"Dr. James has, it is clear, an intelligent and scientific knowledge of human nerves and feelings; and knows just how to apportion statement, imagery, and subtle suggestions in order to secure the best results with his readers. He is an artist in incident and arrangement"

H.P. Lovcraft in Supernatural Horror in Literature

Here you will find the full texts of all of James's completed ghost stories, information and clips from the Film and TV adaptations and illustrations. Or, to search across these resources please use the search box.

As with all the best creative works it seems next to impossible to define exactly what is so special about the ghost stories of M.R. James. It's no simple sentimentality, nor a cheap roller-coaster thrill. It has something to do with an off-kilter Englishness, a certain respectability besieged but also defined by the bizarre, the chaotic and the arcane. In part at least, it's tied up with that unique, brave and terrible period of European history in which these stories were written.

Perhaps it's what isn't in these stories that makes them so unique. Incredible detail finds a balance in those ambiguous ghouls to which the reader is invited to apply their own dreadful colour.

Many of James's ghost stories were written to be read aloud as Christmas Eve entertainment to select gatherings of friends at Cambridge. They were subsequently published as just a handful of books: Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, A Thin Ghost and Others, and A Warning to the Curious.

MRJ by Sir Gerald Kelly, The National Portrait Gallery

This site is devoted to the understated master of ghastliness, Montague Rhodes James OM MA. Here you'll find referece to the books, films and illustrations which together form the expanded canon of all things Jamsian. Please contact me with any questions of comments.

Stephen Gray 2010

Every effort is made to respect copyright, but please contact me if you have a take-down request and I'll be glad to remove content.