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A Thin Ghost and Others
Collection of stories by Montague Rhodes James, a noted medieval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge and of Eton College. He is best remembered today for his ghost stories in the classic Victorian Yuletide vein.
76 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1919
About the author
M.R. James
1,345 books843 followersMontague Rhodes James, who used the publication name M.R. James, was a noted English mediaeval scholar & provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–18) & of Eton College (1918–36). He's best remembered for his ghost stories which are widely regarded as among the finest in English literature. One of James' most important achievements was to redefine the ghost story for the new century by dispensing with many of the formal Gothic trappings of his predecessors, replacing them with more realistic contemporary settings.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
M.R.^James
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
M.R.^James
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 25, 2024
I first read this slim book of ghost tales ten years ago, and, as a great admirer of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, was initially disappointed in these five tales. I took them for weak imitations of James' earlier triumphs, their potential power dissipated by Dickensian humor, unwelcome digressions, and convoluted plots.
A second reading has changed my mind. What I once saw as imitation now seems more like experiment, a movement away from the comforting antiquarian tale toward more palpable horror: inexplicable piles of insect husks, hairy things spawned from haunted wallpaper, and the life-in-death terror that puppets possess in dreams.
The domestic humor and narrative distortions I once deplored are conjurer's tricks James uses to disorient the reader, leaving him more susceptible—and therefore more vulnerable—to nightmare. The conventional furniture--even the titles--of these stories function as forms of misdirection. Sinister chests remain unopened, old books reveal little, tomb effigies are never identified, “The Residence at Whitminster” ghost has no real connection with the church, "Mr. Poynter's Diary" is more important for the baleful object slipped between its pages than for anything imparted by its text, and the 'appearance' referred to in “The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance” (a narrative as fragmented and disturbing as anything in Thomas Ligotti) does little to resolve the mystery of its tale.
One last thought: A Thin Ghost and Others was originally published in 1919 when the chills of the traditional Christmas Eve ghost story must have seemed absurdly precious compared to the reality of trench warfare, even from the ivory tower perspective of Cambridge don M.R. James. Might this have something to do with the darkening tone, the chaotic atmosphere of these stories?
October 21, 2022
A Slim Volume of a Thin Ghost
Review of the Independently Published paperback edition (2021) of the original A Thin Ghost and Others (1919) hardcover published by Edward Arnold.
"The Ghost Story" (1887) painting by Walter MacEwen, from which a portion was cropped for the cover image of this edition of "A Thin Ghost and Others". The original painting is in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
I've been gradually working my way through Collected Ghost Stories (1931 original / 2017 expanded edition) by Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936). In advance of Halloween 2022 I'm reviewing a further set of 5 stories as they were collected in James' third collection in 1919. This is his shortest collection which is the reason for my lede title.
James honed his style by giving annual Christmas Eve readings at Cambridge or Eton of his latest effort. These are usually within a set story framework which has since been described as Jamesian. This style involves a) a historic building or setting where b) a gentleman scholar / researcher found or sought c) an artifact or object which is d) later found to be cursed and haunted in some manner. This Jamesian format is thus the precursor all sorts of modern day adventure stories such as the Indiana Jones series or the Robert Langdon series of movies and TV shows.
A copy of the 1st edition of "A Thin Ghost and Others" as published by Edward Arnold (1919). Image sourced from Wikipedia.
Mild Spoilers ahead. I mostly discuss the setups of the stories without disclosing the endings, but some may consider these spoilers, so I've blocked it accordingly.
Trivia and Links
The Ghost Stories of M.R. James have been adapted on an occasional basis by the BBC TV Series A Ghost Story for Christmas (1971-78, 2005-ongoing). None of the stories from A Thin Ghost and Others have been adapted to date (as of October 2022).
A Thin Ghost and Others can be read for free at both Wikisource and Project Gutenberg.
A Thin Ghost and Others can also be listened to for free through a public domain audiobook at LibriVox.
Review of the Independently Published paperback edition (2021) of the original A Thin Ghost and Others (1919) hardcover published by Edward Arnold.
