Cover of The Monkey's Paw

The Monkey's Paw

by W. W. Jacobs

First published
1995
Reading level
Easy
Price
Free

About the book

"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.

  • Horror tales
  • Wishes

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #12122. The Monkey's Paw on Wikipedia.

More free books by W. W. Jacobs

About W. W. Jacobs