Monday 31 December 2012

Ruth Rendell reads M. R. James' Canon Alberic's Scrapbook

A ghost story for New Year's Eve:
Ruth Rendell reads 'Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook' by MR James
Ruth Rendell doesn't believe in ghosts, of course, but MR James's stories, like 'Canon Alberic's Scrapbook', frighten her nonetheless

guardian.co.uk
Monday 24 December 2012

I chose a ghost story partly because I thought no one else would; and also because the Victorians wrote the best stories and MR James the best of all. I edited a collection of his, so I know them very well. I don't, of course, believe in ghosts, yet reading one MR James story when I'm alone in the house still terrifies me. I hope it will frighten you but make you want to read more – "Casting the Runes" and "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas", as well as this one, the chilling tale of poor Mr Dennistoun and the demon.

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