But in the town not a family but knew how he stopped out at night: and them that was with him, why they were such as would strip the skin from the child in its grave; and a withered heart makes an ugly thin ghost. - from "The Residence at Whitminster" by M.R. James
What is all this love for if we have to go out into the dark? - M.R. James (from an unidentified story, quoted on the back cover of this edition.)
"The Ghost Story" (1887) painting by Walter MacEwen, from which a portion was cropped for the cover image of this edition of "A Thin Ghost and Others". The original painting is in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
I've been gradually working my way through Collected Ghost Stories (1931 original / 2017 expanded edition) by Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936). In advance of Halloween 2022 I'm reviewing a further set of 5 stories as they were collected in James' third collection in 1919. This is his shortest collection which is the reason for my lede title.
James honed his style by giving annual Christmas Eve readings at Cambridge or Eton of his latest effort. These are usually within a set story framework which has since been described as Jamesian. This style involves a) a historic building or setting where b) a gentleman scholar / researcher found or sought c) an artifact or object which is d) later found to be cursed and haunted in some manner. This Jamesian format is thus the precursor all sorts of modern day adventure stories such as the Indiana Jones series or the Robert Langdon series of movies and TV shows.
A copy of the 1st edition of "A Thin Ghost and Others" as published by Edward Arnold (1919). Image sourced from Wikipedia.
Mild Spoilers ahead. I mostly discuss the setups of the stories without disclosing the endings, but some may consider these spoilers, so I've blocked it accordingly.
Trivia and Links
The Ghost Stories of M.R. James have been adapted on an occasional basis by the BBC TV Series A Ghost Story for Christmas (1971-78, 2005-ongoing). None of the stories from A Thin Ghost and Others have been adapted to date (as of October 2022).
A Thin Ghost and Others can be read for free at both Wikisource and Project Gutenberg.
A Thin Ghost and Others can also be listened to for free through a public domain audiobook at LibriVox.
February 5, 2014
M.R. James, uno de los maestros de las ghost stories, tenía tres normas esenciales que todo relato de fantasmas debía cumplir:
- La historia debe tener lugar en un entorno afín al lector.
- Los fenómenos espectrales has de ser malévolos, es decir, la historia tiene que provocar miedo.
- La trama ha de ser clara para el lector, que no se utilicen términos demasiado eruditos.
Estos tres ingredientes, le sirven a James para escribir unos cuentos de terror fantásticamente bien escritos, donde lo mejor es cómo va construyendo, narrando, la historia. Todos los relatos giran en torno a extraños sucesos, que, si bien no dan miedo (a estas alturas pienso que es más terrorífico cualquier telediario), sí dejan cierta sensación de inquietud. El único inconveniente que le encuentro a estos cuentos es la manera en que los cierra James, ya que parece que se precipite, justo cuando mejor se pone el asunto.
Me gustan los relatos de M.R. James, su prosa es exquisita (gracias a la buena labor del traductor Francisco Torres Oliver). Ahora entiendo la admiración de Lovecraft por este autor.
Estos son los cuentos contenidos en 'El fantasma inconsistente y otros', que incluye una anexo con dos relatos que no aparecieron en la edición original:
- LA RESIDENCIA DE WHITMINSTER (****). Lo sucedido en Whitminster hace unos años, afectará a los nuevos residentes. El esquema del relato es muy bueno, así como los personajes.
- EL DIARIO DEL SEÑOR POYNTER (*****). El señor Denton adquiere unos antiguos diarios, con "sorpresa" incluida. Magnífico cuento, el mejor de la recopilación.
- UN EPISODIO DE LA HISTORIA DE UNA CATEDRAL (***). El señor Worby, sacristán mayor de la catedral de Southmisnter, le refiere al señor Lake la extraña historia de un antiguo sepulcro-altar. Buen relato.
- HISTORIA DE UNA DESAPARICIÓN Y DE UNA APARICIÓN (**). A través de unas cartas, se nos da a conocer una curiosa historia de fantasmas. Lo peor, el final apresurado.
