A lot of the stories that we play here on the Apple Seed are stories passed down orally from generation to generation. We’ve got a lot of respect around here for oral storytelling traditions around the world. But there’s something special about the inspiration, edification, entertainment, and enrichment that comes from stories written on paper that you can store on a bookshelf and take down when you want to, devouring your favorite passages in silence or out loud. On this episode, we’re sharing performances by some of our favorite storytellers of the literature they love.

Sir Gawain and Lady Ragnell by Ed Stivender (6:07)

Based on a 15th century poem called "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle", which is, itself, a retelling of a story a lot of people know as "The Loathly Lady". No one knows who the original author is, but this is Ed's take which was recorded at the National Storytelling Festival. Learn more about Ed Stivender by visiting: edstivender.com

The Two Skyscrapers who Decided to Have a Child by Angela Lloyd(16:50)

Written by Carl Sandburg, the story was originally published in 1922 as part of his collection Rootabaga Stories, but that recording of the story about two skyscrapers was made in the wake of September 11, 2001. Learn more about Angela Lloyd by visiting: www.angelalloyd.com

The Cask of Amontillado by Syd Lieberman (27:09)

Written by Edgar Allen Poe this story makes deliberate jabs at his rival author, Thomas Dunn English, by alluding to characters and events in his novel. Others have also interperted this story as a way to scare people out of drinking, but whatever the reason he wrote the story it still makes for quite a scare. Learn more about the late Syd Lieberman by visiting: www.sydlieberman.com

Cyrano De Bergerac by The Acting Company (40:03)

The final scene from Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, in a readers theater performance by Suzanne Christensen, Noah Kershisnik, Leah Kershisnik, and Sam Payne.