Wailing Well

By: Montague Rhodes James

Narrated by: David Collings

This is the unabridged audio recording of M R James' excellent ghost story "Wailing Well". Read by David Collings, this is sure to scare and delight in equal measure.

Public Domain (P)2010 Craftsman Unabridged Audio

Critic reviews

"David Collings reads wonderfully well." (The Observer)

Little gem of horror from M.R. James

A sweet little palate cleanser when I'm between books:
a horror story from the wicked imagination of the Master of Ghost stories..

Wonderful Ghost Story

M.R. James is my favorite ghost story writer of all time, and I have read all his ghost stories over and over, but I never really thought much of this one till I bought this recording of it and listened to it. James first wrote these stories to be read aloud and I think that this one does not really achieve its full effect until you experience it this way. The reader does a great job here; and the story itself, with it's lighthearted start of dry, somewhat macabre British public school humor leaves one totally unprepared for the gradually creeping advance of true horror that builds almost imperceptibly to a magnificently hair-raising climax that NEVER fails to turn my blood to ice and bring a tear to my eye. I think it is one of the best ghost stories ever written, (though persons who are sensitive about children in ghost stories might want to avoid it.) and I highly, HIGHLY recommend this recording of it. Utterly FAB!!!

Excellent Spooky Story

This was an excellent tale of a haunted wailing well and of two boys from a scouting camp who were polar opposites. I will leave it to the listener to discover what happens next. A new favorite tale. Thrilling ending.