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LitReading - Classic Short Stories

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LitReading - Classic Short Stories and Timeless Tales

Latest episodes

To Build a Fire – a Classic Short Story by Jack London

February 10, 2026 · 47 min

Set in the frozen Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, it follows a man traveling alone through temperatures so extreme they defy ordinary experience. Confident in his judgment and dismissive of risk, he presses forward—unaware of how…
In My Dreams – An Original Short Story by Don McDonald

February 3, 2026 · 24 min

Here is a quiet story about love that arrives too late, and lingers in unexpected ways. About two people who find each other where they never expected to meet. And what it means to hold on, even when you know you can’t. Please check out…
The Necklace – A Classic Short Story by Guy De Maupassant

January 27, 2026 · 12 min

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant is a classic tale of ambition, illusion, and unintended consequences. In this short, elegant story, a young woman’s desire for wealth and status leads her down a path she never expected. A quiet…
The Right Call – An Original Short Story by Don McDonald

January 16, 2026 · 20 min

This is a special presentation of my original short story, “The Right Call,” first released on my companion podcast, New Tales Told. For now, I’ll be sharing my new stories here on Litreading as well—so you can hear them easily, without…
The Bet – A Classic Short Story by Anton Chekov

January 13, 2026 · 20 min

The Bet is a devastating meditation on freedom, knowledge, money, and the illusions we cling to when we mistake intellect for wisdom and wealth for meaning. Sparse, icy, and quietly explosive, this story leaves no one untouched—not the…

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The Eternal Code — A Special Presentation of an Original Short Story

January 7, 2026 · 37 min

This is a special presentation of my new original short story, "The Eternal Code," first released on my companion podcast, New Tales Told. Until the new podcast finds its audience, I will continue to post my original stories at Litreading…
Litreading – Classic Short Stories Live On

January 1, 2026 · 1 min

Every story you've ever loved learned it from somewhere. The plot twist, the heartbreak, the monster in the dark—somebody wrote it first. Narrator Don McDonald brings classic literature back to life, read out loud the way it was meant to…
An Angel in Disguise by T.S. Arthur

November 20, 2025 · 19 min

Without individual compassion, the good, old days were rarely good for orphaned or disabled children. We are expanding our universe of short story podcasts on our new podcast channel, Short StoryVerses. Listen to some of Don's new…
A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce

November 19, 2025 · 19 min

Early in the US Civil War, families, particularly those in the western part of Virginia (now the state of West Virginia), were torn apart over conflicting loyalties. This story is a fictional account of one young soldier who chose to fight…
The Law of Life – a Classic Short Story by Jack London

November 18, 2025 · 20 min

Jack London takes us into the frozen silence of the Yukon and leaves us beside an aging chief who has reached the appointed end of his trail. As the tribe moves on, Old Koskoosh remains behind with only a small fire, a dwindling stack of…
The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame

November 13, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

Not all dragons are fire breathing monsters bent on destruction. We are expanding our universe of short story podcasts on our new podcast channel, Short StoryVerses. Listen to some of Don's new, original short stories on the "New Tales…
Old Well-Well by Zane Grey

November 12, 2025 · 25 min

Professional baseball in United States dates back more than 150 years. It has been considered the great American sport since the 19th century. Popular sports attract rabid fans as was the case even back in 1910 when Zane Grey wrote Old…

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About the show

Litreading delivers classic short stories—carefully selected, beautifully narrated, and updated every week. From Poe to Twain, O. Henry to Wharton, each episode presents a complete tale in a clean, immersive performance lasting anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. These timeless stories are read with clarity, warmth, and just enough character to bring them fully to life. Litreading is part of Short Storyverses (shortstoryverses.com), a growing collection of podcasts devoted to exceptional storytelling. Explore New Tales Told—our companion series of original stories inspired by the tone and spirit of the classics; Season’s Readings to brighten your holidays any time of year; FRIGHTLY! for tales of terror; and Readastorus for for younger listeners. Search for all of these titles wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.