

The Classic Tales Podcast
B.J. Harrison
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 28, 2025 • 23min
Ep. 1013, The Diamond Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant
There are many people who lust after the things of this world. But some folks just do it too much. Guy de Maupassant, 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. I think one of the reasons I love Guy de Maupassant's writing so much is that his taste seems to be like mine. I'm no master of the short story like he is, but when you start a Maupassant story, you never know where it will take you. It could be vampires, mental illness, or a story about the unfair plight of women with an effective and seemingly effortless denouement. Today's story is one of his most famous, and often anthologized. I hope you like it. And now, The Diamond Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant. 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:

Feb 28, 2025 • 1h 55min
Ep. 1012, The Turn of the Screw, Part 1 of 3, by Henry James VINTAGE
Why was Miles expelled from school? And who is the haunting man in the tower who seems to know something about it? 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's story is one of the most well-crafted ghost stories ever written. The Turn of the Screw is famous for a reason – I hope you like it. And now, The Turn of the Screw, Part 1 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:

Feb 28, 2025 • 1h 12min
Ep. 1011, The Maltese Falcon, Part 8 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett
Can Spade outwit the police and Gutman's gang? The stunning conclusion of The Maltese Falcon, 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 we continue with The Maltese Falcon. There is a little more course language in this story than in our usual fare, so if you run into something that makes you uncomfortable, you might want to consider why that is. Might be a good thing to think about. And now, The Maltese Falcon, Part 8 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett. 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:

Feb 18, 2025 • 1h 25min
Ep. 1010, Youth, by Joseph Conrad VINTAGE
Can a young Marlowe survive as second mate for the ill-fated ship Judea? Joseph Conrad, 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. Joseph Conrad was a bit of an adventurer, and today's story is autobiographical. And now, "Youth: a narrative", by Joseph Conrad 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:

Feb 14, 2025 • 58min
Ep. 1009, The Maltese Falcon, Part 7 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett
Can Sam leverage the falcon to fence in all the murdering, thieving crooks? Dashiell Hammett, 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 we continue with The Maltese Falcon. There is a little more course language in this story than in our usual fare, and as with nearly all detective novels of the time, it's got its share of homophobia and misogyny. Take the time to pause the show and point it out to your kids. And now, The Maltese Falcon, Part 7 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett. 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:

Feb 11, 2025 • 41min
Ep. 1008, The Sensational Baron Munchausen, by Rudolph E. RaspeVINTAGE
The infamous Baron Munchausen is capable of everything and anything. But can he really climb a beanstalk all the way to the moon? Rudolph Erich Raspe, 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. The following stories are taken from the larger volume: The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen. If you'd like me to do more stories from this volume, send me an email. We'll see what we can do. And now, "The Sensational Baron Munchausen", by Rudolph Erich Raspe 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:

Feb 7, 2025 • 43min
Ep. 1007, The Maltese Falcon, Part 6 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett
Why is Gutman's crew rubbing elbows with the captain of the La Paloma? Dashiell Hammett, 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 we continue with The Maltese Falcon. There is a little more course language in this story than in our usual fare, and as with nearly all detective novels of the time, it's got its share of homophobia and misogyny. Take the time to pause the show and point it out to your kids. And now, The Maltese Falcon, Part 6 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett. 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:

Feb 4, 2025 • 21min
Ep. 1006, The Bet, by Anton Chekhov VINTAGE
Is the death penalty better or worse than life in prison? Anton Chekhov, 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. And now, "The Bet", by Anton Chekhov 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:

Feb 3, 2025 • 57min
Ep. 1005, The Maltese Falcon, Part 5 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett
What wonders does Gutman detail in the cryptic history of the Maltese Falcon? Dashiell Hammett, 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 we continue with The Maltese Falcon. By the way, the phrase, "off the gooseberry" is an archaic phrase from the 1920s meaning stealing hanging laundry from the line. There is a little more course language in this story than in our usual fare, and as with nearly all detective novels of the time, it's got its share of homophobia and misogyny. Take the time to pause the show and point it out to your kids. And now, The Maltese Falcon, Part 5 of 8, by Dashiell Hammett. 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:

Jan 28, 2025 • 48min
Ep. 1004, The Queer Feet, by G.K. Chesterton VINTAGE
Can Father Brown discover the thief in an exclusive club merely by their footsteps? G.K. Chesterton 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. G.K. Chesterton's seminal creation of Father Brown is second only to Sherlock Holmes when it comes to British sleuths. His station gets him into all sorts of places closed to others, and makes him privy to many unusual conversations. I hope you like today's story from the collection: The Innocence of Father Brown. And now, "The Queer Feet", by G.K. Chesterton 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:


