Publisher Description
English author Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936) is considered by many aficionados the unquestioned master of the modern ghost story, and several of his tales have served as source material for multiple creepy film versions. He broke new ground by abandoning many of the conventions of gothic mysteries, and substituting contemporary settings, situations, and characters. Nevertheless, as a Cambridge medieval scholar, James was steeped in the esoteric lore of the Middle Ages, and he applied that scholarship brilliantly to his stories.
The four stories in this compilation not by James are meant to serve as prime illustrations of the best work of a few of his contemporaries and immediate antecedents.
Contents include:
Casting the Runes – M. R. James
Wailing Well – M. R. James
Rats – M. R. James
Mezzotint – M. R. James
Count Magnus – M. R. James
Number 13 – M. R. James
Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come – M. R. James
The Monkey’s Paw –W. W. Jacobs
Green Tea – Sheridan Le Fanu
The Screaming Skull – F. Marion Crawford
How Love Came to Professor Guildea – Robert Hichens
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“James has an intelligent and scientific knowledge of human nerves and feelings; and knows just how to apportion statement, imagery, and subtle suggestions in order to secure the best results with his readers.”
—
H. P. Lovecraft, praise for M. R. James
About the Authors
M. R. James (1862–1936) was an English medieval scholar and provost of King’s College, Cambridge and Eton College. He is best remembered for his ghost stories, which redefined the genre. He abandoned the many gothic clichés of his predecessors and opted for more realistic, contemporary settings. His characters and plots, however, reflected his own antiquarian interests. Accordingly, he is known as the originator of the “antiquarian ghost story.”
W. W. Jacobs (1863–1943) is considered a master of the
macabre tale, mostly for his work The
Monkey’s Paw, a classic horror short
story. He was a master at weaving terror and suspense into scenes of everyday
life. Nevertheless, his popularity in his own lifetime arose mostly due to his
amusing maritime tales of life along the London docks.
Clive Hayward is a voice talent and Earphones Award–winning narrator.
Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) was an American writer famed for his classic weird and fantastic stories.
Kirsten Potter has won several awards, including more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. Her work has been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and by AudioFile magazine, among many others. She graduated with highest honors from Boston University and has performed on stage and in film and television, including roles on Medium, Bones, and Judging Amy.
About the Narrators
Gabrielle de Cuir, award-winning narration, has narrated over two hundred titles and specializes in fantasy, humor, and titles requiring extensive foreign language and accent skills. She was a cowinner of the Audie Award for best narration in 2011 and a three-time finalist for the Audie and has garnered six AudioFile Earphones Awards. Her “velvet touch” as an actor’s director has earned her a special place in the audiobook world as the foremost producer for bestselling authors and celebrities.
Gabrielle de Cuir, award-winning narrator, has narrated over three hundred titles and specializes in fantasy, humor, and titles requiring extensive foreign language and accent skills. She was a cowinner of the Audie Award for best narration in 2011 and a three-time finalist for the Audie and has garnered six AudioFile Earphones Awards. Her “velvet touch” as an actor’s director has earned her a special place in the audiobook world as the foremost producer for bestselling authors and celebrities.