This reading omits the major and minor designations for the Judkins brothers that appear in the original text (abbreviated as Judkins ma. and Judkins mi.). We're left to assume that every mention of Judkins refers to Stanley, which makes the ending very confusing.
This is literally the scariest story I have read of MR James. I shudder and retreat into myself when I read it, and anywhere I see a tuft of tree and bush on a walk, I hastily speed up to get away should I see those swaying shapes between the trees.
HorrorBabble ooh creepy ain’t the word for it!! Downright terrifying! I remember hearing how James read this story aloud to a group of Boy Scouts and how they trembled and passed a sleepless night afterwards.
One of my favorite M R James stories. It starts in a warm sunny day with kids humour, and slides smoothly and inexorably into pure horror. It's still daylight but the sun is cold and being able to see what's coming makes it worse... Great reading!
10:57 I love the double dubbing you did there to make it sound like they both said the same thing at the same time. Little details like that really make the story come to life.
I love this story, it strikes me as proof of Montague's black sense of humour - especially the 'lifesaving competition'. It always reminds me of Ripping Yarns' Tomkinson's School Days. An excellent choice and well read as always, Ian.
Never heard that one before, and Boy Scouts, quite good. I see you've overdubbed your voice in this one, nice effect, for simultaneous speech by the pair of boys. Thanks much for the tale, and I wish you well in your endeavors.
This has always been one of my favorite stories, and I’ve never had much sympathy for Stanley Judkins, who is the typical school bully and miscreant. Great reading, as always!
This is a great story and narration! This tale went from hilarious to absolutely terrifying in a heartbeat. Well done "Monty". The Turn of the Screw puts me to sleep every time I read it; this story is the polar opposite. I chuckled at what the leaders said about Stanley Judkins. 15:08 Thank God they did not have the survival competition when I was a scout. Hands and feet tied together....hog-tied and thrown into a lake while the person who is to save you fakes a cramp and falls down. Well done, Ian! I am listening to this again tomorrow.
I was member of the By Scouts , back in the day and , as such attended many Jamborees and camp outs where I ran across a couple Stanly Judkins and a whole troop of Arthur Wilcox s
The Ghost Stories of M. R. James Episode 6: Wailing Well The story tells of an abandoned well in the English countryside. Who, or what, dwells within? Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com www.patreon.com/horrorbabble HorrorBabble MERCH: teespring.com/stores/horrorbabble-merch Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on: AUDIBLE / ITUNES / SPOTIFY Home: www.horrorbabble.com Rue Morgue: www.rue-morgue.com Social Media: facebook.com/HorrorBabble instagram.com/horrorbabble twitter.com/HorrorBabble
"what the duce? Young ass!" You're the man, Ian :>) Love when u do kid's voices. Nothing good in the brambles, eh? Totally obsessed with your readings. Keep on doing cthulhu's good work!
Oh hey, I've actually read this one in an actual book, long time ago. "That boy is the most infernal nuisance ever invented." Heh, now there's a new favorite insult. James has a certain way with words I rather like, I should look up more of his stories.
In five lifesaving competitions, only four boys succumbed? I guess the parents might be unpleasant about that... I have to admit, the first time I heard this, I completely missed the humor...
No, there are two Judkins brothers, who are roommates at the school. This reader omits the references to "Judkins ma." and Judkins mi." (for major and minor, meaning older and younger) that appear in the original text. The Judkins who goes to the well is the older brother; the one mentioned at the very end is Judkins mi.
@ Michael Judson. Thanks for clarifying the omission about 2 brothers. I must confess that originally I was puzzled by the mention of Judkins towards the end, since it was obvious that Stanley Judkins had got what persons like him often deserve😆
This reading omits the major and minor designations for the Judkins brothers that appear in the original text (abbreviated as Judkins ma. and Judkins mi.). We're left to assume that every mention of Judkins refers to Stanley, which makes the ending very confusing.
This is literally the scariest story I have read of MR James. I shudder and retreat into myself when I read it, and anywhere I see a tuft of tree and bush on a walk, I hastily speed up to get away should I see those swaying shapes between the trees.
It is a particularly creepy one!
HorrorBabble ooh creepy ain’t the word for it!! Downright terrifying! I remember hearing how James read this story aloud to a group of Boy Scouts and how they trembled and passed a sleepless night afterwards.
What an experience that must have been.
@TheLightofAniu now that is awesome!
@HorrorBabble I can guarantee nobody slept that night.
One of my favorite M R James stories. It starts in a warm sunny day with kids humour, and slides smoothly and inexorably into pure horror. It's still daylight but the sun is cold and being able to see what's coming makes it worse...
Great reading!
10:57 I love the double dubbing you did there to make it sound like they both said the same thing at the same time. Little details like that really make the story come to life.
That was good!
I love this story, it strikes me as proof of Montague's black sense of humour - especially the 'lifesaving competition'. It always reminds me of Ripping Yarns' Tomkinson's School Days.
