Tonight, we’ll read “The Door in the Wall,” a short story written in 1911 by H.G. Wells. Considered to be one of his finest short stories, it explores the tension between the rational and the fanciful experiences in life.

Wells is best known today for pioneering modern science fiction with works like “The Time Machine” and “The War of the Worlds”, but he also wrote thoughtful, bittersweet tales that delved into memory, regret, and the mysteries of childhood. “The Door in the Wall” belongs to this more reflective side of his writing, offering a meditation on the costs of ambition and the longing for lost innocence.

The story first appeared in “The Daily Chronicle” before being included in collections, and it quickly became a favorite among readers and critics alike. Its ambiguous ending continues to invite discussion. Wells leaves the answer suspended between reality and imagination, much like the choices we face in life itself.

— read by 'N' —

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