The Doll's House – A Classic Short Story by Katherine Mansfield

About this episode

The episode discusses Katherine Mansfield's short story 'The Doll's House', exploring themes of class and childhood through the lens of a doll's house in a New Zealand community.

Published in 1921,  The Doll’s House  is one of Katherine Mansfield’s most quietly powerful stories. Set in a small New Zealand community, it explores class, exclusion, and childhood cruelty through something deceptively simple: the arrival of an elaborate doll’s house. Mansfield does not moralize. Instead, she observes. Through small gestures and overheard whispers, she reveals how social hierarchies are absorbed and enforced — even by children. At its center is a tiny amber lamp. And a moment of grace. We are expanding our universe of short story podcasts on our new podcast channel, Short StoryVerses . Listen to some of Don's new, original short stories on the "New Tales Told" podcast. Look it up on your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Don

Topics covered

• class
• exclusion
• childhood cruelty
• social hierarchies

Keywords

• Katherine Mansfield
• The Doll's House
• short story
• New Zealand
• 1921

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Short StoryVerses, New Tales Told

Books & works: The Doll's House, The Doll’s House, New Tales Told

Places: New Zealand

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