- DOS MÉDICOS (**). Unos papeles encontrados dentro de un libro nos proponen un extraño enigma. Un cuento algo irregular.
ANEXO:
- HABÍA UN HOMBRE QUE VIVÍA JUNTO A UN CEMENTERIO (***), y que le gustaba observar las nuevas "entradas" en dicho recinto...
- RATAS (***). El señor Thomson es un hombre demasiado curioso; le gusta abrir las puertas de la posada en la que se hospeda. Un cuento bastante bueno.
- La historia debe tener lugar en un entorno afín al lector.
- Los fenómenos espectrales has de ser malévolos, es decir, la historia tiene que provocar miedo.
- La trama ha de ser clara para el lector, que no se utilicen términos demasiado eruditos.
Estos tres ingredientes, le sirven a James para escribir unos cuentos de terror fantásticamente bien escritos, donde lo mejor es cómo va construyendo, narrando, la historia. Todos los relatos giran en torno a extraños sucesos, que, si bien no dan miedo (a estas alturas pienso que es más terrorífico cualquier telediario), sí dejan cierta sensación de inquietud. El único inconveniente que le encuentro a estos cuentos es la manera en que los cierra James, ya que parece que se precipite, justo cuando mejor se pone el asunto.
Me gustan los relatos de M.R. James, su prosa es exquisita (gracias a la buena labor del traductor Francisco Torres Oliver). Ahora entiendo la admiración de Lovecraft por este autor.
Estos son los cuentos contenidos en 'El fantasma inconsistente y otros', que incluye una anexo con dos relatos que no aparecieron en la edición original:
- LA RESIDENCIA DE WHITMINSTER (****). Lo sucedido en Whitminster hace unos años, afectará a los nuevos residentes. El esquema del relato es muy bueno, así como los personajes.
- EL DIARIO DEL SEÑOR POYNTER (*****). El señor Denton adquiere unos antiguos diarios, con "sorpresa" incluida. Magnífico cuento, el mejor de la recopilación.
- UN EPISODIO DE LA HISTORIA DE UNA CATEDRAL (***). El señor Worby, sacristán mayor de la catedral de Southmisnter, le refiere al señor Lake la extraña historia de un antiguo sepulcro-altar. Buen relato.
- HISTORIA DE UNA DESAPARICIÓN Y DE UNA APARICIÓN (**). A través de unas cartas, se nos da a conocer una curiosa historia de fantasmas. Lo peor, el final apresurado.
- DOS MÉDICOS (**). Unos papeles encontrados dentro de un libro nos proponen un extraño enigma. Un cuento algo irregular.
ANEXO:
- HABÍA UN HOMBRE QUE VIVÍA JUNTO A UN CEMENTERIO (***), y que le gustaba observar las nuevas "entradas" en dicho recinto...
- RATAS (***). El señor Thomson es un hombre demasiado curioso; le gusta abrir las puertas de la posada en la que se hospeda. Un cuento bastante bueno.
September 9, 2014
These stories seem like a continuation of "Green Tea" by J.S. LaFanu.
February 3, 2020
Of this short collection (my first, but certainly not my last, dip into M. R. James’ ghost stories), the creepiest for me was definitely The Diary of Mr. Poynter, which although unimaginably titled still makes me shudder. (Although I had to laugh when I read that James suggests that when reading his stories you should get the sense of ‘if I’m not careful this could happen to me’ and... I would never have curtains made out of some weird creepy old fabric I found??? Or while renovating a cathedral in the new gothic style (as one does!), ignore the warnings of grumpy old men about meddling with the old pulpit box thingy... Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed these little tinges and tingles of the horrible unknown.
December 28, 2009
Review from Badelynge
M.R. James' third collection of superb ghost stories was published just after the first world war. The first three stories are as chilling as ever. What can beat the visceral chill of thinking you are safe in bed when your dangling hand touches something that is other in the dark. Even though I'm in awe of the whole style of these short form ghost stories I must admit that the closing pair of stories were a little below the standard set in previous publications. I heartily recommend the first two collections to be read before this one. And read them in the depth of Winter when dark and cold holds sway.
