In Praise of M.R. James

A Horrifying Collection!

The ghost stories of M.R. James undoubtedly form the pinnacle of traditional British horror. Often imitated but never bettered, they have, in the ensuing century, proved themselves to be some of the most influential supernatural fiction in English. Their power to unsettle is as strong today as when first written. As James himself stated:

“If any of them succeed in causing their readers to feel pleasantly uncomfortable while walking along a solitary road at nightfall, or sitting over a dying fire in the small hours, my purpose in writing them will have been attained.”

They’ve certainly done that – and more. The stories have inspired countless authors over the years, but they had their contemporary fans too. Together with four of his most underrated chillers, this book collects five more tales of the malevolent and macabre, written as homages to James. The authors were nearly all colleagues, friends and acquaintances; some were even present at the readings to the Chitchat Society. All were inspired to write in his style and this book hopes to help the reader discover more Jamesian terror in the writings of Eleanor Scott, EF Benson, EG Swain, Adrian Ross and Arthur Gray.

So prepare to be made “pleasantly uncomfortable” anew, with a journey through some of the master’s best unsettlers and on into new, creepy environs for more nape-tingling thrills from his horror disciples.

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