M.R. James - Canon Alberic's Scrap Book read by Michael Hordern

This story is set in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges where an English tourist, who is photographing the interior of the City's Cathedral, buys an old manuscript from the Sacristan and the terror begins.

[@TheRickie41]

I’ve listened to this little jewel many times. What a pleasure to listen to Sir Michael Hordern.

[@greenman6141]

Hey, why has the Sir been dropped? Should be: read by SIR Michael Hordern. Of long and illustrious career, interrupted by his serving aboard a British aircraft carrier during WWII. When old, he looked exactly as one imagines Lord Emsworth did. And famously starred in Jonathan Miller's 1968 adaptation for television of MR James "Oh Whistle and come to you, My Lad", which one can find on KZbin. It's an idiosyncratic and eerie film, and was the inspiration for the annual MR James adaptions broadcast by the BBC - many of which are also on KZbin.

[@paulgoddard]

Hi Greenman, Sorry for this very slow reply. I get lots of comments on KZbin, mostly the Ruth Rendell Wexford's. It can be hard to keep up with it all. The title was copied from my late father's cassette tapes and were recorded before Michael Horden became a Sir. However, I will rename each one to Sir Michael Horden. 🙂

[@ciaran6171]

I love these tales read by Michael Hordern. In my youth he was the voice of Paddington. In my old age thanks to KZbin he's the voice of that which should be left undisturbed. And of course he will always be Admiral Rolland.

[@simonwhite8474]

And Gandalf.

[@eliasblum753]

That's it - Paddington! - that's where I've heard this voice before!

[@susanbeesley8299]

So well read by Hordern with a build up of horror x

[@runoutgrooves274]

This is wonderful. Horden is the best. The video is riddled with ads though, which lay on sore strokes.

[@kathleenrobinson4134]

The wonderful M R James, I love these Ghosts stories. Peculiar, quirky, with a twist and never far fetched. And it’s good to relax and listen to them like this ( After reading most of them) 😱

[@feralbluee]

very nicely read - a different interpretation from another i heard. the reader has a very good delivery - a way of reading that is soft yet strong. oh, i see below his name os Michael Hordern. like to hear more from him. thank you much for uploading this :) 🌷🦘🐃🌱

[@garyfenlon5769]

He also fronted a lovely fishing program called 'Rod & Line' even if you're not a fishing devotee, his wonderful voice and stunning United Kingdom countryside make it well worth a watch.

[@greenman6141]

That's SIR Michael Hordern.

[@chriscollins3531]

Great reading - shame about the sound quality.

[@MrShigura]

As read through a wet towel.

[@steerpike66]

My only caveat here is why the poor old sacristan never before seized the chance of passing his fearful demon-haunted book off on someone else, and why burning the picture appears to rid the world of its evil presence.

[@quelltech]

presumably he'd attempted to, but either his conscience got the better of him or (as with the imp in the bottle) there are certain rules for transferring ownership of the cursed object- you'll note that he was curiously insistent on receiving no more than two hundred and fifty francs.

[@Jazzy268]

The two people in mind who may have killed Mr. Carlett (sp?) could have been a Barber or one of his Teachers. Both hate long hair!

[@dmmchugh3714]

I love MR James, but never really understood this story ....

[@TheRickie41]

I suppose it’s about the sin to have given form and thereby sell his soul to a demon, as Alberic draw him. And who knows to what end it brought him. Rich and envied but persecuted. That is what I understood. Maybe I’m wrong.

[@1630revelloak]

I never understood why no one attacked their spiritual/demoniacal? I like these stories but I always have that thought in the back of my mind, good, all the same

[@mzeewatk846]

1630revelloak ...the ones that did never got a chance to tell their stories. :)

[@1630revelloak]

Mzee Watk Not necessarily...evil can be fought and overcome

[@mzeewatk846]

1630revelloak But if the bad thing dies, if the bad thing isn't still waiting under the bed, it's just not scary anymore. :)

[@1630revelloak]

Isn't that the point?

[@mzeewatk846]

1630revelloak what point? if it doesn't still creep you out a little after you finish the story, it's not really very good horror fiction.