I can remember when I was a young lad and grandfather reading the most excellent tales of M R James to me by the light of the bed lamp. He'd sit in an old rocking chair and bring the stories to life with perfect inflection of speech and just the right amount of drama. It seems looking back as if he always had such a love for the literary that I didn't recognize it as a child. He was an excellent fisherman and violin player. And a teller of tales. And he loved me and I'll always love him. He passed away May 31, 1982 at 96 years young.
What a lovely Comment. Beautifully said.. You painted a perfect picture for others to appreciate. You might like the Christopher Lee Ghost Stories for Christmas.
Absolutely brilliant production. I love to listen to these in my office...it transports me to the times and places that these stories were written about! Also, listen to Sir Christopher Lee's Ghost Stories For Christmas. Wonderful portrayal of M R James himself relating a story to young men eager to hear the master himself!
Marvellous story by M James, quite wonderfully narrated by all the actors. I felt I was accompanying the players immediately on this atmospheric and intriguing supernatural adventure. Splendid. Thank you. Xxx
Christmas at King's College. Sat beside the fire, glass of port in hand, sat at the feet of M R James. What a supreme treat. I cannot think of anything better.
i can listen to MR James stories over and over - especially the way they are produced in Britain. it's been a few months and it's still as fresh as ever. actors were supurb in this radio play. . .
I love old classic ghost stories especially with a British accent! the voice sets the spooky mood !!! especially a voice like the actor Vincent Price it was Perfect for all horror stories!!!!
I love listening to these ghostly tales, I've never heard of M.R James until now such a treat. I've listened to them over and over I never tire of them. Thank you for posting them.
You might like E.F Benson’s stories as well. He was a student of James and actually attended the readings of ghost stories that this story is based on. Richard Crowest reads his stories brilliantly.
Really enjoying this story, having professional voices reading the stories , as opposed to 'whispered' [agonising] or robotic, or very slow readings is marvellous. Thanks! P.S, New Year's eve 2015, I noticed in the streetlight gloom, on an old gatepost in East Sheen, SW14 the faded words ''The Planes Stables '' showing where overpainting wore off..This sent me on a google fest, and I found out that M.R James had gone to school a couple of hundred yards away, at an old house [Temple Grove] which he had used as a model for ''A School Story'' . Have always loved M.R. James's stories, and was fascinated to learn thast he had trodden the area which I knew so well- and is now sadly very much built up compared to the semi rural Jamesian days.
@@2msvalkyrie529 Paid Actors are have likely been trained in enunciation and reading stuff so it sounds natural and doesn't grate. Martin Jarvis, anyone? I love his readings. I'd be hopeless at reading {Unless a bedtime story to a child}, but even amongst 'Professional' readers, some are better than others.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting little story of happenstance! As for the story - You would probably enjoy listening to the BBC radio ghost stories and classics! They did a wonderful series on Lovecraft and then there are the MR James ghost stories for Christmas - a whole series here on TH-cam. If you would like me to add a few links for you to simply click to take you to the stories, I certainly will be happy to, and I have a few playlists ready made of good stories like these. I’ll make them public if you’re interested, (or anyone else who happens to be reading this would like them). Cheers from America!
I have read all of his stories as well as his works on Medieval castles and abbeys. Reading his other writings makes me appreciate his supernatural tales. His scholarly works are as well written as his ghost stories.
Superb production of one of master supernatural story writer M.R.James tales before bedtime. You feel as if you’re drawn into the story. Well done all concerned.
kitty baby that’s what I intend to do to read this but here’s my problem; I can’t seem to find this story in any of M.R. James books where can I find this story in book form? I can’t seem to find this in fact I’m beginning to doubt this was even M.R. James ghost story.
Beautifully acted version of this wonderful story , hard to have a favourite of MRJames but after Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You my Lad I do love the atmosphere of " Mist and Phantoms" about this one.
