Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad | M. R. James | A Bitesized Audio Production
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ต.ค. 2021
- Professor Parkins is not superstitious. So when he digs up an old whistle while investigating the site of some ancient ruins, he is not afraid to blow it. He would have been wiser to take heed of the cryptic inscriptions...
A new, original recording of a classic public domain text, read and performed by Simon Stanhope for Bitesized Audio.
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Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) was a medievalist and scholar, and is probably the best known and most celebrated English ghost story writer of the 20th century, although he actually began composing supernatural tales in the late Victorian era, beginning with 'Canon Alberic's Scrap-Book' (1893). He was born in Kent, but spent most of his childhood in Suffolk, a county which features prominently in many of his stories, including 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'. Several of James's protagonists also reflect his own antiquarian interests, with academics and historians featuring regularly. James published four volumes of ghost stories in his lifetime: 'Ghost Stories of an Antiquary' (1904), 'More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary' (1911), 'A Thin Ghost and Others' (1919) and 'A Warning to the Curious and Other Stories' (1925).
During a long academic career which encompassed several positions at King's College, Cambridge, and Eton College, M. R. James developed a tradition of reading his ghost stories aloud to a group of friends, most famously on Christmas eve, and the majority of his published stories were first heard in that setting. 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' was the Christmas 1903 offering. It was subsequently published in book form the following year as part of James's first anthology 'Ghost Stories of an Antiquary'. It has gone on to be probably his best-known story and has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen, most famously in Jonathan Miller's 1968 BBC production starring Michael Hordern as Parkins. The title of the story is taken from a 1793 poem by Robert Burns.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2021.
If you'd like to hear some more from M. R. James, I have a playlist of his stories in development, available here:
One of M.R. James best stories, though several different endings have been filmed, original story is by far the best.
A timely reminder, dear Simon, as we approach All Hallows', that one should never blow on a strange whistle if you don't know where it's been. Another triumph. As always, I am in awe. ❤
I never thought James was easy to read - he's rich in details, yet sparse in his spookiness: no overdrawn adjectives here. You do a splendid job!
M. R. James's ghost stories are the best of all. They truely are frightening, because the author dies not try to sound creepy or sinister. That's true Art and magic. The only pity is, that He wrote to few of them.
Also BBC Radio 4 drama department did a fantastic rendition of the story about 15_ to20 years ago. Sometimes they still play it on BBC radio seven. Or is it BBC Radio 4 extra?
I am an author- true only one book- but I have to admit that these writers who are poetic, explicit, mysterious, have something that I lack. What that might be, I am not quite sure. ( possibly class and style? Ha. I keep praising those.) I also keep trying. I am also a poet. I have much to learn from these phrasings, and descriptions. Thanks Simon for your brilliant cadence and artful mirth, mystery, and British aplomb. Splendid.
Superb, Simon, as always. Hearing you perform M.R. James is as thrilling, yet pleasureable, as watching Sir Michael Hordern act it. I can give you no finer tribute.
Why do I keep listening to these at night😂😂😂
Oh, thank you!!! Happy Halloween
One of my favourite stories
Wonderful stuff! I first read this story when I was very young (12!) and it is one of those tales which has haunted me my whole life. That lonely figure on the shore, the sinister savagery of the wind - and God forbid I should ever stay in a hotel room with twin beds! 😱
Oh my a classic gem, I shall save this one for later tonight which I know will be great. Thank you Simon.
My cat and I love the bedtime stories. Thank you Simon x
My favourite ghost story ever.... Saving this one for Christmas thank you ❤️
Nothing like a good old Henry James spooky story on a cold and rainy day over Halloween weekend! Thanks Simon
I'm taking your excellent readings for granted now.
Only just started to play this, but am off the scale happy!
This is the one I've been waiting for.😄
We saw this live on stage as one of two one act plays. The scenery was amazing and the spook gave us all a few jumps i can tell you. I read all of M.R.JAMES ghost stories when i borrowed them from our local library in the 1970s. They are all clever, brilliantly written and stand the test of time.