Classic Twists
The short story genre has a proud history of shattering readers' perceptions with an unexpected final paragraph. Here we present a group of the most surprising and devious twists - from the tragic to the humorous by way of the downright sinister.
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A Horseman in the Sky
. . . Ambrose Bierce
. . . 6 pages
An incident that takes place during the American civil war begins with a sentry asleep at his post. Neatly examines the personal amongst the duty and professionalism of war.
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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
. . . Ambrose Bierce
. . . 9 pages
A man stands on a railroad bridge; his wrists are bound with a chord, a rope encircles his neck. This story was adapted into the most popular ever episode of The Twighlight Zone.
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The Necklace
. . . Guy de Maupassant
. . . 8 pages
A poor woman borrows a necklace from a rich friend. Classic twisty tale.
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Desiree's Baby
. . . Kate Chopin
. . . 6 pages
The events surrounding the birth of a child - the father a member of an important Louisiana family; the mother a woman found abandoned as a baby.
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The Story of an Hour
. . . Kate Chopin
. . . 3 pages
A woman hears news of her husband's death.
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The Furnished Room
. . . O. Henry
. . . 5 pages
A young man searches for his lost love around the filthy bedsits of New York.
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The Last Leaf
. . . O. Henry
. . . 6 pages
It is not Pneumonia alone that is killing Johnsy - for some reason, she has resigned herself to death.
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Miss Brill
. . . Katherine Mansfield
. . . 5 pages
An older woman goes for a walk in the park.
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The Cask of Amontillado
. . . Edgar Allan Poe
. . . 7 pages
A man takes his enemy to taste a rare wine - which he happens to keep at the far end of a vast, damp cellar.
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The New Catacomb
. . . Arthur Conan Doyle
. . . 12 pages
In this homage to Poe, two rival scholars are brought together when one discovers an important early Christian burial ground.
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The Case of Lady Sannox
. . . Arthur Conan Doyle
. . . 9 pages
A case which leaves a Lady of notoriously loose morals in a nunnery and her lover - a brilliant physician - in a vegetative state.
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The Open Window
. . . Saki
. . . 3 pages
Frankly, Framton Nuttel doubted whether these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do much towards helping his nerve cure.
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