The Mezzotint by M R James
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- This is a classic ghost story. M R James has a unique knack of putting weird items in his stories to create horrifying images that are almost surreal. And he does this against a background of Middle Class Edwardian England, set often in a university or School environment: places he knew well from his roles at Eton and Cambridge. The images in The Mezzotint are weird and disturbing. I hope you enjoy!
James is the master of creating subtle, intelligent horror. James's typical stories involve people just like him-academics and antiquarians and clergymen- basically and people at home with dusty books and old churches in remote corners of rural England with backward, backwoods people who don't like change or strangers meddling with things that don't concern them.
Of the generations of English ghost story writers, in my estimation we have J S Le Fanu, then M R James, then Robert Aickman and then Ramsey Campbell. There are other stars I haven't mentioned and Clive Barker must fit in there somewhere.
#mrjames #m.r.james #audiobook
The Classic Ghost Stories Podcast
In the 19th century the British were prolific ghost story writers. I love reading their stories or listening to podcasts with narrators such as this one whose clear and elegant British English, and perfect diction makes listening a great pleasure.
One of James's best (which says a lot!). Like you say, weird and disturbing in a mundane environment. James himself would re-use a version of this plot (the re-enactment of a crime via representation in miniature) in his later story The Haunted Dolls' House, but The Mezzotint is the superior tale.
I listen to this (my fave) story every time it comes out on UA-cam & whoever narrates it. Tony, your reading is hands down the best. Beautiful & silky & rich.
A grand tale (one of the greats) written by "the master" and narrated by the peerless Tony Walker.
This is a grand, fine, and creepy tale. It is one of the greats. I think it is just the right length.
I always wondered where "Barcud" came from or what it meant. Good ole' Welsh name. I love how you honor your heritage. I do the same and love it. I wish more people would do so!
Thanks!
OK down tools and kettle on.... This is one of my favourites. Absolutely brilliant!
I love M R James.. This is the first time I have listened to a podcast of one of his stories... Thank you it gave it that extra bit of creepy you don't quite get when you read it yourself
I think I have read just about most of his stories and love a good podcast based on any of them.
Excellent reader.
One of my favorites from James
Glad you liked it M.
M.R. James is the best💀
I just left a great story! A detective 🕵️ one. With the greatest narrator ever! Thanx Tony🥳
A very good reading indeed! Thank you 😃🏴
I saw this on TV, didn't know it was MR James. Great tale, creepy! Thanks
A fav of mine. Captivating, vivid narration informative, entertaining commentary. Much appreciated.
That same theme was used in the old American TV series called Night Gallery created and hosted by Rod Sirling of Twilight Zone fame. That episode scared the bejeesus out of me when I was a kid! T I believe it was called The Cemetary and starred Roddy McDowall
Oh nice, this is going to be a good one. Thanks friend.
This was awhile ago-one of my top favs from MR James
My fav too since I was first introduced to it by Robert Powell narration from _Classic Ghost Stories_
I listened to this one before done by Bitesizedaudio. It is such a strange story and keeps you curious about its progression. Both versions, this one and the one by Bitesize are so well read. Absolutely fantastic.
Quite a few similarities with his 'Haunted Dolls' House'. Both excellent.
This is one of my favorite James stories and you read it exceptionally. Cheers.
It has been ages since I’ve been chilled. So subtle, so insidious, so gossamer...
He’s a master
We want you to also do the doll’s house by MR James
Well, you see that I've just done the whole of his second book? Unfortunately that means, that M R James will have to have a little rest from me. I will do some Henry James before getting back to MR
This is my kind of story. Supernatural. Mysterious and a little macabre. No fresh bones (old bones are good), blood and gore
Just the kind of story for a cup of tea on a chilly, overcast day. Thank you Tony Walker!
The second time I listened to this story, I couldn't help but note how naturally the characters take it that the print seems to be alive. They find what's being portrayed as shocking, but not the fact that it's happening at all.
This is true, while we would be off to the doctor
M. R. James writes the most masterful and terrifying short stories, and yet I so rarely find people irl who are familiar with them.
I love this story
Thanks for pointing out your books on Amazon, Tony; just ordered London Horror Stories and Cumbrian Ghost Stories!
Awesome, thank you! Much appreciated.
Quite reminiscent of 1 of the Night Gallery Pilot episodes, 'The Cemetery'. Our parents were out for an evening, the sitter let my older brother and myself watch it, I was 4. It scared the bejesus out of me! When our mom found out we'd watched it she was very unhappy. I'm sure my wanting to sleep with she and my dad had much to do with her displeasure. Lol the character Portifoy stuck with me all these 45 yrs later.
I have memories like this of episodes that stay with me
Reminds me of a Rod Sterling, Twilight Zone, stoey of a painting that kept changing, with a man n the picture moving closer and closer to the house, which held the strange painting, with the house owner becoming more and more terrified, as the painting showed his nemesis approaching. Then there's a knock on the door...
Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Also there is a short story episode in one of those horror TV series (Twilight Zone?). A nazi war criminal lives in obscurity but is tormented by his memories. He becomes increasingly obsessed with a museum painting. The subject is a solitary man peacefully fishing from his little boat. The surroundings are serene and idyllic. Our haunted criminal projects himself into the painting and it comes alive for him. He is the man in the boat. The river sparkles. The birds are singing in the trees. But soon there is another man who shared the nazi's former life, a Holocaust survivor. The survivor stalks his former tormentor. And we are shown another painting in the same exhibit hall. It is someone's dreadful nightmare and depicts a crucifixion. When the survivor alerts the authorities, the former nazi flees to the museum to evade capture. He kneels before his favorite painting and begs that he be absorbed into that scene. His wish is granted. But what he did not know and could not see in the night hours was that his painting had been switched. The curators had done some rearranging. When the day dawns we see him forever screaming from his cross.
That
Twilight Zone episode was fabulous. So very clever.
@@pchabanowich Night Gallery.
balcony scene
Would love to hear Tony do a story by Aleksey Tolstoy, maybe Count Cagliostro
I will try, but I have to be mindful of copyright strikes and also length of story
Guess I'll be finishing a little earlier this Friday 🤔👍
Hope you like it
Can you pm me your address? I have a book I think you’d like. Inc letters from Monty
+Goochie Gum Girl email
me at classicghostpodcast@gmail.com