A Warning to the Curious | A Ghost Story by M. R. James | A Bitesized Audio Production
91,810
Published 2020-04-15
A new, original recording of a classic public domain text, read and performed by Simon Stanhope for Bitesized Audio.
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Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936) was a medievalist and scholar, and is probably the best known and most celebrated English ghost story writer of the 20th century, although he actually began composing supernatural tales in the late Victorian era, beginning with 'Canon Alberic's Scrap-Book' (1894). He was born in Kent, but spent most of his childhood in Suffolk, a county which features prominently in many of his stories, including perhaps his most famous 'Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad'. Several of James's protagonists also reflect his own antiquarian interests, with academics and historians featuring regularly. During a long academic career which encompassed several positions at King's College, Cambridge, and Eton College, M. R. James developed a tradition of reading ghost stories aloud to a group of friends, most famously on Christmas eve, and the majority of his stories were first heard in that setting.
A Warning to the Curious originally appeared in the London Mercury in August 1925, and became the title story in James's fourth and final collection of ghost stories published later that same year. The fictional town of Seaburgh is based on Aldeburgh, the Suffolk seaside town which James knew well from his childhood: his grandmother lived there and he visited her regularly until she died in 1870. Many of the landmarks mentioned in the story can still be seen nearby, including the Martello tower, The Bear (actually The White Lion), the church, and William Ager's cottage.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2020.
All Comments (21)
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My favorite thing about this tale is that the guys hear this stranger's story and go along with him to rebury it bc he says it's got a supernatural being attached who won't leave him in peace. They briefly doubt if he actually found it, but once that's established they are on board to help him rebury it bc he says it's haunted. No wasting the reader's time trying to explain it away with modern science or psychology, just, "Well, this fellow seems distraught. We'd best help him secretly reinter a precious artifact under the cover of darkness. It might hurt his feelings if we acted incredulously." Refreshing.
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The narrator's voice and skill is exactly what my American ears want to hear when listening to these stories
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There’s one thing an Anglo-Saxon crown would be never be: of rough workmanship. Their jewelry was amazing!
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What a great tale, with a warning to let buried crowns lie! Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen was still news, possibly inspiring the idea of awakening something unwelcome when ancient things are uncovered. From the advantage of hindsight, it is good that the crown was put back in order to guard against the next invasion from the Germans.
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Loving MR James as I do, Bitesized did a WONDERFUL job with this classic! It was a performance that was truly satisfying for me. Made me realize that I can listen to my favorite stories multiple times under different narrators and almost feel like it's the first time! YAY! I'M A FAN❗❤❗🐾🌵💚
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Reminds me of another gem, "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad". Thank you for a wonderful treat.🙏
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It is now after midnight and it’s Christmas 2020 here in Australia. Listening to this as a late night Christmas ghost story, enlivened by your wonderful voice and reading. Wishing you a safe and very Happy Christmas!
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This MR James classic has been told many times, yet this is very fresh.
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Thank you for this wonderful gift during these difficult times.
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Thank you so much for this. Great as always. Evening plans sorted. You doing a public service here. Well done sir and we are thankful for your time and skills. Stay safe.
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Thank you for completing a perfect evening for me ! relaxing in an armchair after dinner and just listening to your perfect retelling of this classic story . Stay safe
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Just superb Simon. A beautiful reading of an exceptional story. One of the truly great Ghost Stories, wat a treat on a cold afternoon. Thank you.
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Two or three years ago, I visited Elton,during an open day, and met the provost, who told me that as a James addict, he was reading the stories as the old Provost did to his new crop of Scholars, to some great acclaim. What stories they are, and probably the best, even more so than Le Fanu, but as Monty James noted, “ I am a Victorian”, so some may not like his style. I do, and so do countless numbers, who may find ghosts in odd places, and peculiarly confrontational, as it happens. It is due to him, that I still find myself wary of going to the bathroom for a pee, lest a hand grab my ankle, as I leave my bed , and an ancient hand covered in long hair, connected to what body?
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This is such a great story, from an author, who after his physical death, continues to teach us how to write a ghost story! ;)
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Always loved this story.... I believe it was on television as a Tales of the Unexpected... thanks for another great upload
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I cannot claim to be a real fan of M R JAMES, but I am real fan of your voice!! It has such a calming quality to it & your talent with accents is great. Thank you Mr. Stanhope for these quality productions.
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Always excited to see new content from this channel! The perfect voice to really bring these stories to life. Cheers from Boston!
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Thank you for the great reading, as well as the detailed description, much appreciated.
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An excellent and gripping reading of a story by my favorite ghost story writers.
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Beautifully read. Very much enjoyed this chilling yarn.