M.R. James' third collection of superb ghost stories was published just after the first world war. The first three stories are as chilling as ever. What can beat the visceral chill of thinking you are safe in bed when your dangling hand touches something that is other in the dark. Even though I'm in awe of the whole style of these short form ghost stories I must admit that the closing pair of stories were a little below the standard set in previous publications. I heartily recommend the first two collections to be read before this one. And read them in the depth of Winter when dark and cold holds sway.
June 11, 2018
Lean "Ratas"... sólo eso.
Muahahahah...
Luego hablamos.
Ahora se de donde sacó Lovecraft su forma de escribir y muchos de sus motivos literarios.
"Horror cósmico"... te quiero más que antes.
Searching por más cuentos y obras de M.R. James.
4 estrellas de 5...altamente recomendable.
Muahahahah...
Luego hablamos.
Ahora se de donde sacó Lovecraft su forma de escribir y muchos de sus motivos literarios.
"Horror cósmico"... te quiero más que antes.
Searching por más cuentos y obras de M.R. James.
4 estrellas de 5...altamente recomendable.
Read
September 26, 2022I'm afraid I found these stories just weird. Plus it was hard to read because all the dialogue was in a paragraph, not separated, so sometimes it was a little hard to figure out who was talking.
The parts that I read were not interesting and felt drawn out. Honestly, I gave up about halfway through and I felt that that was being generous with my time.
The parts that I read were not interesting and felt drawn out. Honestly, I gave up about halfway through and I felt that that was being generous with my time.
August 5, 2022
Disturbing nightmares
relatives up to no good
gossiping townsfolk.
relatives up to no good
gossiping townsfolk.
April 28, 2021
Very creepy old stories.
August 18, 2024
More of convoluted plots than his early works, this was called his puzzle-story phase, I think. And a foray into weird fiction with the excellent “The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance"!
December 23, 2013
M.R. James is reputed to be the creator of the modern ghost story, and is said to have inspired numerous 20th century horror writers.
When I read that, I jumped at the chance to read his stuff, much of it for free on Project Gutenberg. This collection, the first I tackled, was a disappointment. The stories have an interesting build up, but end quickly and confusingly. I muttered "What was that all about?" at least twice, and was left wondering if the story had been cut short during scanning.
I'll give him another shot.
When I read that, I jumped at the chance to read his stuff, much of it for free on Project Gutenberg. This collection, the first I tackled, was a disappointment. The stories have an interesting build up, but end quickly and confusingly. I muttered "What was that all about?" at least twice, and was left wondering if the story had been cut short during scanning.
I'll give him another shot.
March 10, 2015
Las historias de M R James tienen la honestidad de la oralidad, cosa curiosa y perdida en un género que parece necesitar de rincones, esquinas y grandes postes para poder beber originalidad. Esta es una lectura que recomiendo, no solo a fans de la fantasmagoriana, sino a cualquiera que vea valor en perseguir las zonas grises que nos rodean.
November 22, 2013
This is the third published volume of MR James horror short stories. These stories are a little more formulaic than those in the previous two volumes. But, just the same, they should be on the must-read list of any fan of the genre.
3 STARS
3 STARS
October 12, 2009
If you are a fan of well-crafted ghost stories this is a must read. M. R. James is a true master when it comes to setting the scene for suspense.
November 21, 2022
individual power rankings as follows:
the residence at whitminster 🌟🌟🌟🌟
- find this one so genuinely eerie and affecting. in the end Saul was an edgy teen born too early to listen to mcr and as a result he caused the deaths of many people and ended up wasted away to a thin ghost.
