Classic short texts  adapted for audio. Selection includes complete stories by Dickens, Chekhov, Maupassant, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edith Wharton, E Nesbit, M.R. James, Katherine Anne Porter and other great writers. Plus self contained extracts from Diary of a Nobody, Three Men in a Boat and other famous works.

Classic Stories

Brief description of the ship that sailed from Southampton in April 1912. Linked to learning activities here: https://esolepacks.com/titanic

ESOL Extras

About RMS Titanic

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

Ten Fun Facts About the English Language

There are no formal rules for pronouncing French words in English - but there are conventions. Most words approximate to the original but some are anglicised

English Language FAQ

Pronouncing French Words in English

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

City have reached the FA Cup Final for the first time. Matthew plans to be there at Wembley Stadium with his team. Then his mother brings him some very bad news:

This new edition of The Big Match (phoenix) is aimed at older children. This extract is from the opening of the complete audio book & text. It is accompanied by a full range of learning activities.

The Big Match

The final part of the spine chilling M.R James ghost story 'Whistle and I'll Come to You" adapted for audio. 

Complete adapted text: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/whistle-and-i-ll-come-to-you-488f1b1dee64 (aprox 10 min read)
Complete original text: https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/jamesmr-ohwhistle/jamesmr-ohwhistle-00-h.html (aprox 30 min read)
Free teaching resources here: https://www.eslreading.org/ghost/whistle_and_I_will-come.html

5. Unearthly

Adapted opening of the classic M.R James ghost story 'Whistle and I'll Come to You". Professor Parkins is about to go to a remote coastal town for a winter holiday. A colleague tells him about a strange chapel ruin. 

Complete adapted text: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/whistle-and-i-ll-come-to-you-488f1b1dee64 (aprox 10 min read)
Complete original text: https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/jamesmr-ohwhistle/jamesmr-ohwhistle-00-h.html (aprox 30 min read)
Free teaching resources here: https://www.eslreading.org/ghost/whistle_and_I_will-come.html

Ghost Stories

1. Professor_Parkins

The remarkable story of Dickens and a major train disaster.

Dickens_Train_Disaster

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

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

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

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

Gurov back in Moscow after Yalta (short extension of Part 2).
Free illustrated transcript:  ⁠https://tinyurl.com/3wu6kbaz
Read the complete original story at Project Gutenberg: https://tinyurl.com/ycxactya⁠.

Nabakov called The Lady with the Little Dog (1899) "One of the greatest short stories ever written" Vladimir Nabokov
My adaptation stays very close to the original Constance Garnett translation and the  original four part structure (I-IV) . Changes are mostly for length and the clarity of the storyline. For more on some of the social nuances - Anna’s dismissal of her husband as a ‘lackey’ for example - I would advise going onto the original text: https://tinyurl.com/ycxactya⁠.


The Night Water

Kieran Mcgovern Reading)

Related tracks