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Ghost Stories of an Antiquary  By  cover art

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

By: M. R. James
Narrated by: David Timson, Stephen Critchlow
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Publisher's summary

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.

©2010 Naxos AudioBooks (P)2010 Naxos AudioBooks

What listeners say about Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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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!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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My Favourite Audiobook!

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

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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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..

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Superb in every way

To begin with, these are some of the finest ghost stories ever written. If you’ve never had the pleasure of reading M.R. James, you’re in for a real treat!

The narrators in this set are both outstanding. David Timson reads most of the tales, and he brings out not just the tremendous atmosphere of these tales but also the wittiness of James’s writing. Stephen Critchelow’s voice and delivery are very different, but still equally well suited to the material.

James famously introduced these tales (many of them, at any rate) by reading them to his friends at Christmas. Timson and Critchelow’s performances beautifully evoke such a setting: it’s easy to imagine gathering around a fire on a cold winter’s night, and listening as they bring James’s stories vividly to life.

One last thing to note - the musical selections (brief fragments at the beginning and end of each tale) are very well chosen and add a lot to the atmosphere.

All in all, a superb collection in every way. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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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.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Poor Narrator

Would you try another book from M. R. James and/or David; Stephen Timson; Critchlow?

depends on narrator

Would you be willing to try another book from M. R. James? Why or why not?

depends on narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

distracting! voice is too high pitched and narrator does not take time to make a sentence stand on its own. appears to read too fast without emphasizing the author's points. would not purchase from him again

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Boring – don’t waste your time!

Audible asked me to provide my opinion of this book for the benefit of other listeners. I hope you heed my warning. Do not download this book. The book is boring. It will be a waste of your time and money. The stories are not scary. They are long tedious stores that lack appeal to both children and adults. My recommendation is to pass this one up. Title sounds promising but the content is terrible.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

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

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