The Lottery written by Shirley Jackson read by Edward E. French

/ frenchedward06
Facebook: Edward Emerson French
Instagram: ed.emerson.french
The Creepy and Compelling Classic by master storyteller Shirley Jackson as told by Oscar nominated Special Effects Makeup Artist Ed French.

[@briandouglasahern7067]

The most terrifying part of this story will always remain that these charming, down-home, neighborly people could not only engage in so barbarous an act, but that no one even knew why they were doing it. The older man who grumbled that "young folks" were thinking of doing away with the lottery underlines the terrible human tendency toward mindless obedience and the willingness--if not eagerness--to do harm to others simple because "that's the way it's always been". Far more frightening than anything featuring a monster or ghoul.

[@josullivan5604]

delightful. chilling closing. gave me goose bumps. Just like the first time i read it in middle school. You are a real gift, Mr. French.

[@FrenchEdward06]

Thanks, Jo. Kudos to Shirley Jackson. E.E.F.

[@nancynickerson4341]

Excellent narration, Mr. French. I've heard this story many times, and the ending never fails to give me a chill.

[@FrenchEdward06]

Thanks, Nancy. Jackson is the greatest. No need for the narrator to amp up what she has written. E.E.F.

[@ladycthulhu9959]

I've lived in villages that feel like this, metaphorically. Man's inhumanity to man in a microcosm...

[@FrenchEdward06]

The late MS Jackson completely, presciently, allegorically showed us what humanity was in 1948 and what we're on the edge of literally becoming as a nation in 2022. E.E.F.

[@WillShakes423]

I'm not one to make requests, but if you could, I'd like you to read 'The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas' by Ursula K. Le Quin. It's an interesting story and I thought you might be the best one to read it.

[@briantenney6468]

I've read the collection of "The Lottery and Other Stories" and it feels like the horrors of Lovecraft and Kuttner have nothing on suburbia in the 1950s. I always felt Shirley Jackson could've written some killer Twilight Zone episodes. My favorite story is "The Possibility of Evil", of which your recording is one of my favorites.

[@FrenchEdward06]

I agree, Brian. MS Jackson finds horror in the "everyday." She truly challenges your imagination and assumptions about human decency...E.E.F.

[@FoxAttaak]

You are my absolute favorite voice.

[@FrenchEdward06]

Too kind. Thanks. E.E.F.

[@acf75]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@BennyLlama39]

If memory serves, didn't Shirley Jackson also write The Haunting of Hill House?

[@FrenchEdward06]

Indeed. E.E.F.

[@jackloveshisangelo]

Thanks always for your readings Edward! You are brilliant!

[@FrenchEdward06]

Kind words, JC. Shirley Jackson's impeccable work shines. E.E.F.

[@jonathanwpressman]

Mr. French, if you are reading this, my daughter falls asleep to this every night.

[@FrenchEdward06]

Every night? Does she ever stay awake to hear the ending? It's kind of a grim bedtime story, isn't it?

[@jonathanwpressman]

@@FrenchEdward06 It is the tonality of your voice

[@JohnSmith-ek8rj]

Excellent as always. p.s. The old radio program NBC Presents: Short Story did an adaptation of this tale back in 1954. It's available for free at the Internet Archive. It's pretty good. Unfortunately, I've never found a version that didn't have a brief audio glitch at the end.

[@gustavomezcala4142]

Mr. Summers has the coal industry the money the power.

[@grahamturner1290]

Let's call it a draw. 😎