A Thin Ghost and Others

By M. R. James

Are you the type who loves nothing more than curling up with a book of ghost stories? If so, be sure to add A Thin Ghost and Others to your must-read list. A gem from the golden age of Gothic horror, these spine-tingling tales will satisfy your craving for ghoulishly top-notch fiction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sheba Blake Publishing
• Release date: Jul 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329573642

M. R. James

Montague Rhodes James was born in 1862 at Goodnestone Parsonage, Kent, where his father was a curate, but the family moved soon afterwards to Great Livermere in Suffolk. James attended Eton College and later King's College Cambridge where he won many awards and scholarships. From 1894 to 1908 he was Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge and from 1905 to 1918 was Provost of King's College. In 1913, he became Vice-Chancellor of the University for two years. In 1918 he was installed as Provost of Eton. A distinguished medievalist and scholar of international status, James published many works on biblical and historical antiquarian subjects. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1930. His ghost story writing began almost as a divertissement from his academic work and as a form of entertainment for his colleagues. His first collection, Ghost Stories of an Antiquary was published in 1904. He never married and died in 1936.

Reviews for A Thin Ghost and Others

[tungsten_peerts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I suppose it could reasonably be said that James' range is narrow; however, within that range, he is devastating. Characterization is kind of pale here: most of James' characters are (like him) bookish antiquarians, and you won't find a lot of stimulating dialogue. However, be warned: herein are the nastiest, creepiest, strangest ghosts you've ever encountered. Because (as someone else pointed out - I can't take credit for it) you often touch them before you see them (if you see them at all) and they're nasty to touch. Brrrrr.

[wordsampersand · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked these stories, though James's prose is sometimes impenetrable. Also, his stories all have the same format: "Oh, here are some books James is interested in real life, let's have the protagonist wander around trying to find them. Oh, here's a working-class guy offended by some slight from an academic. Oh, a ghost. Oh, the end."

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Adult fiction; ghost stories. These were OK stories--pretty spooky and suspenseful, but not something I was willing to wade through at the time.

[arkrayder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun little read. After The Lair of the White Worm it was a little bit of fluff to soothe the mind and conjure up demons and curses, oh my.

[wbwilburn5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not at all what I expected, but interesting.

[stephenmurphy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You cannot touch this guy for sheer, unheimlich shivering dread. A school story shat me up at university and just two months ago Tyhe Mezzotint put the willies right up me. Huhuhurr!

[chexmix_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I suppose it could reasonably be said that James' range is narrow; however, within that range, he is devastating. Characterization is kind of pale here: most of James' characters are (like him) bookish antiquarians, and you won't find a lot of stimulating dialogue. However, be warned: herein are the nastiest, creepiest, strangest ghosts you've ever encountered. Because (as someone else pointed out - I can't take credit for it) you often touch them before you see them (if you see them at all) and they're nasty to touch. Brrrrr.