In the United States, books or stories published in 1929 or earlier are now in the public domain (as of 2025). These works are free to use and reproduce as you like. Be aware that translations of public domain stories are not necessarily in the public domain as well. Make sure the translation is also old enough to qualify.
While thousands of short stories fall into the public domain, not all of them are equally valuable for modern readers, students, or classrooms. Many are obscure, unfinished, or difficult to engage with today. The stories listed here were chosen based on their literary significance, continued presence in anthologies or classrooms, accessibility for contemporary readers, and confirmed public-domain status in the United States. The goal is not to be exhaustive, but to highlight public-domain short stories that remain relevant, teachable, and rewarding.
Rather than offering a complete catalog, it provides a curated guide to classic short fiction that is legally free to use and still worth reading. Whether you are a student, teacher, or independent reader, this page is designed to help you choose stories that reward close attention and meaningful discussion and most of all, are engaging.
Although there’s overlap, the stories are divided into the following categories:
- Featured Classics
- Twist Endings
- Humor & Irony
- Gothic & Horror
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Featured Classics
Before we get to more specific types of PD stories, here are some popular classics.
“The Bet” by Anton Chekhov
At a dinner party a banker argues that capital punishment is preferable to life imprisonment. A young lawyer disagrees, saying that he would rather life in prison over death.
This is one of Chekhov’s most widely taught short stories and a foundational example of philosophical realism. It’s frequently used to explore irony, ethical ambiguity, and the tension between material wealth and spiritual or intellectual fulfillment. Its restrained style and devastating conclusion make it especially effective for essays on human motivation, the limits of rationalism, and Chekhov’s critique of abstract ideals when detached from lived experience. (Read “The Bet”)
“Cat in the Rain” by Ernest Hemingway
An American couple is on vacation in Italy. The wife looks out the window at the rain and sees a cat huddled under a table. She wants to go down and take it in out of the rain.
This is a short but carefully controlled story often taught to introduce Hemingway’s minimalist style and iceberg theory. It focuses on a woman’s unfulfilled emotional needs and her growing sense of isolation within her marriage.
The story is commonly discussed in terms of symbolism and subtext. The cat, the rain, and the confined setting function as outward expressions of the woman’s desire for care, stability, and recognition. Despite its brevity, the story supports discussion of gender roles, communication, and emotional repression, making it a frequent choice for introductory literature courses. (Read “Cat in the Rain”)
“Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville
An elderly Manhattan lawyer tells the story of Bartleby, the strangest law-copyist he has ever heard of. He did an exceptional quantity of work for a short time, but his attitude suddenly changed.
“Bartleby, the Scrivener” is a cornerstone of American short fiction (although it’s on the longer side for a short story) and one of the most frequently studied works of nineteenth-century literature. It follows a passive law clerk whose quiet refusal to participate in ordinary life unsettles his employer and resists all attempts at explanation or reform. Its ambiguity and philosophical depth make it a common choice for advanced essays on alienation, modernity, and the limits of sympathy.
“Moon-Face” by Jack London
The narrator hates John Claverhouse obsessively, especially his optimistic view of life, his laugh, and his name.
This is a darkly comic short story that explores obsession, irrational hatred, and moral justification. The plot centers on a man whose inexplicable loathing for another person escalates into calculated cruelty, exposing the thin boundary between personal grievance and ethical collapse.
It’s often used to examine unreliable moral reasoning and the psychology of resentment. London’s direct prose and shocking conclusion make the story accessible while still supporting serious analysis of motivation, responsibility, and self-deception. It works particularly well in units focused on irony, character study, or the darker impulses beneath social respectability.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This is one of the most influential short stories in American literature and a central text in discussions of gender, mental health, and authority. Presented as a series of journal entries, the story follows a woman whose prescribed rest cure and enforced isolation contribute to a psychological breakdown, revealing the destructive effects of silencing and control.
