The Mezzotint | A Ghost Story by M. R. James | A Bitesized Audiobook

[@BitesizedAudio]

"It was a rather indifferent mezzotint, and an indifferent mezzotint is, perhaps, the worst form of engraving known... What in the world Mr. Britnell could mean by affixing the price of £2 2s. to such an object was more than Mr. Williams could imagine." The classic tale of a sinister engraving by the Edwardian master of the ghost story, M. R. James. Story starts at 00:01:28 This is one of a series of the ghost stories of M. R. James I've narrated for this channel; you can hear the others on this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLi95qAoufCZJNKedIOCTyWlvJTmG0ku2o Or for a selection of Victorian ghost stories by various authors, including Charles Dickens, Amelia Edwards, Edith Nesbit, H. G. Wells, and many more: kzbin.info/aero/PLi95qAoufCZISCGdeBUtYxynNFtZCeRrv

[@JamesMC04]

I have always found this one of M R James' most haunting stories. He is in a class of his own.

[@jacquelineharrod6386]

An excellent reading of M.R. James, naturally. Thank you. One can only envy those who come to these stories for the first time.😊 Absolutely terrifying.

[@merlapittman5034]

M. R. James stories are excellent, and your voice is perfect for them. Thank you!

[@MaximillianG.C]

One of his most effective short stories. It’s a mundane set up on paper. Yet hidden within are details of a much more sinister nature. The implication of what something is or something that could happen is much scarier than some overt case of shock or violence. For the sake of it. James understood this and gave us simply the best collection of tales for all time. The subtle details of things beyond our understanding always gave his tales a most grounded approach. I always laugh at how they scoff at the price. Thankfully these lads aren’t here to see inflation in full force, now that is a horror unto itself!

[@francesmeyer8478]

I read Mr. James' stories fifty years ago and they are great.🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂

[@petere5826]

My favorite of all Montague stories… its SOOOOO good !

[@jackiemcculla4928]

I have just found this and I am SO excited! I can't wait until I can turn all the lights out and listen! A thousand times "Thank you" to my all-time favorite performer and curator!!

[@hannahreynolds7611]

Oh wonderful. Thank you, Simon. I hope the tour is still going well. I forgot the amount of light relief James included in this - the repeated pokes at golfers was probably an in-joke about a vice that many of his protagonists enjoy. [Edit] 30:24 Another Jamesian joke... "The Sadducean professor of Orthology..." The Sadducees were an opposing party to the Pharisees, in the time of Jesus, who didn't believe in an afterlife, angels, etc, and only accepted the Pentateuch as Scripture, and not the history/prophets of the Old Testament. I suspect the use of Orthology is another Jamesian joke - it is both the study of the correct usage of words, and a branch of evolutionary biology that studies the ways that different species have shared ancestors (e.g. features like the pentadactyl limb down to the presence of certain proteins).

[@TeeMeeBeeWee]

The ghost stories are my favorite. Thank you for your efforts.

[@davehopkins1970]

Thanks very much appreciated .M.R.james classic brought to life Due to Simon introducing me the author,I’ve watched old M,R James ghost stories which are available on KZbin

[@shadownet3d]

One of my favorite M.R. James stories. Thanks Simon.

[@shannondore]

Fantastic Simon, thank you. I absolutely love when you read M.R. James. He's one of my favorites. This reminds me of a story in "Night Gallery" called "the Cemetery" with the wonderful Roddy McDowall. It had a changing painting in it as well.

[@aliaktas68400]

This channel is a gem that deserves far more, dozens fold more followers

[@stephenadams3195]

That window opening and closing was a nice touch😮

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you; I wondered if anyone would spot it!

[@jovice9867]

Thanks Simon. What a creepy story. MR James at his finest. Thanks for your wonderful narration. 😊

[@stephaniealeman8522]

Perfect! You’ve been mentioning this for a bit - and you do give voice to MRJ so well with his troubled well educated antiquarians and all their supporting folk🙏🏽 so many voices! I know you have a long list of future stories to share- but may I request an EF Benson for a possible addition with “The Man Who Went Too Far”? I think you’d do it justice and lend your considerable talent to it quite well!💚

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Stephanie. That story (along with a fair few other Bensons) is already on my "possibles" list, but as you've requested it I'll bump it up on to my shortlist for the coming months. Not sure how soon I'll get around to it, but will do so asap!

[@stephaniealeman8522]

Thank you so much Simon! 💚

[@shelleymarquis2887]

I love the beard and moustache! It's very George Sanders, a constant favorite of mine. I especially loved his voice. There's the thread of a story about substitution of standard types of public persons by some great casting director in the sky, such that there's always a great voice coupled with a handsome face and an erudite, accomplished, well traveled and suave delivery to soothe and stimulate the unsung masses. I hope you're pleased with the company in which I've placed you. 😊❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

A very kind compliment, thank you!

[@along5925]

The Mezzotint! Good one Simon...never fails to give me shivers. I've heard/read it a number of times, and keep coming back to it.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to know you enjoyed it. I try to keep a running list of listener requests and this has to be one of the most requested ever, so clearly a popular tale!

[@petere5826]

Ohhhhhhhhh FINALLY!!!!! Hooray for Mr Simon !!!!! Huzzah!!!!!!

