7 Short Stories You Will Fall Head Over Heels For

We all love short stories. They are little microcosms of delight and wonder (tragedy in some cases). The prospect of reading a great story which finishes in less than twenty minutes is one most lazy readers can’t resist (No offense, lazy readers. We still love you :D)

And so, we present our top list of ten short stories you will head over heels for!

7. The Bruce-Partington Plans

In the words of Mycroft…

After getting tired by the monotony of a peaceful life, Sherlock Holmes is visited by his brother Mycroft who brings with him a case. In the latter’s own words, it is an issue of national importance.

6. The Cabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore

Sown in compassion rather than blood

One of Tagore’s most celebrated stories, ‘The Cabuliwallah’ is about the innocent relationship between a little girl and a Cabuliwallah (a traveling peddler). While the girl is initially scared of the man, she ends up becoming friends with him as he regularly brings her dry fruits for her. On the day the same girl is to be married, the Cabuliwallah again appears to see the girl one last time.

5. The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde

Reality comes. That is the only truth.

A prince resides in a palace where sorrow is not allowed to enter. One day, a bird arrives and talks to him. When the bird tells him about the poverty in the land, the prince is saddened and decides to take matters into his own hands.

4. The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

Words hurt more than weapons.

A story set in Italy, ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ tells the story of a man seeking revenge against a friend who he believes has insulted him. The story incorporates several themes seen in other Poe works, such as ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ and ‘The Black Cat’.

3. The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Uncle Scrooge. Rude and crazy. Still, redeemable.

One of the most popular literary works of all time, ‘A Christmas Carol’ tells the story of an insolent man who is transformed into a good-natured human being on the night of Christmas Eve. Combining themes of Christmas with a terribly flawed and malevolent character, Dickens churns out yet another masterpiece.

2. The Call of Cthulhu by HP Lovecraft

Madness is contagious.

In a cult, does the power lie with the worshiper and the one being worshiped? ‘The Call of Cthulhu’ is a tale which sheds light on the dark nature of blind worship and its grave consequences. The story is about a man called Francis Wayland Thurston who gets in the cross-hairs of a murderous cult.

1. The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

What is sanity, but a set of rules agreed upon?

A man convinced he is not mad sets out on a dangerous path to prove he is indeed sane. The consequences turn out to be graver than anticipated.

So these were the 7 short stories you should read right now. Did we miss some? Tell us in the comments…

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