M. R. (Montague Rhodes) James

Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936) was an English medievalist scholar and author best remembered for his ghost stories, which are considered among the finest in the English language. He served as provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918) and Eton College (1918–1936), and redefined the ghost story genre by abandoning Gothic clichés in favor of realism and dry humor. Known as the originator of the 'antiquarian ghost story' and 'the Father of Folk Horror,' his scholarly work cataloguing medieval manuscripts at Cambridge remains highly regarded.