[@shirleyal-jabi1503]

Lovely to hear you back! Thanks

[@marathorne6821]

Excellent story, beautifully narrated. I always know I'm in for a treat when something from Bitesized Audio comes up on my feed! 😊

[@BitesizedAudio]

Kind of you to say so, thank you!

[@jackyhawkins1895]

Excellent. Just the thing for this chilly foggy day. Thank you 😊

[@jerrycarter7843]

Wonderful! I generally listen to your audio stories at the start of Fall and listen to them during the dark days of winter when there's nothing to do. I still say it's a crime you're not involved in the Dr. Who franchise in some manner.

[@SpuktasticAudio]

The definitive version. ❤

[@pakde8002]

Excellent narration. I hope all the folks constantly complaining about a i. narration across KZbin will find your channel.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you, I hope so too (I find the recent explosion of AI narration very depressing and find it impossible to listen to, just so flat and unemotional). Do send them my way!

[@MoonLitChild]

I just watched the BBC Christmas special of this. It was a bit meh, but your own imagination is what makes James' work so good.

[@Rusland55]

Thank you for reading one of my favorites (and the tale that got me interested in ghost stories in the first place). Would you ever consider reading "Miss Cornelius" by W.F. Harvey, another creepy classic?

[@BitesizedAudio]

That's a great suggestion, thank you. I'll add it to my list!

[@alidabaxter5849]

Thank you for reading this so beautifully. I have always found M. R. James' stories absolutely terrifying.

[@GradKat]

Wonderful! This is an especially creepy tale.

[@SMichaelDeHart]

Very well narrated and really enjoyed the story. MR James fan, but had never heard this one. Thanks much for taking the time from acting in your play to record. Planning to join your middle membership 3rd of Nov.

[@annagettings4675]

YAY!!! I love this particular story. Thank you so much Simon ❤

[@nickybaker1338]

How wonderful, & such a coincidence because I came across a televised adaptation of this story only last week. I have to be honest-whoever contrived it absolutely butchered it, a fact that I only realised whilst listening to your narration. I shan't go into fine details of the ruination because there are too many to mention. Suffice to say that it wasn't a spoiler for your reading, hardly resembling it at all. Thank you so much Simon-you've brightened up a very dull day. 😍

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to help, thanks Nicky

[@jaidebrooke5946]

Thoroughly gripping! You reading it made the experience all the more so ❤

[@richardwilliams5387]

Fantastic narration. My first and gold standard James' narrator has always been Michael Hordern and this has that classic vibe.

[@januzzell8631]

Another M R James - delightful - my favourite ghost author read by favourite reader - love the beard

[@irenejoseph9547]

I actually watched a 2021 BBC film adaptation of this story today. How wonderful!

[@THEPAGEBURNER1979]

I would like to see that

[@MaximillianG.C]

Overall a solid adaptation. I will say the ending was a bit..much. I think it would’ve benefited from less is more much like the story. Still the source material is respected still.

[@Nicky-n4p]

Perfect Simon, thank you.

[@SunnySmile-fr5yg]

What an unusual story! Excellent narration, as always 🙂

[@spacehound3355]

Very strange one this and in some ways his other one "The Haunted Dolls House" is in a simular style too this one.

[@KnappKnits]

M R James wrote some of the most terrifying ghost stories ever. My father had two of his books of short stories and I scared myself rigid reading them as a young teenager!

[@stevenverhaegen8729]

Excellent! One of my favourites! 😁👍

[@awarningtothecuriouswerewolves]

Now that's what I call painting a word picture! W.S. James

[@princessmandy1757]

Simon has a beard. I have been just turning this on without looking... Just realized this. Thanks for another great story.

[@raissadevereux6762]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@chrisrowley8052]

Thank you so much for this wonderful reading. I remember the first time I heard the story was on the children's bbc series Spine Chillers, when i was about twelve. I loved the whole series, but instantly became an M R James fan. We had a copy of Ghost Stories of an Antiquity at home and I began reading it the same night (maybes just before bed wasn't the best idea). Could I possibly suggest that you might have a look at To Let by B M Croker ? Its another one of my favourites.

[@BertieShaul-mn4qc]

Thank you, I love this story!❤❤😊😊

[@PippaAT]

I really like this one; very creepy. I have missed you lately. Where have you been, you rascal? 😅

[@northernlights8126]

Simon has been touring the UK with a new production of ‘War Horse’.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Pippa, I'm still around, but as Northern Lights says I'm currently touring with a play (you may not have seen my posts about it on the community page). I'm still recording for the channel, though, albeit my output has slowed recently while the show was in rehearsal, but I'm hoping to get back to more regular recording soon

[@audioghost6162]

❤❤❤

[@THEPAGEBURNER1979]

Simon so good to hear you how was the play I wish I could have been there. TPB

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks PB... it's still going, a few months left to run yet! But all going well. Hope all is good with you too

[@THEPAGEBURNER1979]

@@BitesizedAudio please up load a video or is there a way to see this play on line

[@patriciaramsey5294]

Your mustache and beard are quite striking.

[@rhondaneuhaus1596]

I love your beard😊

[@snippycutwell9878]

🙂

[@GaryMills-cs2og]

Victorian women waa the best ghost story writers

[@BitesizedAudio]

Amelia B. Edwards, Charlotte Riddell, Mary Elizabeth Braddon and Edith Nesbit are amongst the finest of that era, I agree

[@mymymom2]

Wonderful.Thank you.