Great American Stories: 10 Unabridged Classics

Great Classic Stories (BBC Audio)

by Ambrose Bierce, Jack London, Stephen Crane

These ten treasured stories from the most influential authors of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are selected for their literary importance as well as their dramatic, oral qualities. The following stories are included in this "The One Million Pound Bank Note" by Mark Twain"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain"A Visit to Niagara" by Mark Twain"Mysterious Visit" by Mark Twain"The Blue Hotel" by Stephen Crane"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky" by Stephen Crane"The Eyes of the Panther" by Ambrose Bierce"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce"The Love of Life" by Jack London"To Build a Fire" by Jack London

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Classics, Literature, Short Story Collection, Audiobook

265 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

died perhaps 1914

Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.

People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.

The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."

People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.

Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.

Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.

Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"

Reviews

[Monica Rudio · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book of classic short stories and the Classic Ghost Stories Collection, I have noticed the word "ejaculation" has been collectively changed by common culture.
"Egad! He ejaculated!
"Stop! He ejaculated!

[Elena Santangelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 4 Mark Twain stories truly were great American stories.

The others? The 2 Steven Crane stories were westerns where every man was determined to fight with every other man. The 2nd story DID have a funny ending, though. The Ambrose Bierce stories were big into irony, with endings that were twists, though I thought "Eyes of the Panther" was completely predictable. The first Jack London story wasn't really a story--just a man dragging himself through the wilderness. I was yelling "Just die already!" by the end. I gave up before the 2nd London story.

If you can get this at the library, the 4 Mark Twains are worth it, and the reader is terrific. If not, you'd do better to spend your money on a volume of Mark Twain short stories and forget the others.

[Nikki Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories! I was surprised to find that I liked the two Jack London ones the best! (And the Mark Twain stories are always fun)

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This compilation was not for me. Ambrose Bierce is always worth checking out. Jack London is a terrific writer but his subject matter is of no interest to me. The narration was mostly very good.
"The One-Million Pound Bank Note" by Mark Twain, 3 stars. A well known tale of perceived wealth in British society.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Mark Twain, 2 stars.
A Visit to Niagara, Mark Twain, 2 stars. The woes of visiting a tourist trap.
A Mysterious Visit, Mark Twain, 1 star. Vanity and the revenuer.
The Blue Hotel, Stephen Crane, 1 star. Macho bullshit in the extreme.
The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky, Stephen Crane, 2 stars. Not for me.
The Eyes of the Panther, Ambrose Bierce, 4 stars. A classic.
The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce, 5 stars. (not my favorite narration)
Love of Life, Jack London, 1 star. Not for me.
To Build a Fire, Jack London, 3.5 stars for the writing.. Too unpleasant for me.

[Craig Amason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real value of these classic short stories is not so much in the plot. For me at least, sometimes the plot seems terribly dated or even a bit ridiculous. "The Blue Hotel" by Stephen Crane is an example. I would go as far as to say even character development is not the best trait of these stories, although Mark Twain is an absolute master at it. The treasure of these stories is found in the masterful use of language of the authors. They don't write sentences as much as they paint them. The level of descriptive detail they employ is difficult to find in modern writing. Their sophistication of vocabulary and the way they push the narrative along is just wonderful. Again, my favorite is Mark Twain. Nobody does it better, and he was equally talented at writing novels and nonfiction.

[Ksorb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-vetted collection of ten American adventure stories, very well read with subtle, measured, but dramatic power. I enjoyed all these stories! I had just finished two longer Jack London books, so this required little to no emotional segue! I appreciated the various authors' voices in the same genre in this collection of American wilderness/pioneering tales.

[Greg Pawlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

From hilarious Mark Twain to dramatic Jack London. Great audiobook. Listen to it before the PC police burns all copies!

[Marji Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the variety of these classic stories. I hadn't read any of them in a long time.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the Mark Twain stories and the Owl Creek Bridge story from Ambrose Bierce but didn't care for the other stories in the book.

[Kim Padan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the Mark Twain stories the most.

[Sara Tiede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turns out I don't actually like Stephen Crane or Ambrose Bierce, but I did really enjoy the Mark Twain ones, and I like Jack London. The readers for those authors both did an excellent job, as well.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories from three of the four authors included in this selection were fantastic. I really enjoyed the stories by Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce, and Jack London. Stephen Crane's two selections weren't terrible, but weren't as compelling as the other stories, during several of which I found myself sitting in the parking garage at work to hear the end of the story. Mark Twain's "Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," which I'd seen referenced many times, but had never read, was told in dialect and sounded like a grandfather sitting on a front porch telling a tale; Ambrose Bierce's "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" was chilling with it's Hitchcock-esque twist at the end; and Jack London's "To Build a Fire" made me turn up the heater in my car! Good stuff!

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't much experience with audiobooks but now that I have a long commute, I decided to give short stories on CD a try. I can't really say whether it was just the audio experience I wasn't a huge fan of or whether it was these stories. Either way, this collection didn't thrill me. I'm going to keep trying...!

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Usually I love short stories, but this collection was way to boy-centric for me I've never read any Jack London, and he had two stories included. One was about a man who almost starves to death. The second story was about a man who does freeze to death. Makes me not eager to read any more Jack London.

[Cris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't particularly enjoy very many of the stories in this book. It was helpful to learn about some of the authors and the ones I would like to read more. By the time I reached the end, I couldn't even listen to the stories by Jack Frost as I was so done with this book.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twain's stories were my favorite, and this CD introduced me to Ambrose Bierce. I also enjoyed these stories. Stephen Crane I can take or leave, however. I might have left Jack London's too but only because he is best read in novels you'd like to cozy up next to a fire & read.

[Misterd11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be cheating, but I'm counting this even though I "read" it on audio-book. 4 stories by Mark Twain & 2 by Stephen Crane. The Crane stories seemed weak when read aloud. The two stories each by Ambrose Bierce and Jack London were brutal and riveting.

[Kristen-Marie Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite were the Ambrose Bierce and Jack London selections. Least favorite were the Stephen Crane.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Twain's stories were thoroughly entertaining. Stephen Crane's were not.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great classic stories. Fun to hear.

[Outmind · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

As with any such collection, a mixed bag. Sire, the writing is excellent, but some stories do compel more than others.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good collection of short stories that I hadn't read before. I was on the edge of my seat for 9 out of the 10.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not all classics are that entertaining but this was an ok collection. The narration was good although I skipped through some of the stories; just not interested.