The Classic Tales Podcast

B.J. Harrison
  • 4.7 (2.4K)
  • FICTION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Classic Tales Podcast

Every week, join award-winning narrator B.J. Harrison as he narrates the greatest stories the world has ever known. From the jungles of South America to the Mississippi Delta, from Victorian England to the sands of the Arabian desert, join us on a fantastic journey through the words of the world's greatest authors. Critically-acclaimed and highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story with plenty of substance.

  1. Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving VINTAGE

    1D AGO

    Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving VINTAGE

    How will the world change after Rip Van Winkle’s 20 year nap? Washington Irving, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps. Thank you so much.   Irving wrote Rip Van Winkle when he was temporarily residing in Birmingham, England. Though the story is set in New York’s Catskill Mountains, Irving admitted, “at the time I wrote the story, I had never been on the Catskills.”   And now, Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving   Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

    42 min
  2. The Wife of the Kenite, by Agatha Christie

    5D AGO

    The Wife of the Kenite, by Agatha Christie

    A political agitator gets a biblical reception in the veldt of South Africa. Agatha Christie, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps. Thank you so much.   Agatha Christie has sold over 100 million books. Her works have been translated into over 100 languages. She was a nurse and later an apothecary’s assistant in World War I, where she gained her knowledge of poisons.   Today’s story first appeared in the September 1922 issue of The Home: An Australian Quarterly. It was likely written when Christie was in Australia during her Grand Tour, having recently left South Africa, where she set the story. After the first World War, an ex-German soldier who has taken to being a paid political agitator flees for his life after some political work near Johannesburg.   And now, The Wife of the Kenite, by Agatha Christie   Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

    21 min
  3. Dr. Ox's Experiment, Part 2 of 2, by Jules Verne VINTAGE

    MAR 25

    Dr. Ox's Experiment, Part 2 of 2, by Jules Verne VINTAGE

    What will happen to the innocent villagers when Dr. Ox begins his experiment? Jules Verne, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps.   Last week, we met Dr. Ox, who graciously offered to light the town of Quiquendone at his own expense, pumping in a unique gas of his own invention. It’s time to turn it on.   And now, Dr. Ox’s Experiment, Part 2 of 2, by Jules Verne   Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

    52 min
  4. The Room in the Tower, by E.F. Benson

    MAR 21

    The Room in the Tower, by E.F. Benson

    Have you ever dreamed something, and then it happened in reality? E.F. Benson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps.   Edward Frederic Benson is often mentioned in the same breath as M.R. James and William Hope Hodgson, and holds a distinct place as one of the great writers of supernatural fiction in the Edwardian period. Today’s story is one of his finest.   Benson plays with the connection between dreams and reality, and builds the tension through the device of a recurring dream, with a progression of time that mirrors reality.   As with last week’s story, I was getting vibes from the original Twilight Zone when I read this one. I hope you like it.   And now, The Room in the Tower, by E.F. Benson   Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

    37 min
  5. Dr. Ox's Experiment, Part 1 of 2, by Jules VerneVINTAGE

    MAR 18

    Dr. Ox's Experiment, Part 1 of 2, by Jules VerneVINTAGE

    Why does Dr. Ox offer to light the town with a mysterious gas at his own expense? Jules Verne, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps.   We kind of have a feeling when we think about Jules Verne. Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Lots of fun, sometimes predictive adventure fiction that leaves us feeling good, and a little bit smarter. Today’s story is in this vein. I hope you like it.   And now, Dr. Ox’s Experiment, Part 1 of 2, by Jules Verne   Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

    1h 29m
  6. Basil Netherby, by A. C. Benson

    MAR 14

    Basil Netherby, by A. C. Benson

    Can music unlock an entrance to the netherworld? A.C. Benson, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps.   While many have heard of E.F. Benson, the early 20th century writer of weird fiction, many readers may not know that he was one of three brothers – all of whom wrote some stellar supernatural stories around the Edwardian period. Edward Frederic (E.F.), Robert Hugh (R.H.), and Arthur Christopher (A.C.) wrote over 150 books between them. Many of them stellar stories of suspense in their own right.   When I discovered today’s story, I felt like I was reading an episode of the original Twilight Zone. I hope you like it.   And now, Basil Netherby, by A.C. James   Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

    1h 14m
  7. The Turn of the Screw, Part 3 of 3, by Henry James VINTAGE

    MAR 11

    The Turn of the Screw, Part 3 of 3, by Henry James VINTAGE

    The tale takes the final turn of the screw. Henry James, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to this Vintage Episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps.   Today we conclude The Turn of the Screw. I hope you like it. .   And now, The Turn of the Screw, Part 3 of 3, by Henry James   Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

    1h 16m
  8. The Letter, by W. Somerset Maugham

    MAR 7

    The Letter, by W. Somerset Maugham

    A shot rings out, waking the household. A man stumbles out the front door followed by a dowdy woman with a revolver who shoots him again and again. W. Somerset Maugham, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   If you’d like to ensure the future of The Classic Tales, please visit the website, classictalesaudiobooks.com, and either make a donation, buy an audiobook, or pick up one of our many support options.   And if you can’t support us monetarily, leave us a review or share an episode with a friend. It all helps.   Today’s story was originally written in 1922, appearing in a collection of stories that came from Maugham’s travels in the Malay provinces. The racism in the story can be hard on the modern ear, but reflects the views of the time. Maugham uses racism as a literary device to fuel the tension in the story, to show the prejudices of the British toward the people they are exploiting. It also demonstrates how the native people in the region resent the British. So, if you’re feeling a bit uncomfortable, it’s by design.   This is one of Maugham’s most famous short stories, and the 1940 Bette Davis film is an excellent adaptation.     And now, The Letter, by W. Somerset Maugham.       Follow this link to become a monthly supporter:     Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:     Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:       Follow this link to follow us on TikTok:

    1h 22m
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
2,422 Ratings

About

Every week, join award-winning narrator B.J. Harrison as he narrates the greatest stories the world has ever known. From the jungles of South America to the Mississippi Delta, from Victorian England to the sands of the Arabian desert, join us on a fantastic journey through the words of the world's greatest authors. Critically-acclaimed and highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story with plenty of substance.

Information

  • Creator
    B.J. Harrison
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2025
  • Episodes
    419
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Performance Copyright 2024
  • Show Website
    The Classic Tales Podcast

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