In the decayed Pyrenean town of St Bertrand de Comminges, an English academic stumbles across a unique book, a collection of writings and illustrated manuscripts dating back many centuries. It's incredibly rare, and yet the owner of the book seems surprisingly happy to part with it... The story starts at 00:01:28 This is one of a series of the ghost stories of M. R. James I've narrated for this channel; you can hear the others on this playlist: kzread.info/head/PLi95qAoufCZJNKedIOCTyWlvJTmG0ku2o Or for a selection of Victorian ghost stories by various authors, including Charles Dickens, Amelia Edwards, Edith Nesbit, H. G. Wells, and many more: kzread.info/head/PLi95qAoufCZISCGdeBUtYxynNFtZCeRrv

Loved the character of the Cambridge scholar……I’ve always felt that it is the relatability/quirkiness of James’ protagonists ( and not merely his frightening supernatural plots ) that have endeared his short stories to so many generations of readers….❤

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Quite so, and as the first in what was to become a large body of stories, Dennistoun very much sets the standard for other characters (Parkins, Wraxall, Paskins et al) to follow

M R James has developed into my favourite classic ghost story writer, thanks to you.

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

How wonderful, glad to know that

@neowise6863

23 күн бұрын

@@BitesizedAudio and me! Your narration of these stories is fantastic. Thank you ☺️

This has come exactly when I needed cheering up more than I have needed it in a long time. Thank you so much Simon for a wonderful story performed in such a wonderful way! You are appreciated more than you will ever know, and by so many! 🙏🌺 ❤❤❤

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Glad I could help, Maria. I hope things are brighter for you now! All best wishes

@Boogie_the_cat

Ай бұрын

I hope that your situation improves and you can rise above the bad feelings. I hope I'm not seeming rude by butting into your business. I just wanted to wish you well, because I suffer from clinical depression and anxiety, which has at least gifted me with empathy. Best of luck to you.

Love the subtle horror in this. It creeps up on you in such a matter of fact way. James always convinces me that there is more in this world than we understand. His education with history and churches makes it all the more worthwhile to read over and over. ❤

@leebennett1821

Ай бұрын

I agree modern horror it mostly mindless gore

@rheinhartsilvento2576

Ай бұрын

Right. That's because there is 😅

@smythharris2635

Ай бұрын

"Death is unreal, That's the way I feel. There's more to be revealed. Lovers and friends meet again and again, on the dear old battlefield." [The Incredible String Band]

@beverlyadams7205

Ай бұрын

@@smythharris2635love this ❤

@smythharris2635

Ай бұрын

​@@beverlyadams7205"The Dear Old Battlefield", from their album, "The Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air"

Hell yea I just in time to do the dishes right on. Simon has no set time because any time is the right time. cheers from across the pond

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Any time is the right time, a very good attitude for life!

@THEPAGEBURNER1979

Ай бұрын

@@BitesizedAudio I try to think well it always can be worse than what it is😬😂😂

An evening listening to M. R. James, what could be better?

Well, that was enough to put the willies up anybody. And you're so good at it, cher Simon. ❤

Mr. Stanhope, you are a superb reader & have the marvelous ability to make a story come to life. Also your choice of subjects are varied and ever interesting. I also like the biographical information of the authors.

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your kind comments, and I'm glad to know the notes are of interest

My Favourite Ghost Writer - thank you Simon - bliss

What an utter delight - thank you so much for another M.R.James story, Simon. As the song says, nobody does it better!

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Very kind of you to say, thank you Yvonne

I really enjoy this, every reader brings his very own personal touch to this masterpiece of James’ fine writing. I like your narration very much.

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Thank you Ricky, appreciated. For some reason I'd thought this was one of the less often recorded James stories, I don't know why I thought that, but just as I was in the process of uploading this I did a quick YT search and was rather astonished by how many versions there are already! But as you say, every interpretation brings something different to the table, it's such a wonderful story

@TheRickie41

Ай бұрын

@@BitesizedAudio Yes, indeed. An actor, however, makes it double special; this one, particularly. Now it's you and Hordern I'll repeatedly enjoy...I admit I have a profound admiration for this fine, depictive style that is James'...

Your voice was made for M R James - absolutely perfect :)

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Thank you!

