M. R. James (Montague Rhodes James) was a noted British medieval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905-1918), and of Eton College. He is best remembered today for his ghost stories, which are widely regarded as among the finest in English literature. As a medieval scholar, his output in that field was phenomenal and remains highly respected in scholarly circles.

The success of his antiquarian ghost-stories is rooted in his life as an antiquary. Many of his stories revolve around the discovery of an old book or other antiquarian object that somehow calls down the wrath, or at least the unwelcome attention, of a supernatural menace, usually from beyond the grave.

James' most important and well-known works are those collected in Ghost Stories of an Antiquary and its sequel, More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary.

A word of warning: Despite his suggestion in an essay that writers should employ reticence in their work, many of James' tales depict scenes and images of savage and often disturbing violence. Stories included in this collection are:

• "Canon Alberic's Scrapbook"
• "Lost Hearts"
• "The Mezzotint"
• "The Ash Tree"
• "Number 13"
• "Count Magnus"
• "Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You My Lad"
• "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas"