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Saki was a master of short, comic but sometimes cruel stories which made fun of the English upper-middle classes. Here, he describes the atmosphere between a married couple after an argument. But there is a surprising twist in the end which might shock you. (740 words)

A great comic tale in which Saki describes the complicated plans made by an Englishwoman as she tries to go one better than her friend who has had an exciting adventure. The plan is to impress her friends by shooting a tiger but it ends up costing her more than she'd expected. (1,065 words).

Saki is the master of comic short stories which have surprising – even shocking – endings. Here, a young man who is staying in the country because of a nervous illness visits a neighbour. The young girl he meets though has an unusual story to tell him that only make his nervous problems much worse. (1,020 words)

This very short piece is a sad story about a little boy who catches a bird. His mother doesn't want him to keep it but he does with tragic results. (500 words)

We know that Dr. Watson always helps Sherlock Holmes in his cases. However, in this story it is Watson who brings the case to the detective’s attention. Once again, things are not as they appear at first sight and Holmes soon begins to understand the mystery. (5,015 words)

Although everyone knows about Dracula, Bram Stoker, the writer who created him, didn't become famous until they started making vampire films. In this story a man who does not believe in the undead realises his mistake after a terrifying experience. (2,595 words)

In this exciting story, Ambrose Bierce tells us about the terrible secret that lies in an old man’s past. His wife has died and the man has given up hope. But death is not unusual in his community. So, why is this man’s story so different from others? (1,235 words)

This very short horror story, is about a strange old sea captain who lives alone and buys everything he needs with old gold coins. Three thieves decide to visit him one night but get more than they expect. (855 words)

A young soldier tells his friend a story about the horrors of war in North Africa. He remembers attacking a village and killing men and women, only to find a little girl who is left an orphan. He takes her with him and grows to love her but their friendship ends in tragedy. (1,470 words)

In this French story about the war with Germany in 1870, a wealthy, young Frenchman joins the Army to defend his country. Conditions are terrible and he misses his old, luxurious life. One day, he throws a piece of bread in the dirt but it is quickly picked up by another soldier. His story and their friendship change his life. (1,820 words)

In this clever little tale, tells describes a misunderstanding at a wedding party, where a guest believes the bride's father has kissed his servant. The father tries to prevent the rumour from spreading but will he succeed? (1,250 words)

This story is about a girl working as a servant. She is too young to work so hard and she is very tired, but she has to look after the baby when she should be playing with her friends or sitting with her family. Tragedy is waiting just around the corner. (1,830 words)

‘The Necklace’ is about a beautiful girl who was born poor wants the best things in life. When she and her husband are invited to a grand party she’s unhappy because she’ll have nothing special to wear so her husband buys her a dress and she borrows a diamond necklace from a friend. But that is when her problems start. (2,265 words)

This powerful story is about a worried mother who is unhappy and ashamed in front of a guest at her home because she can't control her young son. Her guest tells her that his father should hit him so, desperate, she asks him to do so. Sadness follows. (1,880 words)

In this very short story, Bierce describes the funeral of a respected and important public figure. But as his friends stand around the coffin, it starts to move and something unexpected happens. (425 words)