The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands

The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands

Infobox short story |
name = The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands
author = Stephen King
country = United States
language = English
genre = Horror short story
published_in = "Shadows 4" (1st release),
"Skeleton Crew"
publisher =
publication_type = Anthology
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pub_date = 1982
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands" is a short story by Stephen King first published in the 1982 horror anthology "Shadows 4", edited by Charles L. Grant, and collected in "Skeleton Crew" in 1985.

Like the novella "The Breathing Method" from King's collection "Different Seasons", the story takes the form of a nested narrative told in a strange 'club' in Manhattan.

Plot summary

It entails an aged, wealthy man recounting a card game he played in many years ago where he met an odd man who refused to touch anyone, recoiling from contact in fear. After the odd man wins the game, a young player leaps up and shakes his hand enthusiastically. The odd man screams and bolts from the room. The narrator then makes it his mission to find him and give him his winnings. It is revealed shortly thereafter that the young player who shook the odd man's hand died of a brain aneurysm. The narrator speaks with an old associate of the man, who tells him the title character was cursed by an Indian shaman after an unfortunate accident where the "Shake Hands Man" accidentally caused the death of a boy. The man is cursed to cause the death of any person he touches. The narrator then finds that the odd man died in a seedy inn, one hand firmly clasping the other.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Shake hands — may refer to:* Handshake * Shake Hands with the Devil (book), a nonfiction book by a witness of the Rwandan genocide * , a documentary film based on the book * Shake Hands with the Devil (2006 film), a Canadian dramatic film based on the book *… …   Wikipedia

  • The Reach — Not to be confused with the fictional creators of the Blue Beetle scarab. The Reach Author Stephen King Original title Do the Dead Sing? Country United States Language …   Wikipedia

  • The Mist — For the 2007 film based on King s novella, see The Mist (film). The Mist   …   Wikipedia

  • The Breathing Method — Infobox short story | name = The Breathing Method author = Stephen King country = United States language = English genre = Drama published in = Different Seasons publisher = Viking Press media type = Anthology pub date = 1982 preceded by =… …   Wikipedia

  • The Passing of the Great Race — The Passing of The Great Race; or, The racial basis of European history was an influential book of scientific racism written by the American eugenicist, lawyer, and amateur anthropologist Madison Grant in 1916. The book was very influential in… …   Wikipedia

  • The Death of Jean DeWolff — Cover of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider Man 110 (Jan 1986)., the issue containing the final part of the storyline. Art by Rich Buckler featuring Spider Man (in his black costume) fighting Daredevil. Publisher Marvel Comics …   Wikipedia

  • The Bus Uncle — Chinese 巴士阿叔 Transcriptions Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin …   Wikipedia

  • The X Factor (Australia season 3) — The X Factor Season 3 Broadcast from 29 August 2011–22 November 2011 Judges Guy Sebastian Ronan Keating Natalie Bassingthwaighte Mel B Host(s) Luke Jacobz …   Wikipedia

  • Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze — DVD Cover Directed by Michael Anderson …   Wikipedia

  • Holding the Man — (ISBN 0 14 025784 5) is the best selling memoir by the Australian writer, actor, and activist Timothy Conigrave. It was adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy in 2006, and has become one of the most successful Australian stage productions in… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”