M.R. James - The Mezzotint read by Michael Hordern

The Mezzotint by M R James. A mysterious artefact that appears to take a life of its own. This is a creepy classic M R James ghost story read by Michael Hordern. Unfortunately, these recordings of the story are not yet available on CD or MP3 so I have uploaded them here for you to enjoy. These cassettes were played almost every Sunday during the winter months by my Dad when I was small whilst cooking the Sunday lunch. I always think of cooked dinners and seeing Dad with his glass of ale whenever I hear these stories. Enjoy.

[@hannahreynolds7611]

"Hardly a subject was left unchallenged, from golf to lawn tennis" James manages to mix humour into his supernatural stories without skipping a beat.

[@jon780249]

Exactly. It is a great moment in the text.

[@vanessawells3925]

I can't tell you how pleased I was to find this. My dear mum and I used to have a recording of this on cassette tape back in the 80's and we used to play it while making mince pies at Christmas. Thank you for helping me re-live such very happy memories....

[@elizabethnelson9339]

I only discovered MR James about a year ago. I am an American, and I wish we had the Charming custom of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve. My family, who is of British ancestry has adopted the custom. MR James is my favorite. I love "The Mezzotint" "Whistle and I'll come to you Lad," and "Number 13" to name a few. To me, James was a genius; he did not use jump scares, gore, or foul language. Instead, he gave us suspense, character development, rising action, and creative plot twists. I wish he had told more stories.

[@DaveATKIN]

E Nesbit (author famous for The Railway Children), more or less a contemporary of James, and E F Benson both wrote excellent chilling ghost stories, they're worth checking out if you've not read them, also a few by Charles Dickens (The Signalman is superb). Are you also aware of the BBC Christmas ghost stories? They're full period-set TV dramas. Popular around the late 60s and early 70s they've been revived by Mark Gatiss in recent years - a little uneven but a Tractate Middoth and this year's The Mezzotint are very good. Incidentally, Michael Hordern, who narrates the story here, stars in a version of Oh Whistle And I'll Come To You My Boy which is a personal favourite from the earlier films, along with a spine chilling production of The Signalman. All highly recommended chilling ghost stories with just the occasional (tastefully done) jump scare.

[@andyfield3614]

The Signalman by Charles Dickens is one of my favourites

[@andyfield3614]

@@DaveATKIN for me Sir Michael Horden was the voice of Paddington Bear - although I like the new version too

[@johnhopkins494]

Amongst the Americans I quite like Lovecraft but his stories are altogether a different kettle of fish. More disturbing than frightening I think

[@Oakleaf700]

@@johnhopkins494 I'd agree with you there..Very different, and unsettling as you say, like a fever~ dream when one is ill.

[@HHM706]

I love his disdain for golf! One of the most ridiculous wastes of time ever invented by man!

[@iananderson3799]

......and of Hardy.

[@lifewithherbthedog6509]

Try marriage for 10 years,then you’ll be happy to play golf F

[@douglasmilton2805]

As Mark Twain said « A good walk spoiled »!

[@stellen11]

I love michael horderns voice. Just brilliant. He was the voice of paddington and gandalf when i was a kid. Many thanks.

[@paulgoddard]

Thank you Stellen11. I saw a Michael Horden Paddington video on youtube the other month. I have to admit I enjoyed it maybe as much as I did as a kid! :)

[@KAZ132]

I watched this over Christmas on the BBC.. What a great story.. 🌻

[@johnhopkins494]

Mr Goddard, what a lovely picture you paint of cooking the Sunday lunch and listening to MR James Ghost Stories. I also associate James with my father but because my father was born in ‘36, the year James died. James apparently based some of his stories on tales told by by his nanny and so I’ve always felt there was a direct line going from my father through James back perhaps to ghosts of the late 18th century. Thank you for reminding me of all this.

[@Daniel-lu9lq]

Michael Horden's voice is simply magnificent!

[@Oakleaf700]

It's a warm and easy to listen to voice..Good to have as an Actor.

[@NancyDrewe]

These are the best readings of MR James’s stories, I think. He brings these stories to life. I’ve listened to these over and over, and it’s as if he really *is* MRJ. Thanks! :)

[@FF-so3su]

Wonderful, Wonderful voice😊👍❤️

[@samsum3738]

Monty , if i maybe allowed this familiarity , is without doubt the greatest of all ghost writers . He even manages to inject a little humour into his tales . I first discovered him some 25 years ago and i never tire of his works .

[@TheTeacher1020]

Michael Hordern. Magnificent! Thank you!

