The Third Level is a short story written by Jack Finney, an American author. The story is about a man named Charley who discovers a third level at the Grand Central Station in New York City.


Charley is a thirty-one-year-old man who is interested in the history of New York City. One day, while waiting for his train at the Grand Central Station, he discovers a staircase that leads to a third level that he had never seen before. The third level is not listed on any map, and it appears to be a place frozen in time. Charley meets a man named Gatsby who tells him that the third level is a portal to the year 1894. Charley is skeptical but decides to take a chance and steps through the portal. He finds himself in a different world, where there are no cars, no telephones, and no modern conveniences. He meets a young woman named Victoria who is happy to see him and tells him that he is the first person from the future to visit her time. Charley is fascinated by this new world, but he knows that he can't stay there forever. He returns to the present, but he is forever changed by his experience.


The Third Level explores several themes, including:

- The power of imagination
- The desire to escape from reality
- The allure of the past
- The idea of time travel
- The importance of hope and optimism


The Third Level has two main characters:

- Charley: A thirty-one-year-old man who discovers the third level and travels back in time to 1894.
- Gatsby: A man who is also interested in the third level and tells Charley that it is a portal to the past.


The Third Level is a fascinating story that explores the human desire to escape from reality and travel through time. It is a reminder that even in the midst of the chaos of modern life, there are still places where we can find peace and quiet. The story also teaches us the importance of hope and optimism, even in the face of adversity.