In academic study, the story is frequently analyzed through feminist criticism, narrative reliability, and symbolism. The wallpaper itself becomes a powerful representation of confinement and distorted perception, while the first-person narration allows readers to witness the gradual erosion of rational thought. The story is especially effective for essays on power, voice, and the social construction of madness. (Summary of “The Yellow Wallpaper”)
“Miss Brill” by Katherine Mansfield
A middle-aged woman takes a weekly Sunday walk. She likes to observe and listen to people, but this time she overhears something that upsets her.
This is a widely taught modernist short story known for its subtle portrayal of loneliness, self-deception, and social exclusion. The story is often analyzed for its use of free indirect discourse and interior perspective. Mansfield’s careful control of tone reveals how Miss Brill’s imaginative framework both sustains and betrays her, particularly in the story’s quiet but devastating conclusion. It’s especially effective for essays on identity, perception, and emotional vulnerability. (Read “Miss Brill” )
“A Hunger Artist” by Franz Kafka
A professional faster puts on public performances, eliciting a mixed response from his audience.
This is a canonical work of modernist fiction that explores alienation, artistic obsession, and the failure of public understanding. The story centers on a professional faster whose extreme devotion to his art isolates him from society and ultimately renders his performance meaningless to an indifferent audience.
In literary analysis, the story is commonly read through existential and symbolic frameworks. Kafka’s detached narrative voice underscores the gap between inner compulsion and external validation, while the hunger artist’s decline raises questions about authenticity, sacrifice, and recognition. The story is frequently taught for its stark style, philosophical depth, and bleak critique of artistic identity.
Twist Endings
“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin
Desiree and her husband, Armand, are very happy. After a while, there are some whispers about their baby.
This is a frequently taught short story for its powerful exploration of race, identity, and social hierarchy in the antebellum South. Centered on a young mother whose child’s appearance triggers suspicion and rejection, the story exposes how deeply racial prejudice shapes personal relationships and moral judgment.
In academic analysis, the story is often discussed in terms of irony, social construction of race, and patriarchal authority. The final revelation reframes earlier assumptions and highlights the destructive consequences of inherited privilege and denial. It’s especially effective for essays on racism, gender, and the role of silence within oppressive social systems. (Summary & analysis of “Desiree’s Baby”)
“The Last Leaf” by O. Henry
A woman who gets pneumonia believes she’s going to die when a vine loses its last leaf.
This is a well-known sentimental short story that examines hope, sacrifice, and the redemptive power of art. In classroom discussion, the story is often used to explore symbolism and moral irony. The moving reveal raises questions about deception, selflessness, and artistic purpose. Its emotional clarity and concise structure make it accessible while still supporting analysis of altruism and human connection.
“The Interlopers” by Saki
Feuding patriarchs have a confrontation in the forest.
This is a darkly ironic short story that explores inherited hatred, pride, and the fragility of reconciliation. The narrative follows two men locked in a lifelong feud whose sudden opportunity for peace is undercut by forces beyond their control. The story is commonly analyzed for its use of irony, setting, and narrative tension. The natural environment functions as an indifferent power that renders human conflict both petty and tragic. The abrupt ending makes the story especially effective for essays on fate, reconciliation, and the illusion of human dominance. (Read “The Interlopers”)
“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
A poor wife tries to buy a nice Christmas present for her husband.
This is one of the most famous short stories in American literature, known for its gentle humor and ironic conclusion. The story is often examined for its use of irony and its redefinition of wealth and wisdom. The final reversal emphasizes emotional generosity over material value, making the story a frequent choice for discussions of love, sacrifice, and narrative twist endings. (Read “The Gift of the Magi”)
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce
A man is sentenced to hang during the Civil War.
This is one of the most widely taught short stories for its innovative structure and unforgettable twist ending. Set during the American Civil War, the story follows a condemned man’s final moments, blurring the boundary between reality and perception.
The story is commonly analyzed for its manipulation of time, psychological realism, and narrative perspective. The revelation at the conclusion forces a reevaluation of the entire narrative and supports essays on illusion, consciousness, and the human response to imminent death. (Read “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” with analysis)
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
A woman borrows an expensive necklace for a party, with disastrous results.