[@TheTeacher1020]

Mr. Hordern was the principal character in an adaptation of "Oh, Whistle..." He played the stuffy academic to perfection.

[@paulgoddard]

I fully agree with you, it's probably my favourite adaption of the M R James stories. I love the way he mutters to himself during his performance.

[@nonamejoname6728]

He was also the narrator of "Barry Lyndon"!

[@jamessmethurst3537]

+Paul Goddard and although the ghost is a bed sheet it is a VERY SCARY bed sheet.

[@jamessmethurst3537]

Edward Malc will do that dude . ta

[@billybees3796]

I love that story and performance, you know what I loved the most of his acting in that was when he mumbled to himself and the quirky expressions .Also though simple but effective was the ghost the sheets and the haunting moans were frightening. Do you know where to find other films like that?

[@Concetta20]

I usually don’t like “ghost stories” but what’s attractive about M.R. James’ stories is how “academic” they are. They remind me of the styles of Doyle and Stevenson’s short stories, building in the stories timelines from the banal into strange mystery. I prefer mystery connected to history for the foundations of a suspense/scary story to the out-and-out brutality of what passes for “horror” today.

[@alexanderg1935]

Well said! I totally agree. E F Benson isn't too bad either. But M R James is the master.

[@stephenmurphy9949]

@@alexanderg1935 James is the Guvnor, but try Benson. He's very good. Kipling's supernatural tales are excellent also.

[@christosvoskresye]

@@alexanderg1935 Try also Robert Hugh Benson, in particular A MIRROR OF SHALOTT. I suspect that the stories in that book are slightly reworked versions of what they claim to be: personal experiences related by trustworthy individuals. They do not come across as complete tales conceived from beginning to end, but as partial glimpses into stories whose beginnings are often unknown, whose ends are largely unknown, and whose ends play out according to rules that are at best partially understood.

[@deniseroper9030]

Who could resist listening to Michael horden. I've heard this story before though slightly different. Very enjoyable and recommended 👏😁

[@chattygran]

thank you - These stories read by Mr Hordern keep me company while I busily do my housekeeping.

[@macummings7818]

Love love love this wonderfully spooky story - and the brilliant compelling voice of Mr Hordern!

[@Haforn44]

Brilliant ! Thanks for uploading. This was my mothers favourite - just to let you know, you've made our christmas. Thanks again!

[@paulgoddard]

Thank you, if I get a chance, I will try and upload another M R James before Christmas Day. I really love the M R James Stories. Have a great Christmas :)

[@uslines]

I've listened to MR James tales as read by other narrators. None of them come close to those spoken by Michael Holders. He is the best.

[@davidjanson9900]

Thank you for posting MRJAMES and M HORDEN a perfect marriage

[@malcolmsmuseum]

If you can believe it, I am actually working on a mezzotint as I listen to this. It bears some slight resemblance to the one in the story (perhaps I had this in the back of my mind when I conceived the idea). It is the view from my window and represents a two story house amongst some trees. The house was the location of a tragedy. As a printmaker (and one who works frequently in mezzotint at that) this is understandably my favorite story by M. R. James. Excellent reading too!

[@Oakleaf700]

Do tell what the tragedy was...if you can. Assuming an old tragedy from a century or more ago?

[@judikingsman6132]

Just wonderful 💕.

[@therealchriswheelie]

Two of my heroes in one wonderful half hour - thank you!

[@paulgoddard]

therealchriswheelie Me too :)

[@ufosrus]

Great story. I'm so glad I found this great British author and scholar.

[@RodM.Peters]

The celebrated 70's American show Night Gallery should have given full credit to M.R. James for their pilot episode. I thought it rather clever at the time but now I see they were "borrowing" rather liberally from the Mezzotint.

[@ericfaragh]

It was impossible, but certain...this sums up the terror that James specialises in. It cannot be, but it is.

[@cynthiapate9138]

What a delightful tale and read so eloquently.

[@mandolemite]

M R James was a brilliant story teller. I find his type of ghost story very scary. It can really get under your skin! Commenting on this particular story, it is the way that horror gradually unfolds. A good story, (SPOILERS ALERT) although I do not like it when innocent children have something bad happen to them. That is what probably makes it so unsettling. I cannot understand why everyone seems to have so much sympathy for Gawdy though. He shoots a gamekeeper whilst resisting arrest (we do not know if the gamekeeper was killed or not) for breaking the law. The laws on poaching were somewhat unfair, but he knew the score. Then comes back from the dead to kidnap and presumably murder an innocent infant.

