Tag Archives: M. R. James

Review of “Count Magnus” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown

Plot:The story’s narrator says he has come into possession of some papers belonging to Mr. Wraxall, a traveler and writer of travel guides. In the early summer of 1863, Mr. Wraxall sets off to explore Sweden. At the time, most Britons considered Scandinavia to be a backwater. Snobs. He spends time conducting research at aContinue reading “Review of “Count Magnus” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Celui-Là” by Eleanor Scott: Halloween Countdown

For October 9 Plot:On his doctor’s advice, Maddox takes a vacation to a tiny fishing village on the Breton coast. He stays with an acquaintance of Dr. Foster, the local curé, Father Vétier. Maddox goes for long walks on the beach in the evening, although the locals avoid being out at that time of day.Continue reading “Review of “Celui-Là” by Eleanor Scott: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Casting the Runes” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown

For October 8 Plot: The story opens with an exchange of letters in which the secretary of the “—Association” tells Mr. Karswell the Association has, after careful consideration, declined to accept his paper, “The Truth of Alchemy.” Mr. Karswell wants to know who’s responsible for the decision. The secretary tells him that he cannot possiblyContinue reading “Review of “Casting the Runes” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Ash-Tree” by M. R. James Halloween Countdown

2) “The Ash-Tree” by M. R. James In describing the country estate of Castringham Hall in Suffolk, the narrator remarks, “The one feature that marked out the house from a score of others is gone. As you looked at it from the park, you saw [in times past] on the right a great old ash-treeContinue reading “Review of “The Ash-Tree” by M. R. James Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Curse of the Demon” (1957)

This is this week’s Saturday night pizza and bad movie offering, a decent movie with a goofy-looking but punctual demon who seemed to pop out of some sort of firecracker explosion and liked to hang out in the trees. Plot:Professor Henry Harrington (Maurice Denham) drives through the dark woods to arrive at Lufford Hall, theContinue reading “Review of “The Curse of the Demon” (1957)”