The only annotated edition of M. R. James's writings currently available, Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories contains the entire first two volumes of James's ghost stories, Ghost Stories of an Antiquary and More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary. These volumes are both the culmination of the nineteenth-century ghost story tradition and the inspiration for much of the best twentieth-century work in this genre. Included in this collection are such landmark tales as "Count Magnus," set in the wilds of Sweden; "Number 13," a distinctive tale about a haunted hotel room; "Casting the Runes," a richly complex tale of sorcery that served as the basis for the classic horror film Curse of the Demon; and "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad," one of the most frightening tales in literature. The appendix includes several rare texts, including "A Night in King's College Chapel," James's first known ghost story.
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About the Author
Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) is one of the originators and most influential writers of supernatural fiction. Among his many honors was the Order of Merit, bestowed upon him by King George V in 1930.
S. T. Joshi is a freelance writer and editor. He has edited Penguin Classics editions of H. P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories (1999), and The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories (2001), as well as Algernon Blackwood's Ancient Sorceries and Other Strange Stories (2002). Among his critical and biographical studies are The Weird Tale (1990), Lord Dunsany: Master of the Anglo-Irish Imagination (1995), H. P. Lovecraft: A Life (1996), and The Modern Weird Tale (2001). He has also edited works by Ambrose Bierce, Arthur Machen, and H. L. Mencken, and is compiling a three-volume Encyclopedia of Supernatural Literature. He lives with his wife in Seattle, Washington.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By J. D. Wood
Format:Paperback
For anyone who can think of no better way to spend a dark winters' evening than to curl up by the fire and read a good ghost story, then this book is for you. M.R. James, perhaps the most famous of all English supernaturalists, delivers stories of such consistent quality and style that it is difficult to think of anyone, except perhaps Algernon Blackwood, that ever has or ever will match him. James' stories reflect an England that has long since faded into memory. He himself was a lifelong academic and a highlight of the Christmas term for his students would be an invite to his study where they would hear his latest tale of terror. These stories are beautifully crafted with an elegant prose that conjours up an age long since past. Despite being written over eighty years ago these stories have not lost their ability to send shivers down the spine and indeed on occasion, even shock. With James' work, it is often the unexpected that leaves a lingering shadow in the readers mind long after the book has been put down. Highlights and true classics of supernatural fiction, include his most famous tale 'Oh Whistle, and I'll Come To You My Lad' and other genre classics such as ' Lost Hearts,' 'The Mezzotint,' and 'The Ash Tree.' So imagine , if you will, it is night, you are sitting in an old leather arm chair alone in a dark room, you are drifting off to sleep. Your arm falls from your side and your hand brushes something that is crouching in the dark on the floor beside you. It is large, the size of a man, but it is covered in thick coarse hair and it has started to rise!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What can one say of the ghost stories of M.R. James ? It was the only type of story in which he was interested in writing. And he is the absolute master of this genre. For a wonderful and chilling "read", there is nothing better than these stories.
Louis des Préaux
Louis des Préaux
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was intoduced, 50 years ago, to the delights of the ghost stories of M.R. James by my Latin master at school who usually read one of these superb stories at the end of term. These made such a deep impression on me that, to this day, ghost stories fall into 2 groups - those by M.R. James and the rest!
By far and away the best recordings of M.R. James' ghost stories were those recorded by the incomparable Michael Hordern on the Argo label, now sadly long deleted. His voice characterizations seem to hit exactly the right note.
Unfortunately Hordern did not record all the stories, so this CD is a very welcome addition to my audio library, as it contains two that Hordern didn't do - A View from a Hill & The Story of a Disappearance & an Appearance. Derek Jacobi's characterizations are of a wider range than Hordern's, but the general narrative style doesn't quite do it for me in the same way that Hordern's does.
It has to be said that recordings of all James Stories are being released, narrated by David Collings (if, that is, the publisher ever get round to releasing the 2nd tranche - I've been waiting 10 months!!). However Collings' characterizations are, by a long way, the poorest of the three. He has a flat & monotonous intonation which I find tedious, so in terms of material available today, Jacobi's recording is to be greatly commended.
By far and away the best recordings of M.R. James' ghost stories were those recorded by the incomparable Michael Hordern on the Argo label, now sadly long deleted. His voice characterizations seem to hit exactly the right note.
Unfortunately Hordern did not record all the stories, so this CD is a very welcome addition to my audio library, as it contains two that Hordern didn't do - A View from a Hill & The Story of a Disappearance & an Appearance. Derek Jacobi's characterizations are of a wider range than Hordern's, but the general narrative style doesn't quite do it for me in the same way that Hordern's does.
