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M. R. James was a prodigious, early twentieth century, writer
of gothic horror stories who the BBC has previous adapted
for television, now they have released Derek Jacobi reading
five unabridged stories of terror and the supernatural...
A
View from a Hill has many of the ingredients of an M R
James story, in that it concerns a gentleman intellectual
and a magical object. In this case it is Fanshaw who goes
to visit a squire who has a pair of broken binoculars. When
Fanshaw uses the glasses the surrounding countryside is somewhat
different as it appears to the naked eye, especially the gallows
which appears to rise above a local hill. When Fanshaw investigates
the area the mystery deepens, so he determines to find out
what happened to the original owner, an archaeologist called
Baxter.
Rats,
is a slightly shorter story concerning Mr Thompson who finds
a body in an inns basement, but who was it and what is the
explanation?
The
third story is irritatingly split between the two discs.
A School Story sees old friends start to discuss just
how many ghost stories are told at school, whilst most can
think of no real instances one of their number starts to recount
a dark tale from his own school days.
The Ash Tree recounts the stories of three generations
of The Fells, the owners of Castringham hall, which only goes
to prove that killing a witch is likely to cause trouble over
many generations.
The last story, The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance,
is presented in the form of four published letters detailing
the disappearance of the author's Uncle Henry and only goes
to prove that sometimes it is best not to go looking for lost
things.
Overall
the stories are more spookily macabre than horrific, the sort
that are told on Christmas Eve and remain suitable for older
children.
Derek
Jacobi, who narrates, was last seen playing The Master in
Doctor Who. He's been a favourite actor of mine for
a long time, ever since he riveted me with his performance
in I, Claudius, so I wasn't surprised to find his readings
of the stories to be a delight. A consummate actor, he is
able to imbue the various characters with a life of their
own.
The
small booklet which accompanies the twin CD set gives a little
background on both Jacobi and James. In the end another great
addition for any James fans.
 
Charles
Packer
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