American Stories VOA Learning English

The VOA American Stories are simplified versions of short stories by famous American authors from the 1800s and early 1900s.

The numbers – from 2.0 to 5.8 – indicate the approximate level of difficulty. Stories at the beginning of the list are easier; stories at the end are more difficult.

Stories with an asterisk (*) have been some of my students’ favorites.

• • The Law of Life, Jack London, 2.0

  • Keesh, Jack London, 2.1

  • *To Build a Fire, Jack London, 2.3

  • An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce, 2.5

  • The Californian’s Tale, Mark Twain, 2.7

  • * The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allen Poe, 2.8

  • A Piece of Red Calico, Frank Stockton, 3.0

  • The Open Boat, part 1, Stephen Crane, 3.1

  • The Open Boat, part 2, Stephen Crane, 3.1

  • * The Ransom of Red Chief, O. Henry, 3.1

  • The Lady in Black, Eleanor Porter, 3.2

  • The God of His Fathers, Jack London, 3.2

  • * The Last Leaf, O. Henry, 3.2

  • A Princess of Mars, part 1, Edgar Rice Burroughs, 3.2

  • A Princess of Mars, part 2, Edgar Rice Burroughs, 3.5

  • A Princess of Mars, part 3, Edgar Rice Burroughs, 3.2

  • A Princess of Mars, part 4, Edgar Rice Burroughs, 3.5

  • The Return of a Private, Hamlin Garland, 3.5

  • Bartleby, Herman Melville, 3.3

  • * The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry, 3.6

  • * The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe, 3.6

  • The Devil and Tom Walker, Washington Irving, 3.7

  • A Municipal Report, O. Henry, 3.8

  • The Purloined Letter, Edgar Allan Poe, 3.9

  • * The White Heron, Sarah Orne Jewett, 4.0

  • Feathertop, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 4.0

  • Paul’s Case, part 1, Willa Cather, 4.0

  • Paul’s Case, part 2, Willa Cather, 4.0

  • The Exact Science of Matrimony, O. Henry, 4.1

  • The Line of Least Resistance, Edith Wharton, 4.1

  • * The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving, 4.2

  • Pigs is Pigs, Ellis Parker Butler, 4.4

  • The Boarded Window, Ambose Bierce, 4.4

  • * John Henry, traditional story, 4.5

  • * Paul Bunyan, traditional story, 4.5

  • Pecos Bill, traditional story, 4.6

  • A Horseman in the Sky, Ambrose Bierce, 4.6

  • The Story of an Eyewitness, Jack London, 4.6

  • The Diamond Lens, part 1, James O’Brien, 4.6

  • The Diamond Lens, part 2, James O’Brien, 4.4

  • Rappaccini’s Daughter, part 1, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 4.8

  • Rappaccini’s Daughter, part 2, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 4.5

  • Athenaise, Kate Chopin, 4.5

  • The Ambitious Guest, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 4.7

  • A Pair of Silk Stockings, Kate Chopin, 4.8

  • The Luck of Roaring Camp, Bret Harte, 4.8

  • * The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County, Mark Twain, 4.9

  • Luck, Mark Twain, 5.0

  • * The Lady, or the Tiger? Frank Stockton, 5.0

  • Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 5.1

  • Benito Cereno, part 1, Herman Melville, 5.0

  • Benito Cereno, part 2, Herman Melvills, 5.8

  • Benito Cereno, part 3, Herman Melville, 5.4

  • The Whirligig of Life, O. Henry, 5.2

  • The Birthmark, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 5.8

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