What was one of the most memorable moments of Ghost Stories of … James provides it by the bucketload in this collection. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2017. But try I did. Eight classics by a great Edwardian scholar and storyteller. --Wikipedia. Fabulous free download. It occurred to me that these tales might be more fun if read aloud, maybe this should have been a listen and not a read. Alas, this was the sort of classic that reminded me why it's precisely every so often and not more frequently than that. Get ready for the shivers when you read these creepers. Unable to add item to List. That being said, they're perfectly readable and enjoyable if you're in a fireplace/campfire mood. I was quite honestly surprised by just how much I enjoyed these stories. "Number Thirteen," "The Mezzotint," "Canon Alberic's Scrapbook," more. James's stories. The language is very of it's time, but it provides a subtle distance to the whole thing that amplifies it's creepiness; the scares themselves usually build slowly and steadily rather than jump out to get you. I think it was the slowness of the development, as I saw it at the time. ", Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories (The Complete Ghost Stories of M. R. James, Vol. Classic set of superb ghost stories. I am, of course, familiar with the dramatic literary concept of "Always leave your reader wanting more." Out of the 7, the story Number 13 is my favorite. Ghost-stories of an antiquary by M. R. James, 1971, Dover Publications edition, in English My main complaint with all of the stories contained herein is that they end too abruptly. Perfect for Halloween/Christmas. There's a problem loading this menu right now. I tried and tried, took several sittings. So, right off the bat, the reader is sunk into a well of mysterious words and cryptic clues pointing to a dark present connected to a deep and foggy past. Classic set of superb ghost stories. James' most important and well-known works are those collected in Ghost Stories of an Antiquary and its sequel, More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary. Montague Rhodes James (1862 ~ 1936) is the father of the English ghost story. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. This spirit world embodies (if that is the word!) In each of them the story is told second or even third hand by a genial narrator whose acquaintances, who are themselves of a decidedly scholarly bent, have been the victims of supernatural intrusion into our world. The book's page count is misleading, it's entered as 94 on GR and 122 on Amazon and yet by my account considering the time spent reading it and the. Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. When he has you thoroughly involved and at your most somnambulant, it is only then that the inexplicable suddenly rears its head, usually byway of a few powerful images that change the dream to nightmare. But I do insist that he's an excellent storyteller, never resorting to flowery descriptions in order to build the atmosphere or to induce fear. M. R. James is regarded by many as the Master of the British Ghost Story. James Ghost Stories of an Antiquary Read by David Timson & Stephen Critchlow unabridged. James, M. R. (Montague Rhodes), 1862-1936: Title: Ghost Stories of an Antiquary Contents: Canon Alberic's scrap-book -- Lost hearts -- The mezzotint -- The ash-tree -- Number 13 -- Count Magnus -- 'Oh whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad' -- The treasure of Abbot Thomas. Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, Vol. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) was a medieval scholar; Provost of King's College, Cambridge. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Every so often it's good to dip into a classic. Something went wrong. :)) but with literate, Victorian adults as the protagonists. Most reveiewers here feel that MR James is a master of the genre and I agree. In each of them the story is told second or even third hand by a genial narrator whose acquaintances, who are themselves of a decidedly scholarly bent, have been the victims of supernatural intrusion into our world. I tried and tried, took several sittings. The language is very of it's time, but it provides a subtle distance to the whole thing that amplifies it's creepiness; the scares themselves usually bu. Only slightly inferior to James' first effort, Ghost Stories of An Antiquary, an acknowledged classic of the genre. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2015, Complete, unabridged readings of the first (and arguably the best) M.R James collection of ghost stories? Imagine putting the book down and seeing a shape close by, not too dissimilar to the one you'd just read about... Did and entity from the mind of M. R. James find its way into this world..? Our modern world is a networked vulgarity, an over-exposure, a world with its share of horror but devoid of ghosts. If you like reading Latin (don't worry, there is a translation given) it won't cause no harm. The hands were of a dusky pallor, covered, like the body, with long, coarse hairs, and hideously taloned. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. Please try again. Montague Rhodes James was a noted medieval scholar and provost of Kings College, Cambridge. While I enjoyed the stories here, I didn't find them at all scary or really all that dark. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Part of my attachment must be put down to nostalgia - growing up, the only horror I could usually get my hands on was the kind that came in huge anthologies and tended to the classical (read: old!). James's stories. His short stories are, quite simply, the finest traditional supernatural tales ever penned by mortal man. Charcateristic of the genre is an inciteement to fear of the inheritance of the past and fear of a possible spirit world living close to us but seldom seen or apprehended. This was M.R.James' first colection of short stories and it's a great starter for his works. 1), Smallbone Deceased: A London Mystery (British Library Crime Classics), Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) was a paleographer and medievalist scholar; Provost of King's College, Cambridge. Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, Vol. