Classic Book Reader
Cover of The Monkey's Paw

The Monkey's Paw

by W. W. Jacobs (1863–1943)

  • Free to read
  • 15 min read
  • 3 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs is a horror short story first published in 1902. When the White family receives a mummified monkey's paw that grants three wishes, they dismiss warnings about its terrible power. Their seemingly innocent wish sets off a chain of devastating events that test the boundaries between fate and human desire. This classic tale of supernatural consequences has become one of the most adapted horror stories in literature, spawning countless retellings across stage, film, and television.

Read free now No app, no sign-up. Your place is saved automatically. Or download for your e-reader ↓
  • Horror tales
  • Wishes

Read the opening

Chapter I

Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.

“Hark at the wind,” said Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.

“I’m listening,” said the latter, grimly surveying the board as he stretched out his hand. “Check.”

“I should hardly think that he’d come to-night,” said his father, with his hand poised over the board.

“Mate,” replied the son.

Keep reading The Monkey's Paw →

Contents

  1. Chapter I
  2. Chapter II
  3. Chapter III

Download for your e-reader

Files are provided by Project Gutenberg. On a Kindle, the simplest route is to send the EPUB with Amazon’s Send to Kindle. Downloaded copies don’t sync with your place on Classic Book Reader.

About this edition

This free edition of The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #12122, released 2004-04-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

More by W. W. Jacobs