The Wailing Well by M.R. James

[@wmnoffaith1]

His tongue in cheek sense of humour in this story is really apparent. I love it! Very brilliantly narrated as well. The only narrator without an English accent that can do justice to these stories.

[@ricardosajor2817]

M.R. James - amongst my all-time favourites of this genre.Thank you for narrating and posting. A great way to bring in the new year.

[@mijiyoon5575]

👍👍👍👍👍😲 Highly entertaining *THX Mr. Edward French*

[@chrishalliday8371]

I’ve always loved this tale. James’ impish sense of humour on full display!

[@wmnoffaith1]

Yes! English humour at its finest. This is a classic.

[@ronaldhalvorsen7542]

I always enjoy M.R. James stories. This is one I have not read before. Thanks for reading it, Mr French. I really enjoy your channel.

[@FrenchEdward06]

It's an amazeballs combination of comedy and horror, isn't it? E.E.F.

[@granny13ad33]

@@FrenchEdward06 Yes.

[@GradKat]

Fantastic! I first read this story when I was about 11 (in secret, I might add - my parents would never have allowed me to read ghost stories) and it terrified me. It is still deeply disturbing to me at the age of 71! I love James’s work.

[@manonamountain]

I too, read the tale, when young. My favourite ghost story, to this day.

[@aaronlandry3934]

My left ear loves this story

[@chazbrennan9632]

A hilarious camp-fire story for scouts. I adore the boy throwing himself on the ground 'Oh, don't let it happen! Don't let me see it!' as naughty Stanley Judkins gets done in.

[@chrishalliday8371]

Oddly, this reading misses out the word “minor” twice, when referring to Judkins’ younger brother, who is the only dissenting voice in the vote mentioned earlier in the story, and is the one who swiftly recovers his spirits at the end. “Judkins Minor” was a public school (private school in the US) way of referring to the younger of two sons in the same family; the elder brother would be referred to as “Judkins Major”. The omission may be why some listeners were confused as to whether it was Judkins or Wilcox who died.

[@wmnoffaith1]

This just came up in my feed again, and I had to hear it again. Your narration is really perfect!

[@FrenchEdward06]

Thank you. It' was recorded a few years back. It's encouraging that you feel that way about the narration. I stopped recording the stories of M.R. James because I would like to improve my story telling technique as well as develop a better English accent before I tackle any more of M.R.'s works. I will definitely re-record this one day. Be well. Be safe. E.E.F.

[@wmnoffaith1]

@@FrenchEdward06 Listening to it again today! I understand what you mean; it seems almost like a rite of passage in the narration community; to perfect one's English accent and narrate M.R. James. Many do a good job; the result, though is that many of the ghost story channels record the exact same stories in the exact same way. This story is rarely chosen by others. It has a humor that most of his stories don't have, and you bring to it a different dimension. I think it's a classic.

[@abbamanic]

M R James, a legend in gothic ghost tales...wonderful

[@deejay830]

He didn't write "Gothic" ghost stories

[@jackiehamilton2738]

@@deejay830 Strictly speaking they are not as they were written far too late to qualify. However many of the tropes which the public today see as gothic (old buildings, ghosts, build up of atmosphere, ancient curses, family tombs etc, etc) are included and often form important elements of the story.

[@azoutlaw7]

This was thrilling ! Thank you!

[@granny13ad33]

Well done Mr. Edwards. I always enjoy this with z good reader. For the story, that kid did get what he deserved. On the side, that practice of throwing boys in deep water with hands and feet tied was barbaric.

[@wmnoffaith1]

I really think that was tongue in cheek. I think he is trying in a humorous way to refer to the fact that the bureaucracy in these places was ridiculous. They weren't discontinuing the contest because of the loss of life, but because of the lamentable inconvenience it caused the headmaster. It's a hyperbole in a sense, and meant to be funny.

[@granny13ad33]

@@wmnoffaith1 Maybe so. Doesn't matter to me. I just enjoy.

[@jackiehamilton2738]

@@wmnoffaith1 I can quite imagine people back then putting importance on such things over health and safety!!

[@grahamturner1290]

James is always superb.

