Audiobooks by M.R. James

"This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. Something has waited in that tree for two hundred years. When Sir Richard Fell inherits Castringham Hall, he gives little thought to the old ash tree growing just outside his bedroom window — or to the local legend of a witch hanged generations ago, who cursed the family with her dying breath. But the Fells before him died strangely, one after another, always in that same room, always in autumn. Sir Richard is about to learn why."

M.R. James (Author), AI Voice Arthur Lane (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lost Hearts

"This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. A quiet country house. A kind guardian. And a past that refuses to stay buried. In Lost Hearts, M. R. James crafts a chilling tale of a young boy sent to live with his enigmatic cousin: an eccentric scholar with a troubling fascination for ancient rituals. At first, everything seems calm... but strange hints begin to surface, and something unseen starts to watch. As the nights grow darker, the truth behind the house—and its previous “guests”—becomes impossible to ignore. Subtle, eerie, and deeply unsettling, this is a ghost story that creeps up on you and doesn’t let go."

M.R. James (Author), AI Voice Arthur Lane (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mezzotint

"This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. A museum curator with a keen eye for prints acquires a dull and overpriced mezzotint - an unremarkable engraving of a country manor by moonlight, scarcely worth the dealer's asking price. Yet each time he sets it aside and looks again, the picture has quietly, impossibly changed: a hooded figure has appeared upon the moonlit lawn, and with every viewing it creeps a little nearer the silent house. As scholars gather to watch the engraving play out its slow and dreadful pantomime, they realise they are witnessing not a work of art but the patient re-enactment of an old and terrible crime - one that will reach its appointed end whether they care to look or not."

M.R. James (Author), AI Voice Arthur Lane (Narrator)

Audiobook

Canon Alberic’s Scrap-book

"This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. An old church, a nervous guide… and a book that should never have been opened. In Canon Alberic’s Scrap-book, M. R. James draws you into a quiet corner of rural France, where a curious English scholar stumbles upon a mysterious manuscript—filled with fragments of ancient texts… and something far more disturbing. At first, it’s the find of a lifetime. But as unease creeps in and strange details begin to surface, it becomes clear that some discoveries come with a price—and not all knowledge is meant to be uncovered. Subtle, eerie, and deeply unsettling—this is classic ghost story craftsmanship at its finest."

M.R. James (Author), AI Voice Arthur Lane (Narrator)

Audiobook

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

"Title: Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad Author: M. R. James Narrator: Jonathan Dunne Original Publication: 1904 Public Domain: Yes Series Placement: Timeless Terrors No. 60 Description: Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad is among M. R. James’s most chilling and influential ghost stories — a masterpiece of creeping dread where the rational mind meets forces far beyond its understanding. Professor Parkins, a staunch skeptic, takes a seaside holiday expecting rest and quiet. Instead, he unearths a mysterious bronze whistle at the remains of an ancient Templar site — an artifact inscribed with warnings that curiosity ignores at its peril. One careless blow of the whistle calls forth a presence woven from nightmares: a silent, predatory shape that haunts the spare bed and hunts the unbeliever who summoned it. James conjures terror not through spectacle but through atmosphere — empty beaches, salt-stung winds, and a room where bedclothes stir with malevolent intent. This is horror born of scholarship, superstition, and the unseen prowling just beyond the candle’s reach. Narrated by Amazon-bestselling horror author Jonathan Dunne, this performance restores the full tension and terror of one of the greatest ghost stories ever written. While the text is fully in the public domain, this narration and production are copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne. Part of Timeless Terrors, a series dedicated to resurrecting the legends of classic horror, Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad reminds us that some relics were buried for a reason — and some calls should never be answered."

M.R. James (Author), Jonathan Dunne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rats

"Title: Rats Author: M. R. James Narrator: Jonathan Dunne Original Publication: 1929 Public Domain: Yes Series Placement: Timeless Terrors No. 63 Description: Rats is one of M. R. James’ most quietly terrifying tales — a masterclass in suggestion, atmosphere, and the dread of what lurks just out of view. Set in a decaying, isolated inn on the Suffolk coast, the story follows a solitary traveler who becomes curious about a locked upstairs room that the landlord insists is overrun by rats. The noises behind the walls, the heavy scuffling overhead, and the strange behavior of the innkeeper all point to something unnatural hiding in the shadows. But when the narrator forces the door and enters the forbidden chamber, he discovers that what lies beneath the bedclothes is not a rat — nor anything that should still exist. James builds fear through restraint and implication, letting horror emerge from small details: a shifting weight, a half-seen shape, a dreadful suggestion of something once human. Narrated by Amazon-bestselling horror author Jonathan Dunne, this performance brings out the creeping tension and cold, scholarly terror that define M. R. James’ work. While the text itself is firmly in the public domain, this narration and production are copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne. Part of Timeless Terrors, a series dedicated to resurrecting the greatest ghost stories ever written, Rats is a chilling reminder that sometimes the most frightening creatures are not the ones we expect — and that some doors should never be opened."

