The M. R. James BBC Radio Collection: Dramatisations and readings of his classic ghost stories

M. R. James

Mar 2020 · BBC Digital Audio · Narrated by Mark Gatiss, James D'Arcy, Anton Lesser, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Derek Jacobi, Fenella Woolgar, and Full Cast

About this audiobook

Spine-tingling stories by M. R. James, plus a chilling original drama and two bonus programmes about his life and work

M. R. James was the master of the uncanny. His classic supernatural stories have haunted readers for over a century, and been adapted countless times for radio, TV and film.

This collection features dramatisations of twelve of his most popular stories – The Mezzotint; Casting the Runes; The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral; A Warning to the Curious; Rats; Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come To You, My Lad; The Tractate Middoth; Lost Hearts; The Rose Garden; Number 13; Martin’s Close and Count Magnus. Among the star-studded casts are Mark Gatiss, Derek Jacobi, James D’Arcy, Anton Lesser, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Donald Wolfit.

Also included are a trio of readings by Benjamin Whitrow: Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook; A School Story and The Haunted Dolls’ House.

Neil Brand’s disturbing drama The Haunting of M. R. James, starring Mark Gatiss and Fenella Woolgar, sees horrific events from James’s own stories echoed in reality.

The life of M. R. James is discussed by Muriel Gray and Christopher Frayling in an episode of biography series Great Lives, presented by Humphrey Carpenter. Finally, in a fascinating documentary – The Ghosts of M.R. James – Michell Raper examines the author’s life and work, with readings from several of his stories.

Running Order:
The Mezzotint
Casting the Runes
The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral
A Warning to the Curious
Rats
Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come To You, My Lad
The Tractate Middoth
Lost Hearts
The Rose Garden
Number 13
Canon Alberic's Scrapbook
A School Story
The Haunted Doll's House
Martin's Close
Count Magnus
The Haunting of M. R. James
Great Lives: M. R. James
The Ghosts of M. R. James

About the author

Mark Gatiss is a screenwriter, director, producer and actor. He is one member of The League of Gentlemen and has written for and acted in Doctor Who, Sherlock (the latter of which he co-created with Steven Moffat along with the acclaimed miniseries Dracula) and many others. Anton Lesser is an Associate of the RSC and has appeared in many productions at the National Theatre including Private Lives and Wild Oats. Recent television credits include Charles Dickens, Perfect Strangers and The Project. Film credits include Charlotte Gray and Imagining Argentina.