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Collected Ghost Stories

This collection gathers ghostly encounters, ancient curses, and sinister old relics. Stories including The Mezzotint and Casting the Runes find dread in the past's return.

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Discover the Chilling World of Collected Ghost Stories

M. R. James’ Collected Ghost Stories is a masterpiece of supernatural fiction that has inspired and terrified readers for generations. Known for his subtle yet spine-tingling storytelling, James weaves tales of mystery and dread that linger long after the last page is turned. This collection is a treasure trove of eerie encounters, ancient curses, and restless spirits, showcasing the unmatched genius of one of the greatest ghost story writers of all time.

Included in This Collection:

Canon Alberic's Scrap-Book

Lost Hearts

The Mezzotint

The Ash-Tree

Number 13

Count Magnus

'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'

The Treasure of Abbot Thomas

A School Story

The Rose Garden

The Tractate Middoth

Casting the Runes

The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral

Martin's Close

Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance

The Diary of Mr Poynter

An Episode of Cathedral History

The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance

Two Doctors

The Haunted Dolls' House

The Uncommon Prayer-Book

A Neighbour's Landmark

A View from a Hill

A Warning to the Curious

An Evening's Entertainment

There Was a Man Dwelt by a Churchyard

Rats

After Dark in the Playing Fields

Wailing Well

The Experiment

The Malice of Inanimate Objects

A Vignette

Key Themes in Collected Ghost Stories:

Ancient Curses: The consequences of uncovering long-buried secrets.

Restless Spirits: Ghostly figures haunting the living with their unresolved pasts.

Atmospheric Tension: James’ unmatched ability to evoke dread and unease.

Relics of the Past: The sinister power of artifacts and manuscripts.

A Must-Read for Fans of Supernatural Fiction

Collected Ghost Stories is a cornerstone of classic ghost literature, offering a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. Dive into these tales and experience the timeless terror of M. R. James’ chilling imagination.

First published: 1931
Publisher: DLB Press
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Book tags

Content warnings

No content warnings are recorded. Missing warnings do not mean the book is warning-free.

Horror profile

Scary: Not rated
Creepy: Not rated
Gore: Not rated
Disturbing: Not rated
Weird: Not rated

How we calculate this

These are editorial estimates of intensity, informed by reading and review evidence, then checked before publication. They aren't star ratings, reader-vote averages or a measure of quality.

Each dimension runs from 1 (low) to 5 (exceptionally intense). A 5 is reserved for strongly consistent evidence. People experience horror differently.

Scary: Fear, tension and immediate threat.
Creepy: Unease, dread and an uncanny atmosphere.
Gore: Graphic injury, blood and bodily detail.
Disturbing: Upsetting ideas and lingering psychological impact.
Weird: Surreal, strange and reality-bending elements.

We draw a filled profile only when all five scores have been reviewed. Unrated does not mean mild. Missing scores are not estimated from genre tags or your saved taste. This profile isn't a complete content-warning guide.