Oh, Whistle and I'll Come To You, My Lad: M. R. James
Oh, Whistle and I'll Come To You, My Lad: M. R. James
Oh, Whistle and I'll Come To You, My Lad: M. R. James
Scholarly Work
His work as a mediaeval scholar remains highly respected. Indeed, the success of his stories was founded on his antiquarian talents and knowledge. For example, his discovery of a manuscript fragment led to excavations in the ruins of the abbey at Bury St. Edmunds, in 1902, in which the graves of several 12th century monks were rediscovered, having been lost since the 1530s.
! Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904) ! More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1911) ! A Thin Ghost and Others (1919) ! A Warning to the Curious and Other Stories (1925)
Ghost Stories
Many of the tales were written as Christmas Eve entertainments and read aloud to friends. This idea was used by the BBC in 2000 when they filmed Christopher Lee reading four stories in a candle-lit room in Kings College.
Jamesian Tales
! A setting in an English village, seaside town or country estate; an ancient town in France, Denmark or Sweden; or a venerable abbey or university. ! An ordinary gentleman-scholar as protagonist (often of a reserved nature). ! The discovery of an old book or other antiquarian object that somehow unlocks, calls down the wrath, or at least attracts the unwelcome attention of a supernatural menace, usually from beyond the grave.
Scepticism
In my opinion, the ghost should be malevolent or odious. Amiable and helpful apparitions are all very well in fairy tales or in local legends, but I have no use for them in a fictitious ghost story. (M. R. James) Haunted objects have long been used as subject for many horror films and other stories, such as:
Haunted Objects
Some people claim they actually exist. Here are a few inanimate objects that might just be a little more animated than we think: Robert the Doll. Robert has been around since 1896 and belonged to a little boy who always chatted with his doll but, servants and family members said, Robert the Doll often talked back. These days Robert resides at the Martello Gallery- Key West Art and Historical Museum. If you want a picture of him, you have to ask a slight tilt of his head means yes. If you dont get the tilt and take a picture anyway, beware Robert will curse you.
The Haunted Mirror at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Even though Marilyn Monroe has been dead for 50 years, you can still see her at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Marilyn lived at the Roosevelt and especially loved Suite 1200. At some point, when a housekeeper was cleaning it one day, she got quite a fright a beautiful blonde woman was staring right back at her. The Roosevelt moved the mirror to a public area so guests could experience Miss Monroe as well. And supposedly they have!