*Title: The Man in the Bell by William Maginn
Date Read: 13 October 2009
Available Online?: YES
Briefly: Having climbed the bell tower to remove a silencer from the bell’s clapper, the narrator finds himself trapped beneath the bell as it begins to ring out. Immobile in his terrifying position – an inch of being crushed by the moving bell, and having to bear the intolerable peal of the bell as it rings, the narrator relates the whole terrible ordeal.
Afterthoughts: What can I say? An absolutely superb story. I’ve never been close enough to a church bell to have ever considered it in any way detrimental to my health and well-being. And after reading Maginn’s chilling tale from 1821, neither would I ever want to be. Claustrophobia, anxiety, stress, and abject terror feature prominently in this tale and there’s not even a ghostly presence in sight. A real Gothic goody!
Notable Quote: Over me swung an immense mass of metal, one touch of which would have crushed me to pieces; the floor under me was principally composed of crazy laths, and if they gave way, I was precipitated to the distance of about fifty feet upon a loft, which would, in all probability, have sunk under the impulse of my fall, and sent me to be dashed to atoms upon the marble floor of the chancel, a hundred feet below.
Rating: 
*Story read as part of my 31 Shots of Shock reading challenge.
About Rob
Great choice. Although Maginn was predominantly a humourist rather than a horror writer (i think that “man in the bell” is the only horror story he ever attempted), i recommend “Bob Burke’s Duel” and “A Vision of Purgatory” (both are online). A collected edition of his writing is long overdue. best, tychy.
says:
Tychy,
Apologies for the late reply. Thank you for the additional Magiin recommendations. I’ll be sure to check them out