open the captain's sealed papers. Adapted from Chapter VI: The Captain's Papers. Linked to script, worksheets and other free teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/part_one.html

Treasure Island - Chapter 6 - Robert Louis Stevenson

The Hispaniola sets sail. First Mate Mr Arrow is drunk and then disappears. Long John Silver befriends Jim - who then hears him say something that means great danger.
Linked to script, worksheets and other free teaching materials here: https://treasureisland.eslreading.org/part_two.html

Treasure Island - Chapter X - Voyage

The concluding chapters of Part Two adapted from CHAPTER  XI What I heard in the apple barrel & CHAPTER XII  Council of War. As the Hispaniola approaches Treasure Island, Jim is shocked to overhear Long John's secret plan while hiding in the apple barrel. Jim passes on the information to Doctor Livesey, Trelawney and Captain Smollett. Linked to teaching materials here: nhttps://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/part_two.htm

Treasure Island - XI-XII

Adapted from Chapter 13. HOW MY SHORE ADVENTURE BEGAN the opening chapter of PART THREE: MY SHORESIDE ADVENTURE. The Hispaniola drops anchor off Treasure Island and the mood on ship turns ugly. Fearing imminent mutiny Captain Smollett allows Silver to organise an expeditionary trip ashore. Jim makes a fateful decision

Linked to free teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/parts_three_four.html

Treasure Island XIII-Robert Louis Stevenson

Adapted from Chapter 20. (XXVIII SILVER"S EMBASSY). Silver approaches the stockade with a proposal. Captain Smollett answers him with an alternative plan. Linked free teaching materials: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading.org/parts_three_four.html

Ch.20 - Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

Adapted from Chapter 28. (XXVI IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP). The stockade has been captured and Jim is in a desperate situation. Only Silver can save him. Linked to free teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading...

Treasure Island-C.28

Adapted from Chapter 29. (XXVIII THE BLACK SPOT AGAIN). The pirates give the Black Spot to their leader - but he has 'another shot in his locker'. Linked to free teaching materials here: https://www.treasureisland.eslreading...

Ch.29 - Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

Extract from classic story/novella set in early 1950s London. In this passage the young narrator goes to a slightly seedy dance hall where the band "are at it like cats on dustbins and tearing their guts out." Soundtrack: Sing Sing Sing (here performed by the BBC Big Band).

When My Girl Comes Home by V.S. Pritchett

Story behind classic country song, written after a conversation with a garden centre. Recorded by George Jones and later covered by Elvis Costello. Iincludes interview excerpts from writer Jerry Chesnut, in which he sings the bridge and explains how the song evolved. Linked to this story https://medium.com/song-stories/good-year-for-the-roses-6c3c458dc87f  (3 min read)

A Good Year for the Roses - Song Story

Many years ago I adapted a story we all know.  This is a shortened, simplified version of the opening chapter is based on my text. You won't take long to work out the original source - story here: https://tinyurl.com/4p8ds44n (free five minute read)

The Night Water

An obscure Caribbean dance tune in a flop Broadway musical, Begin the Beguine was not initially picked up by radio stations or band leaders. Then the young Artie Shaw recorded what would become one of the best selling songs of all time. But why did one eminent music critic hate it?  Linked to this five minute free read on Medium: https://medium.com/song-stories/begin-the-beguine-19b9ad73dc00

How the Beguine Began - Song Story of Cole Porter Classic

Joseph Davranche tells the bittersweet tale of his black-sheep brother forced to leave Le Havre for exile in America. Classic Maupassant story (1883) adapted for audio in three five-minute parts. The illustrated adapted text is free to access here: https://medium.com/best-short-stories/my-uncle-jules-part-one-90551f83efec

My Uncle Jules by Guy de Maupassant - Part 1

The Davranche family wait for news from `uncle Jules. Suitors are sought for Joseph's sisters. Classic Maupassant story adapted for audio in three five minute parts. Adapted text here: https://medium.com/best-short-stories/my-uncle-jules-part-two-29a1310e2b64

My Uncle Jules by Guy de Maupassant - Part 2

The Davranche family react to sensational news about Uncle Jules.. Final part of a classic Maupassant story adapted for audio. Complete adapted text here: https://eslreading.medium.com/my-uncle-jules-part-two-29a1310e2b64

My Uncle Jules by Guy de Maupassant - Part 3

Fettes turned towards us. ‘You don’t know how dangerous that man Macfarlane is!’ he said. ‘What I am going to tell you must never leave this room.’

Robert Louis Stevenson's short story The Body Snatcher is based on a 'grave robbing' scandal in 1820s Edinburgh. This version is abridged  and adapted for audio. Links to complete text (original & adapted) audio & activities here: https://www.eslreading.org/the_body_snatcher.html

Kieran Mcgovern Reading)

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