[@lydiamarks8577]

I LOVE this 👍👍

[@CyanBlackflower]

If someone were to mention to me, or bring up the topic or name of M.R. James, I like most people (Who have heard of Him) would immediately think of those great ghost stories, of which I have had the pleasure of reading to the large majority, and, I might add, are contained in a single volume I have, with a "complete collection". This volume is among my most prized books, and whenever M.R. James' Ghost Stories" come to my mind, it is of "The Mezzotint" I first think of. It may not be his best or worst, but for me it was the most impressionable, so it always comes first to mind, for a number of reasons, not the least being that I have encountered many variations of the theme subsequently. It is subtly and singularly creepy, and it was one of the first of James' stories I have read. In any case, it is probably my favourite. I love the style of writing which is found throughout these tales, as well as the time James takes to build the story and "credibility" props. Great narration. ~Thank You Paul Goddard for posting this.

[@juliekeys1880]

Loved it. 👍💕

[@anniegoddard2661]

Thanks for uploading these. I like the artwork you added - it's an extra nice creepy touch.

[@paulgoddard]

I'm very glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@phillise1]

Yes...things that certainly revive memories

[@AlisonBryen]

The above picture is exactly how I imagined the mezzotint to look when I read the story. One of my many favourites from M R James. I thought I would listen to this tonight...it only seems fitting what with it being Christmastime!

[@esterherschkovich5002]

Thank you so much for uploading☺

[@dew2912]

1904 2 guineas =@ $285 purchasing power in today's money 5 shillings= @$35

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

What an absolutely perfect choice - Michael Hordern. (BTW He plays the stuffy minister in one filmed version of Maugham's stories: THE VERGER.)

[@1blessedbrotha]

Thank You!!!!!

[@ForViewingOnly]

Thanks for the upload, but I wish the picture used for the video didn't give away the story's big reveal.

[@jeremyripton]

Thank you.

[@scottde-walden2760]

This is indeed a great tale but for me,the pinnacle was reached with the treasure of abbot Thomas,and number 13 as well as the count Magnus and possibly whistle and I’ll come to you,I am familiar with all these places,if anybody wants a tour get in touch 👍🏼

[@jasonhurd4379]

For me, the most frightening tale is 'The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance'. Put me right off Punch-and-Judy shows for years.

[@Oakleaf700]

@@jasonhurd4379 Will have to look that one up! :)

[@jasonhurd4379]

@@Oakleaf700 Brace yourself. It is VERY dark.

[@stephenmurphy9949]

@@jasonhurd4379 I am a big James fan but I never understood The Story of A Disappearance. Scary but ... Wha happen?

[@alexapenn6399]

this is a great tale - thanks (i also like this reader a lot :}

[@paulgoddard]

I think Michael Hordern is one of the best M R James readers. I have seen Robert Lloyd Parry perform this live in a theatre. He too is also very good. I'm glad you enjoyed this upload.

[@alexapenn6399]

i looked him up and recognize him - so many great English actors . . .

[@therealchriswheelie]

For me, Michael Hordern is synonymous with M R James. Thank you so much for the upload!

[@danielrestione1355]

❤

[@Krzyszczynski]

Re the photographing of the picture: no doubt Nisbet would have done this each time a fresh change was noticed. But I wonder what, if anything, his photos would have shown once developed? I'm thinking here of William Hope Hodgson's The Whistling Room, where Carnacki attempts to secure a recording of the ghostly whistling, but without success. These occult manifestations perhaps affect only the sensory organs of living observers, and leave any inanimate mechanical device undisturbed. Just as the whistling fails to appear on a recording, so might the changes to the mezzotint only be apparent to the human observers, not to any camera. (It may be significant that MRJ makes no further mention of any photographs, or their subsequent whereabouts, in his "wash-up" at the end of the story.)

[@Oakleaf700]

Good point..Back then photographs would have been on. plate cameras [?] or box brownie types.

[@TheJalipa]

They are “Bedders” at Cambridge. Skips are Trinity Dublin. So did this all take place in Ireland?

[@douglasmilton2805]

Me sister was at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (I went to the other place, where we had ‘scouts’) and bedders was the word used at the time (early 90s).

[@0reozsgaming995]

I trust you were not overly traumatised by the discovery of Mr James.

[@eyelessknights4274]

I actually have a book which has this story 😳

[@shadetreader]

Lords deserve to lose their heirs.

[@nimilshah6689]

7:00

[@CHARLIE-ol2xm]

18:35