Ghost Stories of an Antiquary


Read by Peter Yearsley

(4.7 stars; 211 reviews)

Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) was a medieval scholar; Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. He wrote many of his ghost stories to be read aloud in the long tradition of spooky Christmas Eve tales. His stories often use rural settings, with a quiet, scholarly protagonist getting caught up in the activities of supernatural forces. The details of horror are almost never explicit, the stories relying on a gentle, bucolic background to emphasise the awfulness of the otherworldly intrusions.

“Ghost Stories of an Antiquary” was written as two collections, presented here as two volumes in a single work. There is a short author’s preface before the first story in each volume. (Summary by Peter Yearsley) (10 hr 6 min)

Chapters

Preface to Vol. 1 and Canon Alberic 34:35 Read by Peter Yearsley
Lost Hearts 27:08 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Mezzotint 30:59 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Ash-Tree 35:07 Read by Peter Yearsley
Number 13 40:12 Read by Peter Yearsley
Count Magnus 36:57 Read by Peter Yearsley
Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad 49:52 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas 50:01 Read by Peter Yearsley
Preface to Vol. 2 and A School Story 18:50 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Rose Garden 28:49 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Tractate Middoth 43:05 Read by Peter Yearsley
Casting the Runes 53:52 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral 40:12 Read by Peter Yearsley
Martin’s Close 49:06 Read by Peter Yearsley
Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance – Part One 29:27 Read by Peter Yearsley
Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance – Part Two 38:27 Read by Peter Yearsley

Reviews

Perfectly read, perfectly written


(5 stars)

If you love ghost stories, then you simply must try these. They are excellent, don't spoonfeed the reader, and are performed perfectly.

Perfection


(5 stars)

My favorite performer and my favorite set of stories.i have listened to this collection many times and never tire of it. Mr Yearsley is outstanding reading these wonderfully icy tales. If you need slice and dice for thrills, skip this one, but if you like intelligent and subtle stories that build into true terror, you will relish this collection. And Audible is missing out on one of the great readers in Mr. Yearsley.

Marvelous


(5 stars)

These are some of the greatest ghost stories ever written (according to HP Lovecraft, and who are we to disagree), read to perfection. As you listen imagine yourself sitting in a scuffed leather chair by the fire, drinking a brandy, in a fine club in London. To quote HPL: "Dr. James, for all his light touch, evokes fright and hideousness in their most shocking form, and will certainly stand as one of the few really creative masters in his darksome province." In addition to that I really must give the highest commendation to the reader of these stories.

Another Yearsley classic read!!


(5 stars)

Enthralling voice, with Leonard Cohen lows and Johnny Cash mid-ranges, Yearsley knocks it out of the park once again! Thank you Sir Peter!


(5 stars)

Excellent! The reader is comfortable and clear with all pronunciation and does a wonderful job distinguishing the different personalities! Well read, Sir!

Wonderful


(5 stars)

A wonderful collection of some of my favorite M R James stories beautifully read by mr yearsley i have many fond memories of reading these stories with my father especially around Christmas perfect spine tingling stories up there with the likes of Lovecraft,Bierce, and Benson perfect for true fans of the ghost/supernatural story genre best listened to before going to bed 5 stars

The best book and superb reader


(5 stars)

I have always loved the stories of M. R. James. He truly was a master of horror. Combine the story content with the voice of Mr. Yearsley and you're in for a treat. Turn down the lights, grab a cup of tea, and prepare yourself for some true tales of terror.

One of the best


(5 stars)

A collection of time out of mind, we loved snuggling in bed n listening