In this episode we hear "The Spider's Eye" (1884), a short story by Lucretia P. Hale that explores themes of perception and social consciousness. Originally published in the anthology Stories by American Authors, Volume 3, the narrative is set in a theater where the protagonist reflects on the nature of sound and acoustics.

As the story develops, the protagonist experiences a shift in perception that allows them to hear the inner thoughts and private desires of fellow audience members.

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In this episode we’ll explore Clayton Edwards’ recounting of two remarkably courageous women, Molly Pitcher and Edith Cavell, from his 1920 book A Treasury of Heroes and Heroines.

Both of these stories sit at the intersection of fact and folklore. Their stories teach us how history is preserved. Molly Pitcher is likely a "composite" of several real women (like Margaret Corbin and Mary Ludwig Hays), showing how oral tradition blends multiple truths into one legend. In contrast, Edith Cavell’s story is strictly documented, yet it was still "polished" by wartime press to fit a specific heroic narrative.

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Audiobooks narrated by Sally Barron can be found at:

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In this episode, we present three distinct tales that showcase Bostonian author, Francis A Durivage's range as a storyteller:

• "The Obliging Young Man" - A witty look at the pitfalls of being too helpful, where good intentions meet the unpredictable whims of society.
• "Love in a Cottage" - A classic exploration of romantic idealism versus practical reality, set against the backdrop of simpler times—or perhaps, as Durivage might say, the "good old times" that weren't always as golden as they seemed.
• “Personal Satisfaction” - provides an explanation of why we should be always sure before going ahead.

Join us as we dust off these literary gems from the Project Gutenberg archives and bring the spirited prose of Francis A. Durivage back to life.

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Audiobooks narrated by Sally Barron can be found at:

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Today, we explore three stories that, with a sense of humor, delve into the complexities of reputation, political and journalistic and the mathematical quirks of time. These tales from the early 20th century showcase authors who found the extraordinary within the seemingly ordinary.

• "The Boulevard of Rogues" by Meredith Nicholson: A humorous and satisfying tale of one man's attempt to take on a corrupt local political machine. Nicholson, a prominent "Hoosier" author, often explored the intersection of American politics and society with a sharp, observational wit.
• “My First Literary Venture" (1871), Mark Twain offers a humorous, autobiographical (?) account of his earliest foray into the world of journalism. The story captures a pivotal moment from his teenage years in Hannibal, Missouri, when a thirteen-year-old Samuel Clemens was left in charge of his uncle’s newspaper, the Weekly Hannibal Journal.
• "Sixteen Years Without a Birthday" by Brander Matthews: A fascinating mathematical curiosity framed as a narrative. Matthews, a distinguished professor and literary critic, uses this tale to prove how a person could legitimately go nearly two decades without a birthday—an unlikely but entirely possible scenario involving the quirks of the leap year and the turn of the century.

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Audiobooks narrated by Sally Barron can be found at:

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We’re stepping into the experimental world of the 1920s with a haunting piece of short fiction titled “The Old Lady”, by Evelyn Scott.

Originally published in the May 1925 issue of The Dial—the premier magazine of the American modernist movement—this story, “The Old Lady”, was so well-regarded it was selected for The Best Short Stories of 1925. In it, we see a master of psychological depth at work, peeling back the layers of aging, memory, and the stifling weight of tradition.

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Audiobooks narrated by Sally Barron can be found at:

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Today, we’re stepping out of the high-brow literary salons and into the world of Clarence Louis Cullen, a man who wrote about the hustle, the gamble, and the gritty humor of the American underdog.

In this episode, we have a double feature of Cullen’s sharp-witted prose

• First, is an introductory note from the author for his book Taking Chances.
• Then we follow a man chasing the elusive dragon of a winning run in “'Red' Donnelly’s Streak of Luck”. It’s a classic look at the superstitions and adrenaline of the gambling life.
• Finally, "Just Like Finding Money", a clever tale that reminds us that in the city, nothing—not even a windfall—is ever quite as simple as it seems.

Both "Red Donnelly’s Streak of Luck" and "Just Like Finding Money" were originally part of a series Clarence Louis Cullen wrote for the New York Sun around the turn of the century.

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Audiobooks narrated by Sally Barron can be found at:

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In this episode we’re unearthing the legacy of a woman whose mind was once called the 'most original and challenging' of the entire women’s movement. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a philosopher, a sociologist, and a writer who dared to imagine a world where women were defined not by their domesticity, but by their economic independence.

Her short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is regarded as an important early work of American feminist literature for its illustration of the attitudes towards the mental and physical health of women, specifically postpartum depression in the 19th century. It is also lauded as an excellent work of horror fiction.

The semi-autobiographical story is written as a collection of journal entries narrated in the first person. As the reader continues through the journal entries, they experience the writer's gradual descent into madness with nothing better to do than observe the peeling yellow wallpaper in her room.

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Audiobooks narrated by Sally Barron can be found at:

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In this episode of Narrated Archives, we explore the sophisticated yet surprisingly tender world of the Gilded Age through three of Richard Harding Davis's most evocative stories: "A Walk Up the Avenue," "Van Bibber and the Swan-Boats," and "Van Bibber as Best Man." These narratives offer more than just a glimpse into high-society New York; they capture the universal tension between public persona and private longing, proving that even the most polished "man-about-town" is humanized by moments of quiet empathy and romantic missed connections.

It is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys sharp social observation paired with the bittersweet nostalgia of a vanished era.

• A Walk Up the Avenue - follows a young man walking through New York City as he reflects on his break-up with his fiance.
• Van Bibber and the Swan-Boats - Van Bibber finds himself on a bench in Boston’s Public Garden when he encounters 3 little girls from a different side of the city. The tale highlights his capacity for kindness and the experience of bridging class divides.
• Van Bibber as Best Man - centers on Van Bibber assisting a distraught couple with a secret marriage. He utilizes his social influence and resources to ensure the success of the plan.

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Thanks for listening! Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast provider. SUBSCRIBE for at least 2 Bonus Episodes each month.

Send requests for authors or short stories to: sbnarration@sallybarronvoiceovers.com or www.narratedarchives.com

All music courtesy of Ende.app.

Audiobooks narrated by Sally Barron can be found at:

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• Libro.fm
• storytel
• ...