Genuinely fantastic story and great voice acting. Always a bit odd though how some people just DON'T get scared of ghosts, the house keeper seemed to be utterly immune! :)
M.R.James the master of penning the ghostly macabre....and with a rich vocabulary in his descriptions of atmospheric terror and threat.....his writings intoxicate you and suffocate you with the unexplained and the spiritual.....
I met him strolling down the kings rd in Chelsea , around 1987, he was truly an imposing figure,and extremely amiable,in a dark ankle length overcoat,leather gloved and flat cap, a deep resonating voice,,I very nearly splashed him in holy water and ran for my young life....
I think this would be a great story to hear as student of M.R. James at his fireside although I think my mouth would be open and someone would ask if I was trying to catch to flies
To help with the English, the word is enjoying not 'in joying' but sorry to say can't make out the rest of the sentence, unless you mean 'nice to listen to' but not sure what you mean by 'pitching in mind'. Well done though
The house in the Photo is in North Wales, in a village called Trearddur bay. This is on Holy Island and altho people will say it's on Anglesey it's not true as Anglesey is the big island next door.
sounds nearly identical to the much later work: El Club Dumas (1993) by Arturo Perez-Reverte which was the basis of the movie "The Ninth Gate" regarding a book called "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows"
Not a bad pastiche, although the description of the entity came too early for my taste, and lacked the subtlety of James. What really made this work for me was the great voice acting, especially the portrayal M R James and Uncle Magnus.
I can't help but wish James had developed this fictional book a little more (the Kingdom of Shadows). I'm fairly certain it was the basis/inspiration for the similarly themed & titled book from The Ninth Gate, and if he'd fleshed it out a little more as Lovecraft & Co. did with the Necronomicon it would've made an interesting running undercurrent for a few stories... Even despite that James' is not otherwise in the Lovecraftian vein.
You’re right - when I write this I thought it was one of his lesser known or unpublished that I hadn’t heard of previously. It’s certainly in his style and indeed features what I thought was an author self-insert. I have a couple of James’ original publisher collections (“Ghost stories of an antiquary” and “More…” of the same) but I’m not an expert. That said, I leave it up because the points I made still stand. I do wish it hadn’t been mislabeled though, that seems an issue with many things here.
For you M R James fans! "The Teeth of Abbott Thomas". th-cam.com/video/3bg6LPch-Us/w-d-xo.html Monty Python style comedy parody written Stephen Sheridan...the same guy who wrote "The House at Worlds End".
How come I can’t seem to find this story in any of M.R. James collection of his story books anywhere? Can anyone help me name the book this story is in coz I’ve searched everywhere but I never come across this story in any of his books.
This was NOT written by M R James. It is a pastiche/radio play written by Stephen Sheridan. For more about Sheridan's radio plays, see www.suttonelms.org.uk/ssheridan.html
Sheridan wrote for BBC Radio 4. The book in the story was a sixteenth-century tome called De Regni Umbrorum, or The Kingdom of Shadows, of which only one copy existed, and which was said to invoke the Devil. "The Book of Shadows", by Scott Cherry, (c1998, R4) is a play somewhat longer, along similar lines, and is well worth exploring. Correction....it's terrific.
I can remember when I was a young lad and grandfather reading the most excellent tales of M R James to me by the light of the bed lamp. He'd sit in an old rocking chair and bring the stories to life with perfect inflection of speech and just the right amount of drama. It seems looking back as if he always had such a love for the literary that I didn't recognize it as a child. He was an excellent fisherman and violin player. And a teller of tales. And he loved me and I'll always love him. He passed away May 31, 1982 at 96 years young.
MWM Manning What a superb memory. Lucky you.
What a lovely Comment. Beautifully said.. You painted a perfect picture for others to appreciate. You might like the Christopher Lee Ghost Stories for Christmas.
How lucky you were.
You are really blessed to have such happy memories. I envy you. 😊
Thank you for sharing your story.❤
I love this story. Its become part of my Christmas tradition to listen to it every Christmas eve.