[@KeithDec25]

PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

[@graemehjrobertson2585]

I've enjoyed your readings. You and John Noble from Fringe and Lord of the Rings sound quite similar

[@lorihogue5015]

Well ... I thought something was wrong with my fairly new Bluetooth ear buds. NOPE. The right channel is silent. Mono sound only on this particular video. Sad.

[@susanbeesley8299]

Suitably creepy story well read

[@johnrichardson6296]

Very well read indeed - truly expressive presentation. It is, however, a little amusing and unaccustomed to my English ear to hear this most English of all writers read with an irrepressible American accent (especially as regards the voicing of the old English shepherd)! But that is not a criticism. The reading was excellent.

[@FrenchEdward06]

That's very kind of you to say, John. Perhaps too kind and I appreciate that. I know that I would not be the first person an audio book producer would choose to narrate M.R. James. But on this channel I get to indulge my taste for old M.R. and several other British authors of horror and fantasy. I can't think of any American authors that have that wonderful style infused with the dry humor of the English that I particularly admire. Thanks for listening and commenting. E.E.F.

[@johnrichardson6296]

@@FrenchEdward06 You are welcome, Edward. Please keep up your splendid narrations. They are a treasure trove!

[@jackiehamilton2738]

I've heard worse attempts at English accents on film and television, particularly with Sherlock Holmes adaptations which were not made in Britain.

[@Firecracker66]

'Wilfred Pipsqueak' 😞

[@captainbadd]

*Spoiler* Am I to understand that Judkins tricked Wilcox into going to the well? Given that they are alike in appearance, and the admittedly confusing line about Judkins recovering his spirits.

[@FrenchEdward06]

I don't think so Spoiler.....but I may have to go back to the well myself and give this some consideration. Cheers. EEF

[@chrishalliday8371]

No, in the original text that line should refer to “Judkins Minor”, Stanley Judkins’ younger brother. Don’t know why the “minor” was missed off twice, but it was. Maybe it’s an issue with the US edition?

[@AmicableCharbray]

Hi everybody.

[@dimitrimachin1281]

May 26, 2016

[@grahamturner1290]

Yeah, public schools are wierd... 🙄

[@buckfaststradler4629]

At least they teach you how to spell " weird" though !😇

[@grahamturner1290]

@@buckfaststradler4629 😂

[@Ian.Gostling]

Should not be read with an American accent.

[@FrenchEdward06]

Noted, Ian. I'm sure the 16, 708 people who listened to me read it agree. Cheers. E.E.F.

[@Ian.Gostling]

@@FrenchEdward06well perhaps for such a frivolous reply I can make an exception for you dear chap

[@Ian.Gostling]

As a curious follow on Edward I tried listening to at least three "english" readers and found them even less tolerable, the first was Scottish the second too northern and the third too young. In fact I now think your rather acceptable what what!

[@FrenchEdward06]

@@Ian.Gostling Somehow , Ian, my other message didn't post. The one where I cast "frivolousness" aside and and just wanted say that I dearly love M.R.J.'s writing A LOT. Love the seemingly effortless technique he has for creating real chillers without the bells and whistles of an H.P. Lovecraft. And that wry, dry British humor can't be beat. I intend to narrate his works in the future when I can better approximate a British accent and polish up my narrative delivery style. My voice would not be the first choice for many of the audios here. I indulge myself. I have fun casting myself in roles I would never be cast in....One thing I've learned in the 8 years I've been reading aloud and recording is that listeners either LIKE or DISLIKE reader's voices. You can't argue with their reasons. If you're going to spend time one on one with someone talking to you, you're going to want to enjoy that time and Like that person's voice. I try to tell the stories as if I'm speaking directly to one person. A friend. That's the main thing I try to do. I like to think that if I can come close to succeeding in doing that, it compensates for the imperfections. Cheers. I hope you will subscribe listen to other stories here and elsewhere. E.E.F.

[@wmnoffaith1]

Well, I can understand your point. I confess that Mr. French wouldn't be my first choice for Canon Alberic's Scrapbook. This story though strikes me differently. It's hardly ever recorded and shows more of M.R. James humor than most of his stories. Something about the way Mr. French captures that humor really appeals to me. I must say that since uploading, I have probably listened to this at least 6 times. Even without the accent, just for the delivery I think I would choose this rendition of the story as my favorite.