Half-Hours with Great Story-Tellers

"Half-Hours with Great Story-Tellers" is a collection of humorous tales written in the late 19th century by various authors. This anthology features a variety of whimsical narratives, with each story encapsulating a unique blend of wit and satire, showcasing storytelling from renowned figures such as George MacDonald and Charles Dickens, among others. The stories include fantastical elements and engaging character dynamics, like the interactions between noble families and supernatural beings. The opening portion introduces readers to a delightful tale titled "Grey Dolphin," which revolves around the peculiar happenings at Shurland Castle. It presents a character named Emmanuel Saddleton, the Clerk, who finds himself embroiled in an unusual task ordained by the beautiful yet commanding St. Bridget, as he is instructed to retrieve a drowned man's body that had been buried too close to the saint's shrine. The narrative becomes a tapestry of humor with the Baron of Shurland's eccentricities and the misunderstanding surrounding the deceased sailor, offering a whimsical peek into the absurdity of the characters' situations and their interactions with both human and supernatural realms. Such elements foreshadow a lively collection that promises laughter and intrigue as finely woven by the hands of master storytellers.

Half-Hours with Great Story-Tellers, by Various. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #6326.