Audiobook · read by volunteers
Monkey's Paw
W. W. Jacobs (1863–1943)
Read by Jim Mowatt, Cori Samuel, David Barnes, Peter Yearsley · 1 chapter · 25 min
About the book
Mr. and Mrs. White live with their son in a modest house on a quiet road, and one evening a visitor from far away brings them an object that was not meant to be given away. It is a withered paw, and an old fakir has put a spell on it, so that three men can have three wishes. The family makes a wish, half in jest, and what follows will make you think twice about the things you ask for. W. W. Jacobs wrote one of the most famous short horror stories in the English language, and this dramatic reading brings out its slow, creeping dread. It is a short listen, about twenty-five minutes, ideal for a dark evening. Listen with a friend or alone, but be prepared: this tale is hard to forget, and it has been retold in many forms because it makes such a good use of what is left unsaid.
Introduction
W. W. Jacobs (1863 to 1943) was an English writer who spent his early years working as a clerk in the civil service, and who became known for comic stories about sailors and dockside characters. He is remembered today, however, for a very different piece. The Monkey's Paw, published in 1902 in the collection The Lady of the Barge, has been adapted for radio, stage, film and television many times over.
Its power comes from restraint. Jacobs gives you a cozy fireside scene, a few well-chosen details and a plain, almost conversational narrative, and then lets the horror grow out of what the characters say and fail to say. The theme is old: the warning that a wish granted may cost more than it gives. Yet the writing is so economical that the story still works for modern listeners, and it has been a favorite for reading aloud.
This LibriVox version is a dramatic reading, which means that the parts are performed rather than simply narrated. It lasts only about twenty-five minutes and is made up of a single chapter. It is therefore an easy introduction to classic Edwardian horror, and also a useful example of how a very short story can leave a lasting mark. You might wish to listen to it with the lights low, and to leave yourself a few moments afterward to think about it. A dramatic reading of this kind is a good way to experience the tale as it was intended: as a spoken story whose pauses carry as much meaning as its words.
Public domain
W. W. Jacobs died in 1943: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text