Short Story Identification

July 19, 2024 5:24 PM

I'm trying to remember the name/author of a short story I read in which the narrator is brought to a building where people trade their maladies, such as a fear of heights being traded for a fear of elevators.

In the story, the narrator visits with his companion, then I believe he returns alone to make what he thinks is a trivial exchange. However, when he goes back, he finds the building is not only gone, but the two buildings that were adjacent to it are now next to each other.

I thought the story was called "The house where ills are traded" but Google knows nothing about it. I believe that might be a reference to the place within the story itself. I also think it was set sometime around late 1800s to early 1900s. Lastly, it may have been an English translation of a French story, but I am not sure of that.

posted by bashos_frog to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

I feel like this is a Lord Dunsany story. I've read it but can't remember where.
posted by Frowner at 5:29 PM on July 19

Best answer: It's not the story that's French, it's the title - "Le Bureau d'Exchange de Maux", Lord Dunsany.
posted by Frowner at 5:32 PM on July 19 [5 favorites]

And....Tales of Wonder, Project Gutenberg.
posted by Frowner at 5:34 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: You folks are the absolute best!
posted by bashos_frog at 5:38 PM on July 19