- the sawflies are fucking scary
- also really love mary. i think m. r. james could be a hell of a misogynist but sometimes he really knocks a fun female side character outta the park
the story of a disappearance and an appearance 🌟🌟🌟🌟
- in the end are we not all destined to be freaked out by a haunted punch and judy show
- the denouement is honestly perplexing but let's be real. sometimes things just have to be baffling. think this one could do with a visual adaptation in a really edgy style
the diary of mr poynter 🌟🌟🌟🌟
- if my curtains did this i would just leave. rip to mr denton but i AM different
- not one of m. r. james's good female characters. however i did enjoy imagining denton and his bachelor friend + his aunt has filled his house with chintz to keep it real i fuck him on the floor
an episode of cathedral history 🌟🌟🌟. 5
- i think this is the one that's secretly a big homage to edwin drood and as a dickens neutral i cannot say i understand that side of it BUT i do love a good spooky cathedral tale so i enjoyed this
- sort of fun getting through more and more james and realising how much he influenced simon feximal. a worthy legacy
two doctors 🌟🌟🌟
- what happened with the bedstead monty!!!!!!
- enjoyed the morbid addendum about graverobbing. i think most stories could be improved with one of these
the residence at whitminster 🌟🌟🌟🌟
- find this one so genuinely eerie and affecting. in the end Saul was an edgy teen born too early to listen to mcr and as a result he caused the deaths of many people and ended up wasted away to a thin ghost.
- the sawflies are fucking scary
- also really love mary. i think m. r. james could be a hell of a misogynist but sometimes he really knocks a fun female side character outta the park
the story of a disappearance and an appearance 🌟🌟🌟🌟
- in the end are we not all destined to be freaked out by a haunted punch and judy show
- the denouement is honestly perplexing but let's be real. sometimes things just have to be baffling. think this one could do with a visual adaptation in a really edgy style
the diary of mr poynter 🌟🌟🌟🌟
- if my curtains did this i would just leave. rip to mr denton but i AM different
- not one of m. r. james's good female characters. however i did enjoy imagining denton and his bachelor friend + his aunt has filled his house with chintz to keep it real i fuck him on the floor
an episode of cathedral history 🌟🌟🌟. 5
- i think this is the one that's secretly a big homage to edwin drood and as a dickens neutral i cannot say i understand that side of it BUT i do love a good spooky cathedral tale so i enjoyed this
- sort of fun getting through more and more james and realising how much he influenced simon feximal. a worthy legacy
two doctors 🌟🌟🌟
- what happened with the bedstead monty!!!!!!
- enjoyed the morbid addendum about graverobbing. i think most stories could be improved with one of these
August 30, 2024
A decadent young lord messes about with folk rituals he doesn’t understand. An archaic wallpaper design hides a sinister presence. The refurbishment of a cathedral uncovers a tomb that contains a malign creature. Professional jealousy between doctors ends in a curiously labyrinthine murder. This short collection, published after several miserable years of war, revisits several old themes of James’s while also pushing his trademark style into new directions.
This third collection of James’ is rather more uneven than his first two. Two un-characteristically long and complex stories take up much of its weight, while two slighter stories, in terms of both length and context sneak in-between. Then it’s final story, Two Doctors, is also long but feels very, very confused.
That said, I really enjoyed the other two long pieces - The Residence at Whitminster and An Episode of Cathedral History - for their complex, dialogic structure. They are probably up there among my favourite James’ stories. But they are both a long way now from the clear, straightforward stories that had characterised his debut or its follow-up. These stories’ very murkiness and lack of definitive sources of horror mean they lack some of the satisfaction that comes from reading say Casting the Runes but lean more into the wonderful folk horror (even Lovecraftian) vibes that had been well-explored in The Rose Garden. I do feel like the rest lack a bit of motivation for the hauntings. They are still satisfactory enough as scary tales, but don’t really seem to evoke much more interest than that.
This third collection of James’ is rather more uneven than his first two. Two un-characteristically long and complex stories take up much of its weight, while two slighter stories, in terms of both length and context sneak in-between. Then it’s final story, Two Doctors, is also long but feels very, very confused.