This is as good as anything M.R.James wrote. It's actually typical of his style. Wonderful tale.
Love old time radio programs. It activates the mental pictures, and I always enjoy a good ghost story. Well Done !
+David Arnce Glad you enjoyed it David. Have a good Christmas.
David Arnce f
Absolutely brilliant production. I love to listen to these in my office...it transports me to the times and places that these stories were written about! Also, listen to Sir Christopher Lee's Ghost Stories For Christmas. Wonderful portrayal of M R James himself relating a story to young men eager to hear the master himself!
Marvellous story by M James, quite wonderfully narrated by all the actors. I felt I was accompanying the players immediately on this atmospheric and intriguing supernatural adventure. Splendid. Thank you. Xxx
Christmas at King's College. Sat beside the fire, glass of port in hand, sat at the feet of M R James. What a supreme treat. I cannot think of anything better.
SITTING...!! Not ‘Sat’...Aaargh
That's actually a bit sad.
Radio drama at its best creating its own haunting images, and what better choice than M.R. James. Superb! Thank you for uploading this.
Except of course it isn't by M. R. James.
i can listen to MR James stories over and over - especially the way they
are produced in Britain. it's been a few months and it's still as fresh as ever.
actors were supurb in this radio play. . .
I love old classic ghost stories especially with a British accent! the voice sets the spooky mood !!! especially a voice like the actor Vincent Price it was Perfect for all horror stories!!!!
Delightful! and quite in the spirit of my favorite ghost story writer (as well as an eminent scholar), M.R. James.
Absolutely amazing story!! The audio is creating a whole movie in my head!!
I love listening to these ghostly tales, I've never heard of
M.R James until now such a treat. I've listened to them over and over I never tire of them. Thank you for posting them.
Shawn Alain Gray-Alston gy
I think you would like "A Podcast to the Curious - The M.R. James Podcast"
@ Shawn
Try some Agatha Christie -
Poirot - radio dramas next .
Very addictive !
You might like E.F Benson’s stories as well. He was a student of James and actually attended the readings of ghost stories that this story is based on. Richard Crowest reads his stories brilliantly.
If you haven't already read it, you should get a copy of "The Collected Ghost Stories of M.R.James."
Really enjoying this story, having professional voices reading the stories , as opposed to 'whispered' [agonising] or robotic, or very slow readings is marvellous. Thanks! P.S, New Year's eve 2015, I noticed in the streetlight gloom, on an old gatepost in East Sheen, SW14 the faded words ''The Planes Stables '' showing where overpainting wore off..This sent me on a google fest, and I found out that M.R James had gone to school a couple of hundred yards away, at an old house [Temple Grove] which he had used as a model for ''A School Story'' .
Have always loved M.R. James's stories, and was fascinated to learn thast he had trodden the area which I knew so well- and is now sadly very much built up compared to the semi rural Jamesian days.
Agreed ! I hate to sound ungrateful but some of the Librivox readings are just awful !
Simply torture to listen to . Sorry but has to be said ..
2
@@2msvalkyrie529 Paid Actors
are have likely been trained in enunciation and reading stuff so it sounds natural and doesn't grate.
Martin Jarvis, anyone? I love his readings.
I'd be hopeless at reading {Unless a bedtime story to a child}, but even amongst 'Professional' readers, some are better than others.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting little story of happenstance! As for the story - You would probably enjoy listening to the BBC radio ghost stories and classics! They did a wonderful series on Lovecraft and then there are the MR James ghost stories for Christmas - a whole series here on TH-cam. If you would like me to add a few links for you to simply click to take you to the stories, I certainly will be happy to, and I have a few playlists ready made of good stories like these. I’ll make them public if you’re interested, (or anyone else who happens to be reading this would like them). Cheers from America!
@@-Reagan Thanks! You Tube didn't notify me of your reply.
