Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

By: M. R. James

Narrated by: David Timson, Stephen Critchlow

The powerful sense of evil – darkness, creepy hairy presences, cloaks, hoods, talons and tentacles – pervades these classic ghost stories by M.R. James. A Cambridge scholar himself, James explored what happens when academics dabble in things they don’t understand and unleash forces of which they know nothing. The titles in Ghost Stories of an Antiquary range from witchcraft to the occult, and tap into our primal fear of things that go bump in the night. They are recognised as the best of their genre.

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Wonderful Scares

This antiquary was a great listen and I am now a big fan of M.R. James’ stories! Perfect to listen to around Halloween and the voice acting was very well done.

Not bad at all.

Decent "antiquated" horror short stories. Well-written but not particularly gripping. Yet, enjoyable and worth the time for any follower of this genre.

Interesting interpretation of James' finest

No one wrote ghost stories like M.R.James, the master. His style is masterful, grabs one's attention,
and never disappoints. These are not 'quickies' of horror or destruction, but slow, cool, steady unfolding of
fear..

Great Ghost Stories

This is not a slice and dice story it is a real ghost story. Something that is hard to find in today's story telling.

My Favourite Audiobook!

I loved this audiobook! Great stories by M.R. James and very good narration. Probably my favourite purchase so far!

Creepy and atmospheric.

What made the experience of listening to Ghost Stories of an Antiquary the most enjoyable?

M. R. James is regarded by many as the Master of the British Ghost Story. He has a way of setting the scene so that you think the places are real places and the people are real people, so the tension also feels real.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary?

My favorite stories are probably "Canon Alberic's Scrap Book" and "Lost Hearts"

Which scene was your favorite?

The story of the hunters in "Count Magnus"

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I have listened to this book several times, the stories lend themselves to listening a few at a time, but I have also listened to it all at once.

Great Stories, Wrong Narrator

These are some really wonderful (and wonderfully written), classic spooky stories! Unfortunately, the main narrator is simply and unequivocally WRONG for the job. In the alternative, the narrator (who has a pleasing voice and an elegant accent), made a fatal mistake in choosing his delivery of these stories. What is needed is voice with the cadence, ominous tones and sufficient range to terrify the listener as M.R. James intended. Instead, what we got was a boring lecture that may as well have been describing the latest business practices. What a bloody shame.

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

Well produced and clearly read. Naxos Audiobooks are of top quality qnd highly recommended.

Great performances of the classic

I've heard dozens of readings of James' ghost stories over the years, particularly those from this book. The various readings on this recording are among the best. If you're new to James, this would be a wonderful place to start. Haunted objects, otherworldly visitations, and travel to foreign lands make the collection interesting. These are old-fashioned stories, very much of the author's time, but good, solid tales as only James can tell them.

Great Stories and Narration of M.R. James!

M.R. James is one of my favourite ghost story authors. I really enjoy his sense of atmosphere and subtle scariness, compared with the shock-fests of today! And to top it off, most of the narration is done by one of my favourites, David Timson! Check this audio book out if you're a fan of classic ghost stories and great narration!