That said, I really enjoyed the other two long pieces - The Residence at Whitminster and An Episode of Cathedral History - for their complex, dialogic structure. They are probably up there among my favourite James’ stories. But they are both a long way now from the clear, straightforward stories that had characterised his debut or its follow-up. These stories’ very murkiness and lack of definitive sources of horror mean they lack some of the satisfaction that comes from reading say Casting the Runes but lean more into the wonderful folk horror (even Lovecraftian) vibes that had been well-explored in The Rose Garden. I do feel like the rest lack a bit of motivation for the hauntings. They are still satisfactory enough as scary tales, but don’t really seem to evoke much more interest than that.
July 14, 2023
This was a quick free read on Kindle from Amazon. The third of James' collection of ghost stories, it was published in 1919 and scares more through nuance than obvious creeps. In fact in most of them I don't really *know* what happened. But there were lots of hairy creatures and a Punch and Judy show involved. The title comes from the quote, "a withered heart makes an ugly thin ghost."
Don't know much Latin? Well, stay away from anything with Ibi Cubavit Lamia. In one story here, a tomb has a metal cross attached to it, inscribed "Ibi cubavit lamia". This is a quotation from the Vulgate edition of the Bible, Isaiah xxxiv verse 14, and translates as "There shall be the lair of the night monster" (or witch or vampire).
In one story, which takes place on Christmas day, what is the the main character reading? Dickens' ghost stories of course!
March 30, 2024
Much to enjoy here if you love the classic Christmas season ghost stories of the author’s time. While the previous two works - Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904) and More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1911) perhaps carry a little more creeping unease and slinking horrors that stuck with me, this volume continued to make me rather glad that I returned to reading M.R. James after previously reading some of his works only in anthologies. While some have stated that "An Episode of Cathedral History” seems to be a sort of sequel or spiritual successor to story "Canon Alberic's Scrap-Book" from the aforementioned Ghost Stories of an Antiquary collection, a revisit is not poorly executed and there is still much to carry the day.
This is, perhaps, not the collection I would say new readers discovering these classic ghost stories should read first, but there is still much that establishes an old school ghost story in these pages, so I would recommend them if the other volumes were not available.
This is, perhaps, not the collection I would say new readers discovering these classic ghost stories should read first, but there is still much that establishes an old school ghost story in these pages, so I would recommend them if the other volumes were not available.
November 6, 2019
The third collection by M R James and one of his most interesting. James was clearly experimenting with the form of the ghost story at this stage in his ghost story writing career. Consequently, some readers might find the stories in this volume less satisfying than the stories in the first two volumes. In 'Two Doctors' in particular, James stretches his policy of reticence about as far as it can go. The shudders from the earlier stories are all present and correct here, but the reader will have to work harder to appreciate them. The fly manifestation from 'The Residence at Whitminster' is particularly memorable, as is the image of the ghost child peering through the window from the same story. The perfect tale for a cold winter's night.
July 31, 2020
A Thin Ghost and Others by M. R. James
M. R. James was a master of his craft so his ghost stories have influenced many authors and filmmakers. 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. A lot has changed since James wrote these stories, but the ghosts can still scare. Imagine putting the book down and seeing a shape close by, not too dissimilar to the one you'd just read about... Did an entity from the mind of M. R. James find its way into this world..? Or perhaps, after all, it was nothing more than a shadow.
I love M. R. James and tend to read his ghost stories every year around Halloween.
M. R. James was a master of his craft so his ghost stories have influenced many authors and filmmakers. 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. A lot has changed since James wrote these stories, but the ghosts can still scare. Imagine putting the book down and seeing a shape close by, not too dissimilar to the one you'd just read about... Did an entity from the mind of M. R. James find its way into this world..? Or perhaps, after all, it was nothing more than a shadow.
I love M. R. James and tend to read his ghost stories every year around Halloween.
July 20, 2024
An engaging collection of ghost stories gathered in the 19th century along with unexplained phenomena, related in letters and stories passed on to the narrator. I find this method of relating such tales intriguing, because it gives a narrator a chance to examine another narrator; the tone varying depending upon whom is telling the tale, how it’s being told, and how it’s interpreted by the listener. The tales become less gritty, more of a legend, a method of interacting with others. We’re all telling stories, even the people in the stories. What they have to say is strange, shedding light on what the teller finds strange, and open a unique window upon the time when they happened. One can learn surprising things while being entertained.
