Short Story
The Pit and the Pendulum
I was sick—sick unto death with that long agony; and when they at length unbound me, and I was permi...
Drift off with timeless tales.
Discover calming bedtime stories, historical oddities, and literary classics that invite you to find comfort in the quiet hours.
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Short Story
The Fall of the House of Usher
During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung ...
Short Story
The Tell-Tale Heart
True! nervous very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? T...
Short Story
The Masque of the Red Death
THE "Red Death" had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous...
Short Story
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
In compliance with the request of a friend of mine, who wrote me from the East, I called on good-nat...
Short Story
The Yellow Wallpaper
It is very seldom that mere ordinary people like John and myself secure ancestral halls for the summ...
Short Story
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge
A man stood upon a railroad bridge in northern Alabama, looking down into the swift water twenty fee...
Short Story
The Gift of the Magi
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved...
About Can't Sleep Reads
Can’t Sleep Reads is a growing library of relaxing short stories, bedtime classics, and historical oddities designed for late-night reading. Whether you’re looking to wind down after a long day, replace endless scrolling with something gentler, or simply explore literature in a peaceful format, this collection is here to help.
Our archive includes beloved authors like Edgar Allan Poe,Mark Twain, and O. Henry, alongside timeless folk tales and hidden gems from the public domain. Every story is presented in a clean, distraction-free reading experience — perfect for nights when you need just the right amount of entertainment.
New stories are featured regularly, and you can always dive into the full catalog on our Explore All Stories page. Whether you prefer haunting Gothic tales, lighthearted adventures, or thought-provoking classics, you’ll find something to settle your mind and slow the evening.
Can’t Sleep Reads is more than a reading site — it’s a peaceful corner of the internet where you can enjoy calming words before bed. Bookmark us and return whenever you need a quiet moment, a new story, or just a gentle companion for the night.