'The Devil and Tom Walker' is a short story by Washington Irving, tackling the theme of making a deal with the devil. The greedy and easily-corruptible Tom sells his soul in exchange for power and riches, but soon regrets his foolish, though absolutely irreversible choice. A typical cautionary and moral tale, 'The Devil and Tom Walker' is a central story in Irving’s fiction, emphasizing the problems of human condition, family issues, and decision making. With its vivid folk and supernatural elements, it is a must-read for short fiction and American literature fans.
B. J. Harrison started his Classic Tales Podcast back in 2007, wanting to breathe new life into classic stories. He masterfully plays with a wide array of voices and accents and has since then produced over 500 audiobooks. Now in collaboration with SAGA Egmont, his engaging narration of these famous classics is available to readers everywhere.
Versatile as the subject matters of his literary oeuvre, the name of Washington Irving (1783-1859) still echoes in the corridors of the American literary canon. Having earned special status as a man of letters in America and Europe alike, Irving’s fame stems primarily from his short stories 'Rip Van Winkle' and 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. An avid biographer and historian, his influence can be felt within a vast group of American and British authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, E. A. Poe, Charles Dickens, and Sir Walter Scott.