You inspired me to revisit MR James' work, but this time on Audible, so as to have it read to me as you did. Got through a fair bit of his work last week or so. I already had a few collections in me library that I hadn't listened to yet, and I used another credit. I also found a few that were included in me subscription. Most of these I'd read before, but a few were new to me. It was a different experience having them read to me.
The Mezzotint is a fantastic tale, I love it. I always had a fascination with pictures/statues/taxidermy coming to life. I’m schizophrenic and I experienced visions long before I was diagnosed in my teens. One of these was age seven, when I was looking at a picture of a tarantula in a book, and the bloody thing crawled off the page onto my wrist! Until I was in my late teens, I kept certain images I didn’t trust face down with weights on top, so as the picture couldn’t escape the page. So this theme is close to my heart.
And your reading was excellent too. I settled down with a cuppa to listen. Good gear. Another favourite of MR James is Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad. I don’t know that I prefer any of his work. I think I enjoy most of what I’ve read of his. A master storyteller. I like James, and Machen, and I love Jean Lorrain n’all. All so good at atmosphere, and creating a hallucinatory, haunting feel to a story. I'd a loved to have been invited to one of his fireside Christmas readings, although, being an uneducated, working class schizo in them days, it'd be highly unlikely. But I like the idea.
Oh my god, Rob, that tarantula thing would have been the end of me! I'm not surprised you weighted the pages down, kind of like how they lock the picture in a drawer overnight in the story. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, there are some absolute crackers in this collection, I'm excited to share more!
If I told you all the horrific apparitions and strange phenomena I've experienced in my life, you'd be shocked. From serpents coming out the wall at age six, through shadow people haunting me, to a whole train carriage full of people laughing at me recently. I'm used to it now. Desensitised. I'm still haunted by spectral entities, as well as me brother, who hanged himself. Sometimes, it's a bit like living in a horror film.
Looking forward to more of your readings. I love having a good story read to me as much as I love to read them.
Excellent idea! I like most of MRJ’s work which I was introduced to vis the BBC and Chris and Barbara Roden’s “Ash Tree Press” and The Ghost Story Society as was. Nicely introduced and read imho.
You inspired me to revisit MR James' work, but this time on Audible, so as to have it read to me as you did. Got through a fair bit of his work last week or so. I already had a few collections in me library that I hadn't listened to yet, and I used another credit. I also found a few that were included in me subscription. Most of these I'd read before, but a few were new to me. It was a different experience having them read to me.
I always like listening to things, Audible is great!
I enjoyed listening to your reading. Good old MR James. I was reading a few of Arthur Machen's the other day. I love his work n'all.
Thanks so much Rob, what do you think of The Mezzotint? Do you find it scary or are there other James texts you prefer?
The Mezzotint is a fantastic tale, I love it. I always had a fascination with pictures/statues/taxidermy coming to life. I’m schizophrenic and I experienced visions long before I was diagnosed in my teens. One of these was age seven, when I was looking at a picture of a tarantula in a book, and the bloody thing crawled off the page onto my wrist! Until I was in my late teens, I kept certain images I didn’t trust face down with weights on top, so as the picture couldn’t escape the page. So this theme is close to my heart.
And your reading was excellent too. I settled down with a cuppa to listen. Good gear. Another favourite of MR James is Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad. I don’t know that I prefer any of his work. I think I enjoy most of what I’ve read of his. A master storyteller. I like James, and Machen, and I love Jean Lorrain n’all. All so good at atmosphere, and creating a hallucinatory, haunting feel to a story. I'd a loved to have been invited to one of his fireside Christmas readings, although, being an uneducated, working class schizo in them days, it'd be highly unlikely. But I like the idea.
Oh my god, Rob, that tarantula thing would have been the end of me! I'm not surprised you weighted the pages down, kind of like how they lock the picture in a drawer overnight in the story. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, there are some absolute crackers in this collection, I'm excited to share more!
If I told you all the horrific apparitions and strange phenomena I've experienced in my life, you'd be shocked. From serpents coming out the wall at age six, through shadow people haunting me, to a whole train carriage full of people laughing at me recently. I'm used to it now. Desensitised. I'm still haunted by spectral entities, as well as me brother, who hanged himself. Sometimes, it's a bit like living in a horror film.
Looking forward to more of your readings. I love having a good story read to me as much as I love to read them.
Thanks so much, Rob!
We have done one of his stories over at Pseudopod - https://pseudopod.org/people/m-r-james/
They also did one on Cast of Wonders (look for a second link on that page).
Amazing, I’ll check these out!
Creepy! Love the concept. Thank-you for sharing! 👏👏👏
Thanks so much! There are some juicy ones in there…
Can't wait! 😳
What was the name tea you were drinking?
‘Yorkshire Tea.’ The best kind!
I just recently watched this, and a few other BBC MR James stories. I am a huge fan of his ghost stories.
Remember watching this, very disturbing!
I really loved the adaptation!
Excellent idea! I like most of MRJ’s work which I was introduced to vis the BBC and Chris and Barbara Roden’s “Ash Tree Press” and The Ghost Story Society as was. Nicely introduced and read imho.
Thanks John! I’ll have to check it out.
Good luck!