This is a classic realist short story renowned for its ironic ending and critique of social aspiration. The story is frequently used to explore situational irony, class consciousness, and moral accountability. Maupassant’s economical prose and devastating conclusion make the story especially effective for close reading and essays on pride, appearance, and the cost of illusion.
Humor & Irony
“Luck” by Mark Twain
The narrator is surprised to hear that a renowned English military captain is a fool.
This is a satirical short story that uses humor to challenge conventional ideas about merit, success, and heroism. The story is often analyzed for its use of irony, unreliable narration, and Twain’s critique of social prestige. The final revelation reframes the listener’s admiration and exposes how narratives of success are constructed and sustained. The story works well for essays on satire, reputation, and the gap between achievement and deservingness. (Summary of “Luck”)
“The Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry
A kidnapped boy ends up being more trouble than he’s worth.
This is one of the most famous humorous short stories in American literature and a staple of classroom instruction. The story is commonly discussed for its use of comic reversal and situational irony. O. Henry subverts expectations by making the supposed victims the true aggressors, creating a memorable inversion of power. The story is especially effective for discussions of irony, characterization, and humor built through escalating absurdity. (Read “The Ransom of Red Chief”)
“The Open Window” by Saki
A girl tells a visitor a story of family tragedy.
This is a classic example of dry, ironic humor built around narrative deception. The story is often examined for its framing device, use of dramatic irony, and commentary on storytelling itself. The abrupt ending exposes the visitor’s gullibility and highlights the power of narrative control, making the story a frequent choice for lessons on irony and point of view. (Summary & analysis of “The Open Window”)
“My Financial Career” by Stephen Leacock
A routine visit to the bank turns into an ordeal.
This is a foundational work of modern comic prose and a frequently taught example of literary humor. The story depicts a man’s attempt to open a bank account, only to find himself overwhelmed by institutional authority and social anxiety. The story is often discussed for its exaggerated first-person voice and critique of bureaucratic power. Leacock’s escalation of a simple misunderstanding into complete absurdity makes the piece effective for studying tone, self-conscious narration, and social satire. (Read “My Financial Career”)
“The Lumber Room” by Saki
A punished young boy finds a way to enjoy himself regardless.
This is a sharply observant comic story that contrasts imagination and authoritarian control. The story is commonly analyzed for its irony, characterization, and critique of moral rigidity. Saki’s portrayal of childhood curiosity versus adult discipline supports essays on authority, imagination, and the unintended consequences of strict control.
Gothic & Horror
“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
An unnamed narrator describes how he killed a man; he tries to convince his listener of his sanity and wisdom.
This is one of the most famous short stories ever written and a foundational text in psychological horror. The story traces the careful planning and emotional unraveling that follow a murder driven by obsession and guilt.
It’s frequently examined for unreliable narration, psychological fragmentation, and the relationship between conscience and self-deception. Poe’s use of first-person voice and rhythmic language creates intense proximity to the narrator’s mind, making the story especially effective for close reading and discussions of madness, guilt, and moral awareness. (Read “The Tell-Tale Heart”)
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs
This is one of the most widely read supernatural short stories in English literature and a staple of Gothic and horror curricula. The story follows an ordinary family whose use of a magical object reveals the dangerous consequences of interfering with fate.
It’s commonly analyzed for its treatment of wish fulfillment, irony, and foreboding. Jacobs builds tension through suggestion rather than explicit horror, allowing the final moments to resonate through implication. The story is especially effective for essays on fate, consequence, and the illusion of control. (Read “The Monkey’s Paw”)
“The Wedding-Knell” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The narrator recounts the story of an unusual wedding between a man and woman in their sixties, whose ceremony was introduced with a funeral knell.
This is a lesser-known but thematically rich Gothic tale that explores guilt, memory, and moral reckoning. The story is often discussed for its symbolic use of sound and its emphasis on psychological punishment rather than physical consequence. Hawthorne’s focus on inner torment aligns the tale with his broader moral vision, making it suitable for essays on sin, remorse, and the persistence of moral truth. (Read “The Wedding Knell”)
“The Boarded Window” by Ambrose Bierce
After a man prepares his wife’s body for burial, there’s an incident in the night.
