Eley’s Book of the Month

Hi everyone,

I’ve been a little negligent on this front, but I’d like to catch up now. This time, I’m not going to be pointing out a novel or work of nonfiction. But I would like to make you aware of one of my all time favourite short stories (I love this format).

We go all the way back to 1882 for the famous Frank R. Stockton story, “The Lady or the Tiger.” I have enjoyed this story for many years, and it gives me great pleasure whenever I am able to discuss it with someone. You can see my copy of this is well-loved and from 1899.

It’s a short story set in a long-ago kingdom where the king has decided on a progressive (?) trial by ordeal whereby the accused is given a choice of two identical doors to open. Behind one is a beautiful woman whom he has to marry. Behind the other is a ferocious tiger, who will immediately devour him. At the end of the story our protagonist opens the door, but it is not revealed which door it is.

Other particulars of this story are such that I will not share it with you. I would rather you look online and read the story yourself. It can be easily read in 10 to 15 minutes and found in many different locations online. It’s also nice to listen to an audio version of the story. And I’d like to hear your opinion after you’ve read it: “Which came out of the opened door – the lady, or the tiger?”

Do me the favour of a reply to this and answer the above question.