M R James - Count Magnus (read by Michael Hordern)

An Englishman called Wraxall travels to Sweden to write a guide book to the country to include some history. When examining a prominent family's historical documents he comes across references to a long dead member of that family called Count Magnus.

[@feralbluee]

Michael Hodern certainly was a wonderful reader. he reads with such leisure, it just calms you to listen. thank you so much for posting his work. 🌷

[@wyominghome4857]

I read that many of his stories were written as entertainments to be read on Christmas Eve. Sounds like I need to start a new tradition at my house!

[@benwinter2420]

Mars mass , things ridiculous this planet of apes

[@catherinedoyle1194]

Wwhat a beautiful actor, he is so perfect for telling mr james ghost stories, thank you,for these lovely audio videos..

[@manonamountain]

Wonderful narrator and actor. When i was young, i seem to remember him having a programme on television, where he would do a little fly fishing on some pretty little chalk stream, and recite a piece of poetry or tale or suchlike, and i was mesmerised by it.

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

Perfect moments in this thing we call "life." I'm glad that you think in the same way as myself. ;^> Your comment is practically an equal of Hordern's conscious poetry.

[@kevfullo]

Rod & line it was called I think

[@hunterkiller1984]

A truly masterful reading of an amazing fireside tale.

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

I honestly believe that this is James' absolute BEST, and it's in great company with several of his other tales chasing just inches behind. "Count Magnus" connotes a kind of cosmic horror not-too-far-removed from Cthulhu and the like. The effect of that horror upon the rural folk of some of my family's own homeland, Västergötland (which I had the privilege to visit back in '92 -- BEAUTIFUL country!!!), is suggested with absolute mastery. Of course, this is total fiction, but it impresses tremendously upon me as if it were "drawn from the life." (Thanks, Canon Alberic! X^D )

[@hunterkiller1984]

@@rebekkahdruck1392 I think the less one knows the greater the terror. Count Magnus excels at that.

[@steerpike66]

One of his truly grisly tales. The two hunters found literally defaced and insane in the woods ('...pushing, pushing with his hands at something that was not there, and they took him away...and he died that winter but he kept on pushing with his hands.') is really hair-raising.

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

James wrote devastating horror in single lines what modern "horror masters" take an entire novel to effect. ;^> What do you think of Arthur Machen and Algernon Blackwood?

[@wmnoffaith1]

yes, it really is. What is even more insane is this character wanting to meet him! . Its akin to a group of giggling middle school students calling a serial killer as a prank call and inviting him over, and then being shocked when he shows up in the middle of the night (after cutting the lights). One of the scariest things about it is that it is so true to human nature.

[@catherinedoyle1194]

the sort of remark that haunts your mind

[@michelleelston4518]

These are marvellous tales, you do a wonderful job , thank you for your time and patience downloading these , keep safe and well 😊

[@hindleygj]

Best reading of this yet.

[@JasonJason210]

This was one of his best. I rank it number 3 after Oh Whistle and Casting.

[@BioDieselEstate]

Jason, Is your number two, his Number 13?

[@JasonJason210]

@@BioDieselEstate Thanks for the reminder. This is one of the good things about KZbin.

[@stephenmurphy9949]

@@BioDieselEstate Spooky lols

[@colemarie9262]

I fully agree with that top three list!

[@ShuuichiMinamino25]

I love how people in the comments complain that this story is too hard to follow because it's full of "antiquated language". NEVER MIND THE FACT THE AUTHOR WAS BORN IN THE FUCKING 1800'S!

[@edmundriddle8335]

Thank you so much for posting these.

[@stephenmurphy9949]

Horden is the bomb. Perfect readings. I have heard them again and again. "And he went on pushing with his hands". Blee.

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

The funny thing to me is that he plays an older, tongue-tied Professor Parkins in the original "Whistle And I'll Comes To You" movie, but he is eloquent beyond all measure in reading these tales aloud. Hordern IS the bomb!!!

