Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

M. R. James
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary Cover

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

dustydigger
10/20/2015
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I read this for the 2015 Trick or Treat challenge,a perfect read for a rainy autumnal afternoon.Some of the short stories are rather weak,and perhaps we should remember this was a collection of early stories by James. Apparently he used to read them to a group of fellow scholars by candlelight,(similar to the Inklings of a later generation,when Lewis and Tolkien would read some of their work)which fits in with the style of the stories.

As you would expect,most of the stories are set in ancient houses,or obscure little churches in tiny ancient towns on the continent. The protagonists are scholars searching out arcane pictures,manuscripts etc,and soon wish they hadnt. Much more subtle and less sensational than Poe,but still quite enjoyable.