The White People by Arthur Machen

The White People

Unsettling folklore meets hypnotic dread

Written byArthur Machen
Length1h42m
Release dateSeptember 11, 2017
LanguageEnglish
★★★★ 4.3 (21 ratings)

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Quick Facts

AuthorArthur Machen
NarratorFelbrigg Napoleon Herriot
Runtime1h42m
PublishedSeptember 11, 2017
Rating★★★★ 4.3 / 5 (21 ratings)
CategoriesLiterature & Fiction, Anthologies & Short Stories, Short Stories, Horror
FormatAudiobook (Digital)
PlatformAudible

About This Audiobook

Arthur Machen’s *The White People* isn’t just a short story—it’s a slow-burning descent into the uncanny, where folklore seeps into reality like ink in water. The tale follows a young girl’s fragmented confessions to an obsessed scholar, her words painting a world where the boundary between myth and experience blurs into something grotesque. Machen’s prose is dense with symbolism, but it never feels indulgent; every eerie detail serves the creeping unease. This isn’t horror for jump scares—it’s horror for those who linger too long in the shadows of their own minds.

What makes this audiobook stand out is Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot’s narration, which strikes a delicate balance between scholarly detachment and creeping dread. His voice carries the weight of a man reciting a cautionary tale, but when the girl’s whispers kick in, his delivery shifts subtly, as if the words are being pulled from his throat against his will. The result is less a performance than a séance, drawing listeners into a world where the listener’s own imagination becomes the real monster.

Tags: uncanny folklore horrorpsychological terror audiobookArthur Machen short storiesnarrative voice actingsupernatural dread audiobook

Why Listen to The White People?

  • Expert narration by Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot brings every character and scene to life across 1h42m of immersive audio.
  • Highly rated at 4.3 stars by 21 listeners.
  • Free with your Audible trial — keep the audiobook forever even if you cancel.
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Editor's Review ★★★★

AudioBook Atlas

Herriot’s narration is the secret weapon here. On paper, *The White People* can read like a cryptic puzzle, but his voice lends the story a tangible dread—every pause feels deliberate, every inflection like a loaded gun. The moment the girl’s confessions grow more unhinged, his tone doesn’t overplay the horror; instead, he lets the silence between words do the work, which is far more unsettling. It’s a masterclass in how to make a 100-year-old story feel alive. That said, the production is occasionally too sparse. The lack of ambient sound means some listeners might crave a hint of atmosphere—just a whisper of wind or a distant echo—to deepen the immersion. And while Machen’s prose is masterful, the abrupt shifts between the scholar’s clinical observations and the girl’s feverish monologues could confuse listeners unfamiliar with the source material. Still, for those who love their horror cerebral and slow, this is a chilling victory. Just don’t listen before bed.

Download: The White People

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The White People by Arthur Machen is an immersive listening experience. Performed by Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot with a runtime of 1h42m, you can start with a free trial that you can cancel at any time. The audiobook remains yours forever, even if you end the trial.