[@stephenmurphy9949]

@@rebekkahdruck1392 Yes. That's a good film but I think the ending is mismanaged. You can't really beat the words can you? The McBride engraving is hanging in my study as I type. "A horrible, an intensely horrible face of crumpled linen"

[@DSpeir-pi6tm]

I'm enjoying these short stories . Thank you Paul Goddard :)

[@nicolaurion7050]

The perfect voice for these wonderful stories.

[@josephdodd5770]

Michael Hordern is the best

[@stephenmurphy9949]

Tru dat

[@djr1943]

Mr Hordern is a super narrator. Thank you!

[@stewartlancaster6155]

Sir Hordern

[@paidgovernmentshill_6950]

These old Paddington episodes are a bit disturbing..

[@DavidLuisMARCA]

I’m here after reading Memorex from the Kraken. investigating the influences of Mark E Smith. A bonus to be guided into MR James world by Michael Hodern. The perfect voice

[@steerpike66]

'Are you awake, Count Magnus? Are you asleep, Count Magnus?'

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

I find myself reciting this in the same almost-musical way of Hordern -- PERFECT reading!!! I also LOVE the landlord's recount of the people saying, "NO. Do not go. We are sure you will meet with persons walking who should NOT BE walking. They should be resting, not walking." Simple advice cautioning against a monstrous nightmare.

[@GrandduchessAnastasia-ko5rg]

I was brought here by the Magnus Archives.

[@dmmchugh3714]

I could not sleep right after the first time I read this story. My favorites: Rats Lost Hearts A Warning to the Curious Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad Count Magnus

[@LexiWolfeactress]

I feel like Badger is reading me a scary story 📖❤️🦡

[@Dr_Robodaz]

So, it is not just me with that image then...

[@elliotstannard5621]

The best version of one of the most beloved, English children's characters of the early 20th century, reading one of the best English ghost story writers of the same time. In my opinion, the best writer of both the time and genre.

[@itsaguinness]

The narrator of paddington for me. I feel like paddington will pop up and mess with something

[@johnvinals7423]

It’s funny how little you see Scandinavia represented in ghost stories despite how creepy the place is and how iconic both “Hamlet” and “The Wild Hunt” are. And “The Flying Dutchman” as well.

[@AGoodEgg_]

And don’t EVEN talk to me about the Judderman advert!!!!

[@billywiththebulgingbaloonb5105]

Dutch people are from the Netherlands, not Scandinavia.

[@shawnmulligan2894]

My 5 favorite MR James stories (in order- 1 being best) 1. A Warning to the Curious 2. Count Magnus 3. Number 13 4. Rats 5. Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You My Lad

[@dmmchugh3714]

Agree except I would replace 'Number 13' with 'Lost Hearts'. This story of revenge gives a sense of quelle horreur too ! (My top 5 also in this thread )

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

Great story. Read it as a teenager. The real Count Magnus de la Gardie was nothing like the character in the story.

[@christinecarrick4352]

On moving to central Sweden and wandering around Varnhem Abbey I was quite taken aback to find myself standing beside the Count's sarcophagus!

[@javedsultan4830]

Same like Count Dracula of Brahm Stoker.

[@stephenjones1436]

You are right - but still bit of a devil...

[@stephenmurphy9949]

@@christinecarrick4352 Yikes. That would give me the Scandinavian willies.

[@manonamountain]

@@stephenmurphy9949 She probably got the Scandinavian willies.

[@colemarie9262]

Any idea where this artwork comes from? I've seen a few of his stories with really cool work alongside them.... but this one I'm not sure of. And this whole playlist is great, thank you for these absolute classics!!

[@janetcw9808]

'Speak of the Devil and he'll rattle his chains'..........

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

The father of all trolls -- especially on the internet! X^D

[@goldrunner4459]

Memo to self, mind your own business. Great story.

[@robertwhitehouse2785]

My favourite M R James story

[@BioDieselEstate]

Sometimes, even though I adore Monty's writing, try as I might I just cannot get in the sufficiently attentive mood with which to pay the story the full attention it deserves and so then, I may as well throw it up for all the good it will do me. Moral of the story? All good things are worth waiting for

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

Trust me, the effect of James' marvelous writing combined with Hordern's masterful recitation is worth EVERY ounce of patience you can distill. But I can only suggest that you stop TRYING to "get it" -- just let it be, and come back to it in a while. Eventually, your brain will process everything, and you'll be ready for the full effect.

