Meddling with Ghosts: Stories in the Tradition of M.R. James

This is a collection of ghost stories in the 'antiquarian' tradition established by M. R. James, who excelled at the atmospheric portrayal of legitimate scholarly interest descending into unwise curiosity, with almost invariably tragic results. James' influence on the genre has been immense, both on the popular perception of what makes a successful ghost story work, and on other authors in the genre. This collection offers some of the best stories from authors who influenced James, such as Sheridan Le Fanu and Augustus Jessopp, stories from his contemporaries, such as T. G. Jackson and 'D. N. J.', and tales from more recent practitioners, including Fritz Leiber and Terry Lamsley. Selected and introduced by an acknowledged master of the art, the collection also includes a checklist of writers in the Jamesian tradition.