An excellent choice and well read as always, Ian.
I think he actually wrote this story for a boys scout troop.
@@AafkeArt That would certainly make sense!
This is one of my favorite stories from James. And oddly just this past weekend I watched the first episode of Ripping Yarns for the first time.
*THIS, good sir, is as frightening as any I have heard!!! Outstanding!!! Thank you!*
Ian Gordon - Excellent Narrator.
Never heard that one before, and Boy Scouts, quite good. I see you've overdubbed your voice in this one, nice effect, for simultaneous speech by the pair of boys. Thanks much for the tale, and I wish you well in your endeavors.
Thanks William!
The man who ended the life saving competition should have won the badge for the life saving competition.
This has always been one of my favorite stories, and I’ve never had much sympathy for Stanley Judkins, who is the typical school bully and miscreant. Great reading, as always!
Brilliant, thank you very much for this treat!!!
Thanks as always, Jamie!
This is a great story and narration! This tale went from hilarious to absolutely terrifying in a heartbeat. Well done "Monty". The Turn of the Screw puts me to sleep every time I read it; this story is the polar opposite.
I chuckled at what the leaders said about Stanley Judkins. 15:08
Thank God they did not have the survival competition when I was a scout. Hands and feet tied together....hog-tied and thrown into a lake while the person who is to save you fakes a cramp and falls down.
Well done, Ian! I am listening to this again tomorrow.
I was member of the By Scouts , back in the day and , as such attended many Jamborees and camp outs where I ran across a couple Stanly Judkins and a whole troop of Arthur Wilcox s
I hope you avoided wailing wells, Jim!
Worst nightmare ever. Gave me chills. Too spooky.
Wonderful.Excellent as always.I love your work.Please continue.
Ian Gordon, I simply cannot live without your sweet honey 🍯 voice lulling me to sleep every night.
O my, Mr Gordon...sweet, honey voice? Well really!! 🤣🤣
Thanks for the video!
Excellent blend of wit and horror! Loved it.
I love M.R.JAMES !!! TYSM for this unexpected upload , dearest ian & jen !! I'm so happy, not well today. So grateful for this while I rest...💖
I'm sorry to hear you're not well KB - best wishes from Jennifer and me! Take it easy - grab a warm drink and hibernate. :)
@@HorrorBabble ; )
The Ghost Stories of M. R. James
Episode 6: Wailing Well
The story tells of an abandoned well in the English countryside. Who, or what, dwells within?
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon:
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This story was really good! Thanks for uploading it!☺
This is the one M. R. James story I find eerie, but not alarming. It’s too good-humoured.
At least until murderous skeletons bleed a boy dry and add him to their pack of ghosts. 😬💀
Wonderful story and narration! Many thanks!
Such a good story. Thank you!
"what the duce? Young ass!" You're the man, Ian :>) Love when u do kid's voices. Nothing good in the brambles, eh? Totally obsessed with your readings. Keep on doing cthulhu's good work!
Thankyou for this.😊
Excellent tale, excellently read 😀👍
Oh hey, I've actually read this one in an actual book, long time ago.
"That boy is the most infernal nuisance ever invented." Heh, now there's a new favorite insult. James has a certain way with words I rather like, I should look up more of his stories.
In five lifesaving competitions, only four boys succumbed? I guess the parents might be unpleasant about that...
I have to admit, the first time I heard this, I completely missed the humor...
Trees that can't be dented with an axe and fire that won't start when it supposed to is far scarier than some random-ass ghosts.
Time for bulldozers and carpet bombing.
@@cnkclark "If the brute force isn't working - you are not using enough of it"
Vampire like ghosts and the boy should have listened like Brazai, "The Wise" for both lacked wisdom.
It baffles me that 13k people have listened to this but less than 500 people rated it with either a thumbs up or down.
Horrific. Well done Sir.
*Spoiler
I'm a little slow on the uptake: did Judkins trick Wilcox into going to the well?
The ending is enigmatic. I'd like to know why you think that may be the case?
No, there are two Judkins brothers, who are roommates at the school. This reader omits the references to "Judkins ma." and Judkins mi." (for major and minor, meaning older and younger) that appear in the original text. The Judkins who goes to the well is the older brother; the one mentioned at the very end is Judkins mi.
@ Michael Judson. Thanks for clarifying the omission about 2 brothers. I must confess that originally I was puzzled by the mention of Judkins towards the end, since it was obvious that Stanley Judkins had got what persons like him often deserve😆
A very different kind of story from M.R. James.
Seems like a lot of characters are named after horror writers. Hope = william hope hogeson etc
"In the 18th century..."
No. Try again.
Yes, that made the entire first half of the story very hard to picture until I pretended I misheard what he had said
I had to check to see if anyone else had caught it.
I'm like # 666 haha!
Too deep a subject for shallow minds😃😃 good one
@mark burress think too high of ourselves? Just an observation from us of the shallow minds