This is a compact Gothic horror story that examines grief, isolation, and the persistence of the past. It’s often analyzed for its atmosphere, restraint, and delayed revelation. Bierce’s careful pacing and understated style heighten the shock of the final disclosure, making the story especially effective for discussions of narrative structure, repression, and psychological horror. (Summary of “The Boarded Window”)
“The Voice in the Night” by William Hope Hodgson
A schooner is approached by a small rowboat. The passenger doesn’t want any lanterns out or any direct contact with the crew. He only asks for some food to be floated out to him.
This is a classic early horror story that blends maritime adventure with body horror and existential dread. Framed as a story within a story, the narrative describes a sailor’s encounter with a shipwrecked man whose transformation reveals the terrifying power of isolation and decay. It’s commonly examined for its use of frame narration, gradual revelation, and themes of dehumanization. (Read “The Voice in the Night”)
“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
A man takes his revenge at the right time.
This is one of Poe’s most frequently taught short stories and a defining example of Gothic revenge fiction. The story is often examined for unreliable narration, irony, and the psychology of revenge. Poe’s use of dramatic irony allows readers to perceive the horror long before the victim does, while Montresor’s calm, measured voice raises questions about justification, pride, and moral blindness. The story is especially effective for discussions of power, control, and narrative manipulation. (Read “The Cask of Amontillado”)
“The Red Room” by H. G. Wells
A man agrees to spend the night in a supposedly haunted room to prove such things don’t exist.
This is a classic early horror story that explores fear as a psychological rather than supernatural force. It’s frequently analyzed for its treatment of perception, irony, and self-deception. As the narrator’s rational certainty collapses, fear itself becomes the true antagonist. The story works well for essays on psychological horror, the limits of rationalism, and the ways imagination can overwhelm reason.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
“Jonah of the Jove-Run” by Ray Bradbury
Nibley is an old man with the remarkable ability to sense the orbits and trajectories of moving objects. He also has a reputation as a drinker. The ship TERRA has to take off for Jupiter immediately and his services might be needed.
This is an early science-fiction short story that explores intuition, faith, and the limits of technological certainty. It’s often analyzed as a conflict between human judgment and mechanical authority. Nibley’s instincts challenge the crew’s faith in automation, raising questions about responsibility, experience, and the role of belief in an increasingly technological world. The story is frequently taught for its quiet tension, symbolic resonance, and as an example of Bradbury’s early interest in human intuition as a counterweight to technological dependence.
“The Star” by H. G. Wells
An out-of-control celestial body threatens Earth.
This is a foundational science-fiction short story that examines humanity’s place in the universe through a cosmic catastrophe. It’s often analyzed for its use of scale, irony, and scientific imagination. Wells contrasts human concerns with the vast indifference of the cosmos, making the story especially effective for essays on perspective, humility, and the limitations of anthropocentric thinking. It is frequently taught as an early example of science fiction’s philosophical potential. (Read “The Star”)
“The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce
An inquest is held to determine the cause of a mysterious death.
This is a short speculative horror story that blends rational inquiry with the unknowable. The narrative introduces the idea of a creature that exists beyond the limits of human perception. It’s commonly discussed for its use of unreliable evidence, scientific skepticism, and early speculative thought. Bierce’s restrained style and courtroom framing lend credibility to an impossible premise, making the story well suited for discussions of perception, epistemology, and the boundaries of scientific explanation. (Read “The Damned Thing”)
“The Birth-Mark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
A scientist becomes fixated on removing a small birthmark from his beautiful wife’s face.
This is a classic proto-science-fiction story that explores obsession, perfection, and the ethical limits of scientific ambition. The story is frequently analyzed through symbolic and moral frameworks. The birthmark itself could represent the inescapable imperfection of humanity, while Hawthorne’s critique of rationalism highlights the danger of valuing abstract ideals over human life. The story is commonly taught in discussions of science, ethics, and Romantic skepticism.
This is just a sampling of the many public domain stories available. Many of the listed authors have other stories that are well worth reading.