"My Little Boy" by Carl Ewald
"The Open Window" by Saki
"I'm a Fool" by Sherwood Anderson
Welles frequently stated that he considered radio drama closer to a novel than a play, and never was this more evident than in these three short story adaptations. First up is 'My Little Boy' by Danish author Carl Ewald, part of the 'Modern Breakthrough' movement in late-19th Century Scandinavia. The book is in the public domain and can be read here.
Next is Saki's The Open Window, a personal favourite. If you've never read Saki, I can only urge you to do so. Finally Anderson's 'I'm a Fool', William Faulkner compared the story to another Mercury Theatre adaptation, saying that "...I think, next to Heart of Darkness by Conrad that, 'I'm a Fool,' is the best short story I ever read."
Sheridan Anderson's story, in spite of Faulkner's patronage, appears to be long out of print. Ewald's story, which can be read here., is a touching and unusual portrayal of youthful innocence. Saki's 'The Open Window' is my favourite story by one of my favourite writers, so I confess a certain lack of impartiality. Having said that, this unsettling, witty little tale of a young girl's thirst for romance (of a certain kind) is a masterpiece of the form. Saki's sly, sparkling stories are widely available and, if you've never had the pleasure, I hope this inspires you to explore them further.
Orson Welles, Edgar Barrier, Ray Collins
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All eighteen surviving broadcasts from the Mercury Theatre on the Air, free to listen to and download.
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Welles's interpretation of Hugo's epic tale, which inspired CBS to commission the Mercury Theatre.
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"We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone."
Orson Welles
bornalone.org