[@TheMagdaDar]

This and A Warning to the Curious are his scariest ones I think

[@colemarie9262]

I always come back to this one for the dread the it invokes. It's amazing how short and for a large part almost detatched the story is, but somehow effective in a way hundreds of following imitators can't quite achieve.

[@TheMagdaDar]

@@colemarie9262 yep, same!

[@royalhero4608]

It's the feeling of pursuit by a malicious entity I think. A pursuit that the fleeing individual has no chance of escaping

[@javedsultan4830]

I wonder if BBC dramatized this story? can't find on you tube..

[@LTPDfilms]

@@javedsultan4830 Looks like there hasn't been an adaptation of this, save for a 12 minute animated short which I can't even find.

[@Ciara1594]

I think that Count Magnus was a vampire.

[@stefanlundin9649]

bronte1987 ermmmmm . 😉😂

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

You're not exactly wrong, but Count Magnus is FAR more than a mere vampire. He is a destructive force in once-human form, arrogant to the extent of another Stalin or Pol-Pot, and willing to slaughter everything standing against him. Do you want to understand TRUE evil? HE IS IT.

[@steerpike66]

It is very much the nearest thing James wrote to a Dracula tale but Magnus' demon assistant seems to do most of the sucking.

[@isabellewest3013]

The trip on the ship is indeed reminiscent of Dracula. The fact that CM has a “familiar”, however, is where perhaps it departs. Dracula could be both the familiar (e.g., the dog) and the human-like being. Why CM and the ghoul had to follow the poor protagonist will remain a mystery. Perhaps to make him feel safe before trespassing on his own native land - James’s use of the uncanny. Dracula was trying to colonise by doing so. CM and his ghoul seem to have even more malevolent reason - sheer cruelty (playing with their prey).

[@isabellewest3013]

CM and the ghoul are all about the chase. They even literally give him a head start. So, though I said it’s a mystery, maybe it’s not completely one…One of James’s best!

[@parapoliticos52]

Best narration yet, in spite the minor flaws. Needs a fire place burning and cricking in the background . You need a version for international listeners too. There is too much antiquated language in it that makes the stories hard to follow.

[@cam7686]

If the tall guy in the hat is count magnus then who's the short one in the robe?

[@peterfreeman6677]

His valet :)

[@isabellewest3013]

The ghoul who is his “faithful servant”.

[@jasonmudgarde286]

Great new version of this. ghost storiy for Xmas on BBC, check it out m r James fans!

[@paulgoddard]

I watched it last night. It was very good 😃 👻 🎄

[@martyg11]

666 likes? I dare not pass further judgement…

[@judikingsman6132]

☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️

[@dawn1110uk]

Count Magnus-vampire.

[@rebekkahdruck1392]

Oh, he's FAR-worse than a mere vampire. He's a greater devil in subhuman form. And the Count's "helper" is practically a shoggoth, albeit in smaller form. The evil masked by the practical directness of this story rivals the cosmic horror in Blackwood's "The Wendigo."

[@janlappalainen]

4 ad breaks during a 35 min video - as far as I understand it is not KZbin who imposes these ads but the content creator who wants to maximize the monetization - I will not support this youtuber.

[@paulgoddard]

Hi Jan, Thank you for your comment. I don't monetise any video on all my channels to which I have 4. I upload content to this channel that I feel people will enjoy for free. Unfortunately KZbin are now putting adverts in a lot of videos. I wouldn't advertise on this video as I didn't create any of the work up uploaded. I'm sorry your enjoyment was spoilt but unfortunately the ads have nothing to do with me.

[@davidandrews8963]

THE COMFORTING VOICE OF MY CHILD HOOD LISTENING TO PADDINGTON I LOVE THIS MAN WONDERFUL STORY TELLER R I P MICHAEL HORDERN ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🤎🖤🩶🤍🩷💝💝💖💗💓💞💕♥️❣️❤️‍🩹💔❤️‍🔥