M. R. James cover art

M. R. James

Rats (from the Naxos Audiobook 'Classic Ghost Stories')

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M. R. James

By: M. R. James
Narrated by: Stephen Critchlow
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About this listen

 Reader Stephen Critchelow has spent a lifetime collecting and reading works like these and, with carefully chosen music, brings a strong sense of atmosphere to this recording. "Rats" provides a great listening experience for dark autumn evenings.©2007 Naxos Rights International (P)2007 Naxos Rights International Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Fiction Horror Scary

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All stars
Most relevant
So, I've never really clicked with M R James. I remember continually trying to get into things like The Turn Of The Screw, but not particularly feeling the tension or the suspense build therein. I know, I'm a disgusting heathen. This was really nicely made, though! The music seems quite corny, but is used far less liberally than one initially assumes, and is nicely atmospheric towards the end (as though the narrator's slow....creeping...voice... doesn't hammer home enough that things are getting spooky).

It's not something I'd spend an actual credit on, or, really, pay more than about £1 for, because I'm cheap and disgusting and adamantly refuse to spend money, but if you have a spare 50p [please mentally replace with whichever currency you deal with - 500kr, 70ish cents (although, in this economy???) etc] floating in your bank account, this isn't the worst thing to spend it on. Probably.

I Paid Less For This Than I Did For Coffee Today

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Something happens in this story that confirms my view that M R James is the best ghost writer ever. Marvellous.

Prepare to be scared

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