This story of a love triangle in British India sees a young lady choosing between a young and handsome and an old and ugly suitor. Her Mother makes her choosing clear, but when the situation boils down to an archery competition, the result is not as might have been expected. A typically Kiplingesque study and quasi-acceptance of the strange and int...

A tough-minded young administrator, 'Georgie Porgie', in a wild hard district of Upper Burma, feels the need for a woman to look after him. As was not uncommon in those times, he buys a Burmese girl for 500 rupees from her father, a village headman, and calls her 'Georgina'. She lives with him, manages his household, and loves him dearly. Unfortuna...

One of Rudyard Kipling's more farcical stories, this look at the strange administration of the British Raj introduces us to the eccentric inventor Mellish, and the rich and important Mellishe, both of whom desire an audience with the Viceroy of the Indian Empire. By a strange quirk of fate, the Viceroy's invitation gets sent to the inventor instead...

This is a story about a Worm who turned. Though the name of this story's exceedingly pretty protagonist is Henry Augustus Ramsey Fusan, the narrative refers to him as 'The Worm'. The Worm is found unhappy in this classic India-set tale, as he finds himself at odds with the shakaris regiment, a group to whom one must be able to prove himself by abil...

A big drinker in India tries to reform for a woman whom he believes is worth making the transformation for. As the first woman reveals herself to be less than holy herself, the man is blind to her faults, and exalts her virtues as his savior, even after he has married a good woman. An anthropological and sociological study of Raj India and human fo...

A story of magic, Empire and deception in Raj India, our narrator tells of Suddhoo, a 'very, very old man' who lets out rooms in his house. All-accepting, Suddhoo gives a roof to grocers, prostitutes and other equally polar opposite professions, including a man who describes himself as a 'seal-cutter' but who actually seems to practice a career rat...

Joe battles the greed of his parents, who want him to marry for money, not love.

The disappearance of a rather strong-willed and domineering woman is the talk of the town. She is nowhere to be found, and rumours abound that a kidnapping may well be afoot. Another satirical winner from Saki writing as H.H. Munro, where all is not necessarily as it seems and the witticisms are fast and frequent.

The Elk is the story of Bertie Thropplestances' grandmother, who is intent upon finding him a suitable wife, and it would seem that their tame elk would have a large part to play in this matter. Hector Hugo Munro, better known by his pen-name Saki, gives us another humorous satirical comedy on Edwardian society and culture.

Terry Neil, a bone-setter and doctor, agrees to keep watch over the big house, which is rumoured to be haunted by an old inhabitant. After building his courage by drinking alcohol, he stays up through the night, and starts to hear sounds and see things that should frighten him, but which actually have surprising and even almost comical requests and...

Six Sci Fi stories from the past depicting the future which is NOW.some frightening and believable predictions that may well still come true. A great listen. This is science fiction at its literate best with every story a little gem. They include a clock that reverses the order of history, a potion that prolongs youth, a machine that disintegrates...

Holmes calls on Watson late one evening to tell him about a case that he has been working on, and also to invite him to be a witness to the final stage of the investigation. Colonel James Barclay, of The Royal Mallows based at Aldershot Camp, is dead, apparently by violence, and his wife Nancy is the prime suspect. Holmes and Watson never disappoin...

A story in Conan Doyle's famous 'Professor Challenger' series. In this story he encounters a Russian scientist who has created a machine that not only disintegrates humans but also re-assembles them. He is selling his plans to the country that made the highest offer but first Professor Challenger wants to test out the machine himself.

Sherlock Holmes is dying of a rare Asian disease, and desperately needs the help of a sworn enemy. Watson must try to get to the bottom of this mystery, and save Holmes' life. Written with Arthur Conan Doyle's characteristic ingenuity, this Holmes mystery is not one to miss.

Sherlock Holmes arrives at a large, dark, seemingly deserted house with Dr. Watson. Heavily loaded carriages with luggage are visible outside the house. Our intrepid team find a window ajar, and climb into the apartment where they find they are not alone. Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes Adventures are legendary classics of crime writing, and a...

The murder by suspected poisoning of Mr. Weatherby at the guest house at No. 9, Hill Crescent, points the finger of suspicion at a number of likely suspects. Crime writer Mr. Lattimer is on the case, noticing details around the house that the detectives seem to have overlooked. But what will Mr. Lattimer do with his all-important 'inside' informati...

A classic short story by Mark Twain, originally broadcast in the Afternoon Reading slot on BBC Radio 4 on 10 November 2010, to accompany the Autobiography of Mark Twain (aired on Book of the Week). Read by Stuart Millligan. This is the second of three of Twain's classic short story broadcasts featuring the McWilliamses, with his familiar trademark...

A classic short story by Mark Twain, originally broadcast in the Afternoon Reading slot on BBC Radio 4 on 9 November 2010, to accompany the Autobiography of Mark Twain (aired on Book of the Week). Read by Stuart Millligan. This is the first of three of Twain's classic short story broadcasts featuring the McWilliamses, with his familiar trademarks...

Edward Hardwicke reads, says Publishers Weekly, with "unadorned old-school stiff upper lip".

Two recently-rediscovered Hercule Poirot short stories by Agatha Christie, read by David Suchet. In 2004, a remarkable archive was unearthed at Agatha Christie's family home, Greenway - 73 of her private notebooks, filled with pencilled jottings and ideas. Hidden within this literary treasure trove were two rare, never-before-published short storie...

The fictionalised recreation of Denis Noble's 'eureka moment': the point at which the pioneering biologist came to understand the machinations of the human heart. The BBC National Short Story Award 2011 is managed in partnership with Booktrust.