Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
M. R. James
Read by Peter Yearsley
Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) was a medieval scholar; Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. He wrote many of his ghost stories to be read aloud in the long tradition of spooky Christmas Eve tales. His stories often use rural settings, with a quiet, scholarly protagonist getting caught up in the activities of supernatural forces. The details of horror are almost never explicit, the stories relying on a gentle, bucolic background to emphasise the awfulness of the otherworldly intrusions.
“Ghost Stories of an Antiquary” was written as two collections, presented here as two volumes in a single work. There is a short author’s preface before the first story in each volume. (Summary by Peter Yearsley) (10 hr 6 min)
Chapters
Preface to Vol. 1 and Canon Alberic | 34:35 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Lost Hearts | 27:08 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
The Mezzotint | 30:59 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
The Ash-Tree | 35:07 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Number 13 | 40:12 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Count Magnus | 36:57 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad | 49:52 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas | 50:01 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Preface to Vol. 2 and A School Story | 18:50 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
The Rose Garden | 28:49 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
The Tractate Middoth | 43:05 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Casting the Runes | 53:52 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral | 40:12 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Martin’s Close | 49:06 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance – Part One | 29:27 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance – Part Two | 38:27 | Read by Peter Yearsley |
Reviews
Perfectly read, perfectly written
Timothy Ferguson
If you love ghost stories, then you simply must try these. They are excellent, don't spoonfeed the reader, and are performed perfectly.
Perfection
Cully
My favorite performer and my favorite set of stories.i have listened to this collection many times and never tire of it. Mr Yearsley is outstanding reading these wonderfully icy tales. If you need slice and dice for thrills, skip this one, but if you like intelligent and subtle stories that build into true terror, you will relish this collection. And Audible is missing out on one of the great readers in Mr. Yearsley.
Marvelous
GM Arnold Raleigh NC
These are some of the greatest ghost stories ever written (according to HP Lovecraft, and who are we to disagree), read to perfection. As you listen imagine yourself sitting in a scuffed leather chair by the fire, drinking a brandy, in a fine club in London. To quote HPL: "Dr. James, for all his light touch, evokes fright and hideousness in their most shocking form, and will certainly stand as one of the few really creative masters in his darksome province." In addition to that I really must give the highest commendation to the reader of these stories.
Another Yearsley classic read!!
Vopper
Enthralling voice, with Leonard Cohen lows and Johnny Cash mid-ranges, Yearsley knocks it out of the park once again! Thank you Sir Peter!
The Listening Quilter
Excellent! The reader is comfortable and clear with all pronunciation and does a wonderful job distinguishing the different personalities! Well read, Sir!
One of the best
Clay & Shan Gilmore
A collection of time out of mind, we loved snuggling in bed n listening
Wonderful
Darcy
A wonderful collection of some of my favorite M R James stories beautifully read by mr yearsley i have many fond memories of reading these stories with my father especially around Christmas perfect spine tingling stories up there with the likes of Lovecraft,Bierce, and Benson perfect for true fans of the ghost/supernatural story genre best listened to before going to bed 5 stars
The best book and superb reader
Lizzy
I have always loved the stories of M. R. James. He truly was a master of horror. Combine the story content with the voice of Mr. Yearsley and you're in for a treat. Turn down the lights, grab a cup of tea, and prepare yourself for some true tales of terror.