It has to be said that recordings of all James Stories are being released, narrated by David Collings (if, that is, the publisher ever get round to releasing the 2nd tranche - I've been waiting 10 months!!). However Collings' characterizations are, by a long way, the poorest of the three. He has a flat & monotonous intonation which I find tedious, so in terms of material available today, Jacobi's recording is to be greatly commended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By C. Carter
Format:Paperback
The only really scary ghost stories I have ever read. Each story begins with the usual calm of 19thC prose and gradually reality begins to fray at the edges and you end up being frightened out of your wits by a pile of linen bedsheets.
Not for the faint of heart but definitely for people who like to read a genre done supremely well.
Not for the faint of heart but definitely for people who like to read a genre done supremely well.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Jeanno43
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A must have for lovers of ghost stories in general and particularly those of M.R. James. Superbly read by the great Derek Jacobi who really makes the stories come alive. A real treat.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By NMc
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed listening to these stories. Had them on in the car and got quite into them. Good old fashioned ghost stories - reminds me of being a kid again!!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Cardew Robinson
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
The Wordsworth Classics edition of MR James's works is still the best one-volume edition available. I've dipped into my copy so many times I think I need a new one. But just when I thought it was all the James I'd ever need I came across this Penguin edition.
If you're looking to start reading MR James then get the Wordsworth, but if you've read him and want more, or want to get the best edition of his stories right from the very beginning, then buy this peerless book.
This has got to be one of the best Penguin Classics editions in a long time. ST Joshi's introduction is masterly and insightful. He clearly knows and loves these stories well and his intro serves to whet the appetite for the newcomers while shedding new light on James and his stories for those who already know them well.
For students and scholars, Joshi's suggestions for further reading also indicate that this is man with a serious, SERIOUS command of the subject.
As if this weren't enough we get Joshi's notes for each story. These are especially useful for clarifying some of the more obscure references in James's stories, as well as the numerous latin phrases and allusions with which his tales are littered. And then there's the appendices which print uncollected matter which is hard to come by.
This book really is a fine example of its kind and is worth every penny.
If you're looking to start reading MR James then get the Wordsworth, but if you've read him and want more, or want to get the best edition of his stories right from the very beginning, then buy this peerless book.
This has got to be one of the best Penguin Classics editions in a long time. ST Joshi's introduction is masterly and insightful. He clearly knows and loves these stories well and his intro serves to whet the appetite for the newcomers while shedding new light on James and his stories for those who already know them well.
For students and scholars, Joshi's suggestions for further reading also indicate that this is man with a serious, SERIOUS command of the subject.
As if this weren't enough we get Joshi's notes for each story. These are especially useful for clarifying some of the more obscure references in James's stories, as well as the numerous latin phrases and allusions with which his tales are littered. And then there's the appendices which print uncollected matter which is hard to come by.
This book really is a fine example of its kind and is worth every penny.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ghost Stories
An enjoyable easy-to-listen to audio book with five tales read by Derek Jacobi.I like to put this cd on at bedtime and listen while heading into slumber. Read more
Published 9 months ago by jean.t
1.0 out of 5 stars
'Not-So' Ghost Stories
I love a good ghost story and so I bought this in the hope of being scared on a dark winter's night. Scared? I wasn't even entertained. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Judika
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ghost Stories.
Ghost Stories: v. 1 (BBC Audio) This audio book is read well and conveys an eerie atmosphere. If you want to be scared it is worth listening to, but make sure you are not in the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by M H Burges
2.0 out of 5 stars
You've lost that chilling-feeling
Every now and then my local talk radio station has nights when callers ring in with their "ghost stories". Read more
Published 14 months ago by Darren
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sir Derek brings M.R. to life!
I have always thought that the Ghost Stories of M.R. James were meant to be read aloud. To my mind no one has managed to capture his imagry on film or T.V. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Bigbadbob
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive edition - part one
The following review is for the Penguin paperback book "Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories: The Complete Ghost Stories of M.R. James (volume 1)", not the audiobook. Read more
Published 21 months ago by downkiddie
2.0 out of 5 stars
Rather repetitious, old fashioned and twee ghost stories
There isn't a lot of diversity in these early ghost stories. The characters are all male, middle class and usually academics (or antiquarians as they are termed here) like James... Read more
Published on 25 May 2009 by Brownbear101
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