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2014. How could I possibly resist?! The first hardback collected edition appeared in 1931. These ghosts stories are all history, all soul and the spirits who haunt the pages of these tales are the spirits of the past, our past, come to haunt us, whispering, "come back, come back, it is dark and old and cosy here". Everyday low … Chillingly atmospheric, quietly terrifying, M. R. James’s stories explore the darkness just beyond the flicker of the candle, behind the creaking door. If you have a faible for antiquaries and like a carefully plotted story with a certain amount of horror at the middle you're absolutely right here. The last story in the collection suffers from this the least, but it still ends without what I would consider a satisfactory conclusion. I first read MR James several years ago, and he still remains my favorite ghost story writer. I'll admit, I'm a bit biased when it comes to M.R. We’d love your help. Today all glitters and is surface only, we fear the lving not the dead and not living people so much as their creations and their demands. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2019. And this is a necessary technique, required if the “meat” is to render its savour to the fullest. Filled with anguish and longing together, we will that the dead walk again, that not all graves are silent. James, M. R. (Montague Rhodes), 1862-1936: Title: Ghost Stories of an Antiquary Part 2: More Ghost Stories Contents: A school story -- The rose garden -- The tractate Middoth -- Casting the runes -- The stalls of Barchester Cathedral -- Martin's Close -- Mr. Humphreys and his inheritance. November 24th 2011 There was a problem loading your book clubs. He wrote many of his ghost stories to be read aloud in the long tradition of spooky Christmas Eve tales. Renowned for their wit, erudition and suspense, these stories are each masterfully constructed and represent a high achievement in the ghost genre. In the twentieth-century literature of the supernatural, the single most important book, in the opinion of most scholars and enthusiasts, is Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, by Montague Rhodes James.First printed in 1904, it is the landmark book that established the modern horror story. Imagine one of the awful bird-catching spiders of South America translated into human form, and endowed with intelligence just less than human, and you will have some faint conception of the terror inspired by the appalling effigy.”, A Warning to the Curious and Other Ghost Stories, the jibblies for fifteen minutes straight, Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories for Late at Night, Great Ghost Stories: 101 Terrifying Tales, Charles Keeping's Classic Tales of the Macabre. GHOST STORIES OF AN ANTIQUARY, contains some of the earlier tales of author M.R. Great sample of some of M.R. Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) was a medieval scholar; Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. The collection will still cause the hairs to raise on the back of your neck, as well as cause goose bumps. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Maybe it was the somnolent pacing. He wrote many of his ghost stories to be read aloud in the … He has a way of setting the scene so that you think the places are real places and the people are real people, so the tension also feels real. These stories are like beautifully crafted little gems, rich in tiny, exquisite detail, and sparkling with dark beauty. £1,500.00. If you have a faible for antiquaries and like a carefully plotted story with a certain amount of horror at the middle you're absolutely right here. Widely beloved, widely lauded these are suppose to be among the finest tales of supernatural fiction and yet they didn't do it for me at all. These books are not intended to depress: quite the contrary. Each of his short stories evokes the most vivid images even though James tends to limit his descriptions, allowing the imagination of the reader to run wild. Utterly lacking in gore and in-your-face horror, James' fiction relies on the delicate manipulation of the reader's imagination to create a subtle, uneasy sort of suspense. Nothing truly scary within these pages. Renowned for their wit, erudition and suspense, these stories are each masterfully constructed and represent a high achievement in the ghost genre. Start by marking “Ghost Stories of an Antiquary” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I found myself thinking of both Lovecraft (in James’ use of made-up manuscripts and a reliance on protagonists of a learned bent whose curiosity proves to be their bane) and Clark Ashton-Smith (though with prose that was a little less flowery) though I think James is a much better stylist than the former and a little less given to the more extreme flights of fancy of the latter. Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019. I am not, generally speaking, a fan of much horror and I felt that these stories may fall into that space. James climbs inside his reader’s skull and caresses the psyche in an extremely subtle way, which, if you will allow him, involves you in the creation of the story. If you like re. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2020. His short stories are, quite simply, the finest traditional supernatural tales ever penned by mortal man. James' tales--I own his complete works, and have re-read it several times. M. R. JAMES (1862 - 1936) Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) was a medieval scholar; Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. These are like the stories told around the campfire or sitting in the dark during a slumber party (remember the hook hand and lover's lane? It's time to get in that last stretch of winter reading and prepare our Want to Read shelves for spring. £2,500.00. This particular selection is available for free download on public domain. A word of warning: Despite his suggestion in an essay that writers should employ reticence in their work, many of James' tales depict scenes and images of savage and often disturbing violence. Gaining fame as a genre book ought to main complaint with all the. We will that the dead walk again, that not all graves are silent a dusky pallor,,! For horror that 's still creepy after a century passes, and he remains. 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