Family Life Classics

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky is considered one of the greatest Russian writers. His works have had a profound and lasting effect on 20th-century literature. His psychological penetration into the human soul had, in novels like Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, a profound influence on the 20th century novel. He also wrote a number of brilliant short stories along these same lines. "The Wedding" is one of his best.

A sentry falls asleep at his post, leading to dire consequences. This is a classic tale about the terrible cost of the Civil War, which divided entire families.

¿Abrazar la vida moderna o salvar su matrimonio? En la sociedad cambiante de principios del siglo XX no hay tiempo para dilemas sentimentales. De regreso a la casa de campo para pasar el fin de semana, William imagina el cálido recibimiento de su familia. Pero la realidad es muy diferente: sus hijos solo esperan con impaciencia sus regalos y su esposa ha instalado en la casa a sus nuevos amigos bohemios, con los que prefiere pasar el rato antes que con su marido.

Basil Duke Lee cerró la puerta de la calle a sus espaldas y encendió la luz del comedor. La voz de su madre le llegó soñolienta a través de las escaleras. "Basil, ¿eres tú?" "No, mamá, es un ladrón." "No creo que las doce sean horas de volver a casa para un chico de quince años." "Hemos ido a Smith, a tomar un refresco." Cuando una nueva responsabilidad recaía sobre Basil, entonces era "un chico de casi dieciséis años", pero, cuando se le discutía algún privilegio, sólo era "un chico de quince años".

Une vieille femme décide de préparer la friandise préférée de son mari : du pain d'épices, mais quand elle le sort du four, le bonhomme de pain d'épices s'échappe en chantonnant : "Cours cours aussi vite que tu peux, tu ne peux pas m'attraper! Je suis le bonhomme de pain d'épices." Les contes se transmettant de bouche à bouche, l'auteur originel de ce conte n'est pas connu.

In this next story, Alice Hill, who is happily married, bears three daughters and is stricken with Alzheimer's in her later years. Was this her destiny chosen by the goddess Lachesis, or was her destiny just meant to be?

Nesta famosa fábula, os tres porquinhos nos lembram que o caminho mais fácil, que requer menos esforço, nem sempre é aquele certo. Se desejamos alcançar alguma coisa melhor na vida é preciso, ao contrário, grande empenho e dedicação...

This is a story about Amy who loses her life, and her spirit is taken into the womb of a woman ready to give birth. She is joined to the baby who is born into the world; forgetting about her past life. Tamara, born into the world not realizing her body is being shared by another spirit, finds her soul partner after she herself enters into the spiritual world.

Alcuni pulcini dentro ad un'incubatrice provano a ipotizzare come potrebbe essere la loro madre...

One of the most popular pieces in the author's Main Travelled Roads collection was "The Return of a Private", a story that certainly rings true today. A soldier returns home only to find that his experiences have changed things forever.

Alice Lethbury, a young wife stuck in a dull, passionless marriage, decides to adopt a baby, Jane, with the consent of her reluctant husband. As Jane grows up, it becomes clear that she has entered the Lethburys' lives for a reason.

Here is a tale that concerns the incredible power of friendship. The movie Tennessee's Partner (1955), starring John Payne and Ronald Reagan, was based on this story.

Few winter stories are more affecting than Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl. Written in 1848, and strictly speaking a New Year's Eve story, it showed so clearly then, as it does now, that the Christmas holidays do not represent fireside, food, and presents for all. This story never fails to move, yet it somehow avoids serious sentimentality.