April 6, 2018
Another great selection of M.R. James awesome stories. My favorite ones were The Residence at Whitminster and A Man near a Cemetery (I don't know the original Title, I read it in Spanish, sorry) D: I wonder how did he come up with the idea of fluffy-haired monsters coming out of tombstones...
The suspense and gothic atmosphere of the charming English landscapes and villages always are the most enjoyable part for me. Hope to find more of his writing in the future. This was my third book from him.
The suspense and gothic atmosphere of the charming English landscapes and villages always are the most enjoyable part for me. Hope to find more of his writing in the future. This was my third book from him.
July 1, 2022
Not as strong as James's first two collections (and noticeably shorter), but none of the stories were duds, and a few even evoked some nice creepiness and dread. James's stories often achieve much of their horror by *not* fully explaining things and sometimes only hinting at what we're supposed to be afraid of...and in his hands, that technique is usually effective. Overall, another collection of entertaining antiquarian horror stories.
June 23, 2024
[Edward Arnold] (1919). HB. 1/1. 152 Pages. Purchased from special-agent.
M. R. James’ third collection. Two reprints (3 and 4, “Cambridge Review”).
“The Residence at Whitminster”
“The Diary of Mr. Poynter”
“An Episode of Cathedral History”
“The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance”
“Two Doctors”
All excellent, #3 being - for myself - the finest.
M. R. James’ third collection. Two reprints (3 and 4, “Cambridge Review”).
“The Residence at Whitminster”
“The Diary of Mr. Poynter”
“An Episode of Cathedral History”
“The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance”
“Two Doctors”
All excellent, #3 being - for myself - the finest.
May 12, 2017
Zeer literair... heel lange beschrijvingen, lange dialogen... het is het "gothic genre" met meer suggestieve dan expliciete horror scenes... Het taalgebruik is wel pittoresk, maar zal voor non-native speakers zeker niet altijd gemakkelijk zijn.
Eerlijk gezegd heb ik meer genoten van "Ghost stories of an antiquary", maar dat is uiteraard een heel persoonlijke appreciatie.
Eerlijk gezegd heb ik meer genoten van "Ghost stories of an antiquary", maar dat is uiteraard een heel persoonlijke appreciatie.
December 17, 2018
I found the stories in this collection got better as they went on, but I'm not sure I'm entirely on board with M.R. James' writing style. He's someone who's been on my radar for a few years, after I watched a documentary about him (by Mark Gatiss), and I think I was expecting something more along the lines of Poe or Lovecraft. In any event, the stories were interesting, but seemed incomplete.
February 22, 2022
Entertaining ghost listening 🔰😡
Six short stories about ghost 👻, hauntings, and horror by R. M. James that are interesting and entertaining fantasy thriller adventures. I would recommend this novel to readers of fantasy Sci-Fi adventures. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to 👍 novels 🔰🏡🏰😃 2022 😠
Six short stories about ghost 👻, hauntings, and horror by R. M. James that are interesting and entertaining fantasy thriller adventures. I would recommend this novel to readers of fantasy Sci-Fi adventures. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to 👍 novels 🔰🏡🏰😃 2022 😠
April 8, 2021
Another set of excellent ghost stories by the godfather of spookiness. More complex than the previous two sets, but still very enjoyable. Atmospheric and creepy without resorting to the over the top ghoulishness in more modern stories.
May 2, 2023
Preface ✔️
The Residence at Whitminister 3⭐
The Diary of Mr. Poynter 3.25⭐
An Episode of Cathedral History 3.25⭐
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance 3⭐
Two Doctors 2⭐
The Residence at Whitminister 3⭐
The Diary of Mr. Poynter 3.25⭐
An Episode of Cathedral History 3.25⭐
The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance 3⭐
Two Doctors 2⭐
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