Excellent, M R James is so creative with a wonderful command of language and how it might create an atmosphere
Most enjoyable tale, perfect for a cold afternoon by the fire
I love these plays, cannot get enough........More please
This is a marvelous radio drama. The story and voice-acting are all top-notch. A radio drama of the first order. Thank you for the upload!
I have read all of his stories as well as his works on Medieval castles and abbeys. Reading his other writings makes me appreciate his supernatural tales. His scholarly works are as well written as his ghost stories.
Bravo! Well done. Bedtime stories at their finest. Lovely voice.
Superb production of one of master supernatural story writer M.R.James tales before bedtime. You feel as if you’re drawn into the story. Well done all concerned.
Listening for the second time this week. Fantastic, subscribed
Inspired casting of David Collings, I've listened to his great readings of MR James Audiobooks hundreds of times, recognised his voice straight away.
I completely understand the "fettish" with books. I suffer from it too.
meeee toooooooooo !!!!!!!!
So do I
Very good . Anything with M R James s name attached , whether by him or about him is good enough for me .
I've only just found this, but should you read this I just want to say, it was wonderful & all the acting SUPERB !! TY.
kitty baby that’s what I intend to do to read this but here’s my problem; I can’t seem to find this story in any of M.R. James books where can I find this story in book form? I can’t seem to find this in fact I’m beginning to doubt this was even M.R. James ghost story.
Beautifully done! Just loved the way this story was narratively acted out.
Absolutely brilliant!
Beautifully acted version of this wonderful story , hard to have a favourite of MRJames but after Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You my Lad I do love the atmosphere of " Mist and Phantoms" about this one.
lost hearts for me
First time hearing from James and quite pleased. Thank You and God Bless
This was superb. Wish they would do more of these.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful ghost story
Absolutely love this and I love how it kept the introduction, sets it up beautifully. 👍
One of The Best.
Such an enthralling story! Thank you for sharing! This is one of the very best!
love old story's radio drama, wonderful
Genuinely fantastic story and great voice acting. Always a bit odd though how some people just DON'T get scared of ghosts, the house keeper seemed to be utterly immune! :)
Brilliant!
Nice. Good story and performance.
This is a wonderful story and do well told. Wonderfully creepy and absorbing.
Brilliant 👏
excellent - I've listened to this over and over - thank you for posting.
I love this story and the narratives. Wonderful.
That is the best version of the Holly and the Ivy I ever heard.
M.R.James the master of penning the ghostly macabre....and with a rich vocabulary in his descriptions of atmospheric terror and threat.....his writings intoxicate you and suffocate you with the unexplained and the spiritual.....
Good story.
Only the British know how to write a truly great ghost tale!!!!
Not true but I know what you mean
Christopher Lee reading anything but especially m r James just puts me there right on awesome man I miss him X DJ Cromer X
I met him strolling down the kings rd in Chelsea , around 1987, he was truly an imposing figure,and extremely amiable,in a dark ankle length overcoat,leather gloved and flat cap, a deep resonating voice,,I very nearly splashed him in holy water and ran for my young life....
That was spooky. Brilliant acting. Thank you
I came here for relief from this horrible tax bill vote. Thank God for these channels that post these amazing videos. Thank you uploader!
Excellent story! Thank you!
Kings College choir is the best, lucky enough to be invited to sit with the choir one evensong
Katie Millard.
(YES Katie! I love Vincent Price's voice too!)
I loved this story. Thanks for sharing. Would love to hear many more 👍
These are wonderful tales.....thanks for sharing this with others!
Ripping tale. Thank you for posting.
Very good story and well dramatized.
Fantastic...thank you!
excellent drama , thanks a lot for uploading , good job
This is a terrific homage. 👍
this was very well done. Now, off ... to bed.
Awesome story :)
Excellent Thank you for sharing this great drama on here 😀
As good as it gets in the spirit of James.
Excellent, thanks .
Yes. Atmospheric enough. But a damp squib of an ending.