M.R. James (Author), Jonathan Dunne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Count Magnus And Other Ghost Stories

"Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories by M.R. James is a chilling collection of supernatural tales that redefined the modern ghost story. Featuring scholarly protagonists and eerie antiquarian discoveries, the stories blend subtle horror with atmospheric precision. In the title tale, a curious Englishman investigates the sinister legacy of Count Magnus in rural Sweden, unleashing a vengeful, otherworldly presence. Other tales include haunted manuscripts, cursed artifacts, and malevolent spirits drawn to the inquisitive. James’s mastery lies in understated dread, vivid settings, and the terror of the unseen. Written in a refined, academic tone, these stories creep slowly into the psyche, making them enduring classics of gothic and psychological horror."

M.R. James (Author), Finian Silverwood (Narrator)

Audiobook

Casting the Runes & Other Ghost Stories

"When we think of ghost stories, we tend to think of cub scouts cringing by a fire, s'mores at the ready, as some aging camp counselor tries to scare them witless with yet another tale from the crypt. M.R. James had a great, and simple, formula for writing ghost stories. Establish the mundane and everyday detail (which is heightened by the Victorian academic settings), and then introduce, briefly, the supernatural, which cracks the surface of everything normal that has been so carefully established. This IS a book of CLASSIC horror stories. They don't depend nor do they need buckets of blood slung against a wall or descriptions of disembowelments or decapitations. 'M. R. James is to the ghost story as Petrarch to the sonnet: he didn't invent the form but he perfected it and no one since has been able to write one without acknowledging the master.'"

M.R. James (Author), Sebastian Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Weird Wilderness Stories: Volume 2

"A second collection of strange stories that take place in the oft weird and wonderful great outdoors. Contents: The Ash-tree by M. R. James A cursed estate hides horror in the ash tree outside. The Sunken Land by George W. Bayly A strange expedition leads deep into Canada's mysterious, forgotten interior. The Interlopers by Saki Two bitter enemies meet fate beneath stormy Carpathian trees. The Haunted Wood of Adoure by Elliott O'Donnell Ghostly forces stir in a shunned French woodland. A Neighbour's Landmark by M. R. James Removing a cursed boundary stone invites terrifying consequences. It All Came True in the Woods by M. W. Wellman Spoken words become flesh in the haunted woods of Amasookit. The Ordeal of Wooden-Face by Hal K. Wells A ghostly reunion ignites buried memories—and something more disturbing. Church in the Jungles by Arthur J. Burks A jungle church reveals a discovery both sacred and terrifying. Decay by J. C. Moore Among dying trees, Mr. Cotter senses something unnatural unfolding. The Vengeance of a Tree by E. F. Lewis A wrongly accused man returns through the limbs of vengeance."

E. F. Lewis, Elliott O'Donnell, J. C. Moore, M.R. James, Saki (Author), Ian Gordon (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Step into a world of ancient manuscripts, crumbling cathedrals, and things that go bump in the night. Ghost Stories of an Antiquary is M.R. James’s chilling masterpiece—an enduring collection of supernatural tales that defined the modern English ghost story. First published in 1904, these eight classic stories are subtle, sophisticated, and deeply unsettling. Rather than blood and gore, James evokes fear through atmosphere, suggestion, and a creeping sense of dread. His protagonists—often quiet scholars or antiquarians—stumble upon cursed relics, forgotten manuscripts, and haunted places that awaken forces best left undisturbed. This audiobook collection includes some of James’s most famous and haunting tales: - 'Canon Alberic’s Scrap-Book' – A curious visitor in a cathedral town discovers a terrifying relic with a demonic past. - 'Lost Hearts' – A boy taken in by a reclusive relative soon realizes he’s not the first child to haunt the hallways. - 'The Mezzotint' – A mysterious image in a print begins to change, revealing a grim story piece by piece. - 'The Ash-Tree' – A tale of witchcraft, vengeance, and something malevolent lurking above. …and more spine-tingling stories filled with ancient horrors and otherworldly retribution. Perfect for fans of subtle, literary horror, Ghost Stories of an Antiquary is a must-listen for dark winter nights, long walks through foggy woods, or anyone who loves a masterfully told tale of the supernatural."

M.R. James (Author), Digital Voice George E (Narrator)

Audiobook

An Evening's Entertainment

"An Evening's Entertainment is a tale that lives up to its deceptively quaint title, offering not comfort, but a slow, tightening dread. In the hands of master ghost-storyteller M. R. James, a quiet rural setting becomes the stage for something far more sinister—where folklore whispers, tradition conceals, and the past refuses to stay buried. Dripping with unease and the chill of things half-seen, this is a story to be heard in silence, with the lights low and the wind outside. It is not simply entertainment—it is an invocation. Let the evening begin."

M.R. James (Author), Peter Coates (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance

"The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance is M. R. James at his most disquieting: where festive streets darken quickly, dreams twist into warnings, and something grotesque walks just beyond the edge of understanding. Blending holiday cheer with a creeping sense of dread, this tale invites the listener to question what hides behind tradition, and what slips through the cracks of propriety. Laced with unease and subtle horror, it is not merely a ghost story—it is a disturbance in the fabric of the ordinary."

M.R. James (Author), Peter Coates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks by M.R. James

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