Great story and narration.

The Wendigo, what an atmospheric and creepy tale of terror. You won't regret adding this to your audible library.

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classic horror story

Well written and enjoyable, the wendigo is a very interesting piece of folklore not used well enough in horror fiction

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Unengaging

Would you try another book written by Algernon Blackwood or narrated by Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot?

Probably. I didn't have any problems with the narrator, and I've read/listened to other Blackwood stories. I read (and later listened to) The Willows, which is, I think, generally regarded a classic, but I didn't like the prose. There was another one I listened to, I forget the title, but it was set in a French town where everybody behaved like cats.

What will your next listen be?

The Island of Doctor Moreau.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scene I most *wanted to* enjoy was when the young man was alone in the woods by the lake and was aware of the awesome power of nature. I got what the author was trying to do, but don't think he succeeded. Not for me, anyway.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment, certainly. This story was recommended to me by a friend, and also by H.P. Lovecraft in his famous essay on the supernatural in literature. (I like that last sentence up to but not including the word "in" - it sounds like I was down the pub chatting to old Howard.)
The idea of being in the wilds where something unknown picks people off is a very scary one, and one that has been used many times in horror, especially in films. But the execution fell short here. I wasn't rooting for anyone, the prose was very waffly (with too much passive voice) and did far more telling than showing. Even the time frame jumped about; one sentence we're in the woods, the next it's after-the-event stuff, then it's back to the woods...

Any additional comments?

When did supernatural horror writers learn that they can leap right in, and put the reader in the position of the protagonist throughout the story? I've read a fair few other works from the 19th century, and they always seem to need some framing story - usually Victorian gentlemen drinking port and smoking cigars until someone decides to tell their story about a ghostly encounter (to be invariably mocked for believing in ghosts), or else we get a whole chapter detailing how they got hold of the ancient manuscript that is the actual story. These things can add atmosphere, but generally they're irrelevant.

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2 people found this helpful