About as terrifying as an episode of Gardner's Question
Time !
th-cam.com/video/XiERJ7ge1Q8/w-d-xo.html
When the bbc was worth listening to
An excellent story!
Loved this ...Thank you.
awesome and entertaining
Btavo! Excellent stuff.
I think this would be a great story to hear as student of M.R. James at his fireside although I think my mouth would be open and someone would ask if I was trying to catch to flies
Excellent.
Outstanding!
It should be properly attributed to the author, Stephen Sheridan. M.R. James is a character in the play.
l am in joying the story nice to listed have to make pitching in mind
To help with the English, the word is enjoying not 'in joying' but sorry to say can't make out the rest of the sentence, unless you mean 'nice to listen to' but not sure what you mean by 'pitching in mind'. Well done though
I suspect it's "I am enjoying the story, nice to listen, have to make pictures in mind" :)
Wait a minute. This looks like a drama where the Sandman of Neil Gaiman based some of its chapters.
excellent!!!
Great!
The house in the Photo is in North Wales, in a village called Trearddur bay. This is on Holy Island and altho people will say it's on Anglesey it's not true as Anglesey is the big island next door.
@ 19:99 wa wa waaaa, epic voice'ns !!!
great story well done
Thank you.
Well done it's a nice change to use your own imagination.
sounds nearly identical to the much later work: El Club Dumas (1993) by Arturo Perez-Reverte which was the basis of the movie "The Ninth Gate" regarding a book called "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows"
Brilliant
Not a bad pastiche, although the description of the entity came too early for my taste, and lacked the subtlety of James. What really made this work for me was the great voice acting, especially the portrayal M R James and Uncle Magnus.
Absolutely positively delicious.
I can't help but wish James had developed this fictional book a little more (the Kingdom of Shadows). I'm fairly certain it was the basis/inspiration for the similarly themed & titled book from The Ninth Gate, and if he'd fleshed it out a little more as Lovecraft & Co. did with the Necronomicon it would've made an interesting running undercurrent for a few stories... Even despite that James' is not otherwise in the Lovecraftian vein.
This isn’t a James story.
You’re right - when I write this I thought it was one of his lesser known or unpublished that I hadn’t heard of previously. It’s certainly in his style and indeed features what I thought was an author self-insert. I have a couple of James’ original publisher collections (“Ghost stories of an antiquary” and “More…” of the same) but I’m not an expert. That said, I leave it up because the points I made still stand.
I do wish it hadn’t been mislabeled though, that seems an issue with many things here.
@@J.DeLaPoersame here! I only made my comment as I only realised halfway through also :)
16min 02sec…
a bit reminiscent of The Hound by Lovecraft
When was this play produced? Great piece.😈
brilliant
For you M R James fans!
"The Teeth of Abbott Thomas". th-cam.com/video/3bg6LPch-Us/w-d-xo.html
Monty Python style comedy parody written Stephen Sheridan...the same guy who wrote "The House at Worlds End".
Thumbnail looks like a place in anglesea
Can you upload backward glance please
The author does not know a backwards R makes the "ya" sound, not the traditional "rrr."
How come I can’t seem to find this story in any of M.R. James collection of his story books anywhere? Can anyone help me name the book this story is in coz I’ve searched everywhere but I never come across this story in any of his books.
This was NOT written by M R James. It is a pastiche/radio play written by Stephen Sheridan. For more about Sheridan's radio plays, see www.suttonelms.org.uk/ssheridan.html
Sheridan wrote for BBC Radio 4.
The book in the story was a sixteenth-century tome called De Regni Umbrorum, or The Kingdom of Shadows, of which only one copy existed, and which was said to invoke the Devil. "The Book of Shadows", by Scott Cherry, (c1998, R4) is a play somewhat longer, along similar lines, and is well worth exploring. Correction....it's terrific.
What's the choir song at the start? Remember it from radio plays years ago
The Holly and The Ivy - Classic Xmas song
Thank you so much
How about labeling this as a tribute?