Head Stories Audio presents 16 selected short stories by one of the genre’s masters, H.G. Wells.Not unexpectedly some, such as “The Crystal Egg” and “The Remarkable Case of Davidson’s Eyes” are typical of Wells’ popular science fiction and explore the possibilities of time and space.Others like “The Moth” and “The Red Room” are classics of horror. Wells could equally be humorous and show no hint of his visionary tendencies, whether recounting the good luck of an inept burgl...

There is a particular magic in stories that begin with "Once on a time." These four simple words have an uncanny ability to unlock our imaginations, inviting us into worlds where anything is possible and where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. In the stories which follow, A.A. Milne, a masterful weaver of whimsy and wit, invites us to share in such magic.Known and beloved for his Winnie-the-Pooh tales, Milne demonstrates in Once Upon a Time that his storytelling...

In The Green Fairy Book, Andrew Lang continues his celebrated work of gathering fairy tales from many nations into one collection, preserving stories that have delighted generations and offering them anew to young readers—and to all who value the enduring charm of folklore. This volume, the third in Lang’s famous “Coloured” Fairy Book series, draws its tales from an especially wide array of sources: French, German, Russian, Italian, Scottish, and even oral traditions from tribal c...

Hugh Lofting’s The Story of Doctor Dolittle is a timeless tale that has delighted readers of all ages for over a century. Published in 1920, this charming story introduces us to the peculiar yet endearing Dr. John Dolittle, whose love for animals transcends the ordinary bounds of human-animal relationships. With the aid of his unique ability to speak the languages of animals, Dr. Dolittle embarks on adventures that are as whimsical as they are heartwarming.It is also impor...

The famous and thrilling stories of William Shakespeare's plays are lovingly retold in equally poetic language by Charles and Mary Lamb. First published in 1807 and intended as an introduction to the plays for children, these retellings have a beauty of their own which still captivate today.Music and narration by Simon Hester.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel which shocks us still. The sensibilities of its original Victorian readership may have blanched at the exoticism and barely disguised eroticism which drip from Wilde’s prose, but for us today who barely look twice at such things, we find something much more horrific at the heart of the book.Narration and music performed by Simon Hester.

Arguably the most famous Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.Dr Watson is sent by Holmes to the wilds of Dartmoor to protect the young Sir Henry Baskerville, heir to a substantial fortune but also threatened bythe historic Baskerville curse. Are supernatural powers at work in the shape of a diabolical hound? Or does a criminal hand lay behind the mystery?And why does Sherlock Holmes not leave London to assist Watson?Here is the first in the Compl...

Charles Kingsley's "The Water-Babies" stands as a timeless masterpiece that has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers since its first publication in 1863. A remarkable Victorian clergyman, author, and social reformer, Kingsley wove together a captivating narrative that transcends its era, providing readers with a delightful blend of fantasy, morality, and social commentary.Set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, "The Water-Babies" reflects the societal conc...

The four tales gathered here reveal Oscar Wilde’s gift for blending wit, irony, and moral reflection within the form of the short story.Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime is a darkly comic exploration of fate and free will, where polite society collides with the absurd.The Canterville Ghost playfully turns the traditional ghost story on its head, offering satire as sharp as it is humorous.In The Sphinx Without a Secret

The Chimes, the second of Charles Dickens' five Christmas books, first appeared in 1844, a year after the tremendous success of A Christmas Carol. Like its predecessor, this novella blends the magical with the moral, crafting a tale that is both an enchanting fable and a searing critique of Victorian society. Set on New Year’s Eve, The Chimes takes readers on a journey through themes of poverty, injustice, and the redeeming power of hope and human kindness.

"The Riddle of the Sands" stands as one of the earliest spy thrillers, an intriguing blend of adventure, suspense, and a genuine call to national vigilance. First published in 1903, Erskine Childers’s novel occupies a unique place in literary and historical context. Set against the backdrop of a world growing increasingly uncertain, this novel serves not only as a thrilling narrative but also as a reflection of the anxieties of pre-war Europe. Childers crafts a story so gripping and credib...

Perhaps the most famous and most accessible of Dickens' stories which can be enjoyed every year afresh at Christmas time, as we never tire of the inspirational story of Scrooge's redemption and transformation. Here performed with warmth and compelling narrative skill by Simon Hester