Woot! Woot! *Simon Stanhope* reading *M.R. James* this will brighten my early evening. Thank You *Simon* I've had such a day w/ household chores I feel like a charwoman. No wonder it's called *chores* & I'm not yet done. Still have to unload the dishwasher, put a cat's blanket into the dryer & fix dinner. The latter will be a frozen meal popped into the oven as I'm too exhausted to cook😵😵‍💫. Now that I think on it I do have the robots to help me out: Washer, dryer, dishwasher, oven🤔🤔 still those dishes don't unload & put themselves away

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

They certainly don't! I hope you find some time to sit and relax

Thank you as always Simon.

Super Thanks Simon ❤Australia 😊

How marvellous Simon!

I love love love M.R. James, and Mr. Stanhope has the perfect voice and inflection for James's tales. I'd love to hear you tackle "Two Doctors" or The Fenstanton Witch" "Two Doctors" has the benefit of being a quite short tale. Best wishes!

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Great suggestions, actually both are already on my wish list (in fact, I'd rather like to do all of them eventually, but that'll take a while...). But those two in particular I'd earmarked, 'Two Doctors' because it's obscure and quite a challenge to make sense of... but I like a challenge; 'The Fenstanton Witch' because it's even more obscure and less well covered - although that's because it's actually still under copyright. James never published it and it was only found after his death, and only published in 1990, so I wouldn't be able to read it for this channel without permission from the copyright holder(s). However, it's on my to-do list to write and ask for permission

@Boogie_the_cat

Ай бұрын

Great to hear that they are on your wish list. I enjoy all of James's work, but I especially love the nebulosity of those two. I hadn't known about "The Fenstanton Witch" being posthumously published. You are a well of knowledge, which just adds to the depth that your narration gives to the stories.

M. R. James is just brilliant and Simon is talented as always - French and Latin!

I adore M. R. James, but I adore you reading his stories more. Thanks, Simon, for another good one.❤

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Appreciated, thanks Shannon

This tale is more than horrible scary, it's 12.45 pm, and I am alone in my house. 😮 And Simon is brilliant as always! This is one of the most scary you ever made!

Oh the bliss❤ Just what I needed. Thank you. Aaaaaaand relax.😊

My, you've been busy! It's great to hear these James stories again. 🌹

An M.R. James I have not heard! A wonderful day, indeed.

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Excellent. Thanks for listening, and taking the time to comment

Oooooh- thrilled & chilled here! Great story, fab narration as always. Thank you so much Simon. 🥰😊

Perfect intro, perfect music, perfect story, and perfect narration. Thank you! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Fantastic! Thank you Simon!

A superb narration, as usual, by Mr Stanhope. Thank you

@BitesizedAudio

18 күн бұрын

Thank you Christine, appreciated

oh, haunted art works, that's my jam!

Just seen this - can't listen immediately, but this afternoon I shall be! Anticipation OVERLOAD! 🤗😍

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Thanks Nicky, I hope you enjoy it!

Superb, it doesn’t get better than this.As a commentator wrote earlier, you can feel the creeping horror.An academic, steeped in learning and knowledge, living in a rarefied world of ancient books and University life coming face to face with the supernatural makes it even more frightening.This was brilliant.Thank you Simon.

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

So glad to know you enjoyed it, thank you!

Oh my goodness! I'm in positive M.R.James Heaven Simon! Thank you so so much!

Thank you - just delightful. 😊

Ty for another great read Simon ❤

Wonderful narration as aiways!

Thank you, Simon. Great story with creepy vibes.😱

Thanks!

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much Stephanie

Creepy and predictable, but it draws you in none the less! (Oddly enough, no matter how often I tried to forwarn the scholar he just ignored me! 😉) Thanks again for a wonderful narration! ❤

Thanks Simon. So enjoyable. Wonderful narration as always.

Took me 3 listens to get my head around this belter Thanks as always Simon I’m sure the author would be pleased with your wonderful narrations of his works

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Much appreciated, thanks Dave

Just reading a book of MR James stories. They just have this creepy yet quaint nuance like Edward Gorey art.

A truly spooky story - well read as ever! Loved it!

There you are. Right on time.

Thanks

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Appreciated, thanks Lee 🙏

Could you read it's sister story 'The Mezzotint' for us? Not that we're a picky and demanding lot, or anything! We just love the stories you pick, and the way you read them. Then we want to hear all our favourite stories read by you.

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Thanks Anna, appreciated. I take it you didn't see my post on the community tab recently about MRJ... yes, 'The Mezzotint' is next on my list for when I return to him, and I'm also hoping to do 'The Ash Tree' before the end of this year too. In December it'll be 120 years since 'Ghost Stories of an Antiquary' was first published in book form, so I'm aiming to complete the volume by then and upload the compilation as a complete video

@annagettings4675

Ай бұрын

@@BitesizedAudio Yay! Simon you are a marvel and a treasure, and the best audiobook reader on the planet! Stephen Fry pales in comparison and Martin Jarvis weeps with envy!

A trifecta of terror….how lucky are we 😊😊👍

Thank you

I know this area!

If you are in the forest, on a deserted beach, at an ancient site or in your garden and you sense you're being watched; maybe you think you see something or sense something. You have been M. R. Jamesed.😅

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

It's a creepy feeling...

Hi Simon!

@BitesizeAudio, dear Simon, unless it is a condition of funding supporters, how come no adverts at beginning of your videos? I’d gladly watch an advert video/s if it means funding that will get more of your wonderful readings on here I like before I listen, but I know this is going to be amazing again; thank you

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

I think there are adverts at the beginning of the videos... not the middle though, I've switched those off. However, I believe that if you watch quite a few KZread videos in succession it does sometimes skip the ads and lets you watch ad-free occasionally; perhaps that's happened here? Thanks so much for your kind support, I hope you enjoyed the story

So this was M.R. James' first supernatural story? And though I've heard of stuffed crocodiles hanging in apoyhecary shops, I find in this story one hanging over the font in a church! I wonder why, and will have fun trying yo find out.

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

I seem to recall Mark Gatiss presented a documentary on MRJ a few years ago, where he visited this church and we saw the crocodile... I'd love to visit in person some day

🙏🏽 and a bit more Latin for you…et paulo plus Latin tibi💚

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

Gratias tibi 🙏

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wonderful reading as usual. You have a perfect voice for James. This is one of the first James stories I read, and I always wished I could ask him questions about it. How did the sacristan come by the book? Why was he compelled to keep it in his home? Everyone in town seemed to know about it. And the entity seemed to hang out in the church. Did it follow the scrapbook when Denniston left the town? Fascinating things to chew over while I listen! ❤❤❤

@BitesizedAudio

Ай бұрын

So glad to know you enjoyed it. And these are all great questions, which I must confess have always made me ponder too. [Spoiler alert for what follows, for anyone who hasn't listened yet.] As I see it, the entity haunts the sacristan rather than the book, but only because he *owns* the book. Hence, as you say he's hanging around in the church while the book is locked up at the house. But when Dennistoun takes ownership of the book, the sacristan seems immediately relieved, even though they're still all in the same room together, and very soon it's Dennistoun who senses someone standing behind him. I think what puzzled me most is that destroying one particular page/picture seems to free Densistoun from the worst effects of it... and yet taking and keeping a photograph of it is apparently OK! Which brings me to a wider question I have about the James canon: why do some protagonists "get away with it", e.g. Dennistoun here by destroying the page, or Parkins by throwing the whistle into the sea, or Somerton by returning Abbot Thomas's treasure to the well, whereas others like Mr Wraxall in Count Magnus, or Paxton in 'A Warning to the Curious', are never forgiven and are pursued to the end? It all seems rather unfair... But fascinating to debate and swap theories!

@thurayya8905

Ай бұрын

I think the entity is a Jinn that Canon Alberic came into contact with by trying to contact the dead (the way we might with an ouija board) looking for answers to his future. He may have made a pact with it, then found he could not rid himself of it. He may have prayed to King Solomon (considered a Saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church) and looked to him for answers to his problem, even drawing and painting a picture. The verger may have been the one who found and read Alberic's psalter.

@possumaintdead

Ай бұрын

@@BitesizedAudio Maybe it depends on the type of entity that is involved? It’s lucky that whatever it was could be laid by burning the picture. Remember in Casting the Runes the burning of the strip of runes guaranteed the death of the recipient. Puzzles, puzzles!

@possumaintdead

Ай бұрын

@@thurayya8905 Interesting theory. I don’t know much about Jinn, but it makes sense that the owner of the book was stuck with the entity. I wonder if a person with proper knowledge could have controlled and used the entity for his own ends.

Thanks