Ghost Stories of an Antiquary Part 2: More Ghost Stories Informative Summary

Overview:

M.R. James’s “Ghost Stories of an Antiquary” is a collection of chilling tales that explore the supernatural in everyday settings. Part 2, titled “More Ghost Stories,” continues James’s signature style of blending the mundane with the eerie, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of dread. The stories in this volume are often set in familiar places, such as schools and libraries, making their supernatural elements all the more unsettling. James’s characters are often ordinary people who find themselves confronted with inexplicable events, making their terror relatable and chillingly effective.

The stories delve into themes of history, memory, and the occult. James’s narratives are rich in detail, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and suspense. He uses vivid imagery and evocative language to create a sense of unease and fear, leaving the reader questioning the nature of reality and the limits of human perception.

Key Findings:

The Uncanny in Everyday Places: James’s stories demonstrate the potential for the supernatural to manifest in seemingly ordinary settings.
The Power of Belief: The stories explore the ways in which belief, superstition, and the power of suggestion can shape our perceptions of the world.
The Persistence of the Past: James’s tales often feature the haunting presence of past events and the lingering effects of past transgressions.
The Nature of Reality: James’s stories challenge our assumptions about the nature of reality and force us to question what is real and what is not.

Learning:

Folklore of Private Schools: The first story, “A School Story,” offers a glimpse into the mythology and folklore of private schools, showcasing how stories are passed down and reinterpreted within a community.
The Power of Suggestion: Several stories highlight how the power of suggestion and belief can create and amplify supernatural experiences. This is demonstrated in “The Rose Garden,” where a shared dream leads to a chilling encounter with the past.
The Language of the Occult: James uses specific terminology from the world of the occult, such as “Runes” and “casting the Runes,” to enhance the stories’ eerie atmosphere. “Casting the Runes” delves into the use of these symbols and their potential for manipulating events and influencing individuals.
The History of Witchcraft: The stories often draw upon historical accounts of witchcraft and the supernatural, incorporating real events and figures to add a layer of authenticity. “Casting the Runes” specifically examines John Harrington’s book on witchcraft, hinting at the dangers of delving into forbidden knowledge.

Historical Context:

The stories are set in a variety of time periods, reflecting the changing social and cultural landscape of England in the 19th and early 20th centuries. “A School Story” takes place in the 1870s, “The Rose Garden” in the late 19th century, and “The Tractate Middoth” in the early 20th century. “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral” is set in the early 19th century, and “Martin’s Close” in the late 17th century.

Facts:

The Hanging Oak: In “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral,” a tradition existed in the village to hang straw puppets on the Hanging Oak to influence events. This suggests a belief in sympathetic magic, where objects were used to represent and manipulate individuals or situations.
Valerius Flaccus: Dr. Haynes, the subject of “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral,” published a translation of Valerius Flaccus’s “Argonautica,” highlighting the scholarly interests of the clergy in the early 19th century.
The New Inn: In “Martin’s Close,” the New Inn serves as a center of social activity and gossip, providing a setting for the encounter between George Martin and Ann Clark. This reflects the importance of taverns and inns as gathering places in rural communities.
George Jeffreys: The trial of George Martin in “Martin’s Close” is presided over by the infamous Judge Jeffreys, known for his ruthlessness and brutality during the Bloody Assizes. This highlights the political and social context of the late 17th century.
The Bloody Assizes: Jeffreys’s notorious trial of George Martin highlights the severity of the law during the Bloody Assizes, where many were convicted of treason or sedition without due process.
The Ancient Mariner: In “Casting the Runes,” the “Ancient Mariner” is referenced, showcasing the popularity and influence of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem in the late 19th century.
Bewick’s Woodcuts: The woodcut of “The Ancient Mariner” in “Casting the Runes” suggests the use of woodcuts as a form of illustration in the late 19th century.
John Harrington: The story of John Harrington’s death in “Casting the Runes” highlights the fascination with the occult and the supernatural in the late 19th century.
Pyretic Saline: The advertisement for Pyretic Saline in “Casting the Runes” reflects the increasing presence of advertising in everyday life in the early 20th century.
The British Museum: The stories feature settings such as the British Museum, showcasing the growing importance of museums as centers of knowledge and research in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Sibyl’s Temple: The “Temple of Friendship” in “Mr. Humphreys and his Inheritance” is modeled after the Sibyl’s Temple at Tivoli, demonstrating the enduring influence of Classical architecture and the Grand Tour in the 19th century.
Tostatus Abulensis and Pineda on Job: These are examples of religious texts that Humphreys encounters in the library, highlighting the vast and often inaccessible nature of historical libraries.
The Golden Legend and The Golden Bough: The mention of these works in “Casting the Runes” reflects the growing interest in folklore, mythology, and comparative religion in the 19th century.
The Argonautica of Valerius Flaccus: This was a popular text for classical scholars in the 19th century.
The Harleian Miscellany: This was a collection of historical documents and manuscripts, popular in the 19th century.
St. Augustine de cura pro mortuis gerenda: This text, cited in “Martin’s Close,” reflects the use of religious authorities to support legal arguments and interpretations.
Theseus and Ariadne: The reference to Theseus and Ariadne in “Mr. Humphreys and his Inheritance” highlights the continuing influence of classical mythology in the 19th century.
John Austin: The inscription in “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral” mentions John Austin, a local craftsman who carved the stalls, illustrating the use of local artisans in church construction.
St. Wulfram’s Church: “Mr. Humphreys and his Inheritance” mentions St. Wulfram’s Church in Abbeville, highlighting the popularity of church architecture and tourism in the 19th century.
Covent Gardens and Hampton Court: “Mr. Humphreys and his Inheritance” mentions the maze at Covent Gardens and Hampton Court, demonstrating the widespread popularity of mazes in the 19th century.
Picart’s Religious Ceremonies: This was a popular illustrated work on religious practices, showcasing the growing interest in comparative religion and anthropology in the 19th century.

Statistics:

120-130 boys: “A School Story” mentions that the school typically had between 120 and 130 boys, highlighting the size and scale of private schools in the 19th century.
£25 quarterly: In “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral,” Dr. Haynes makes a quarterly payment of £25 to Jane Lee, highlighting the financial arrangements between employers and servants in the early 19th century.
£40: Dr. Haynes eventually pays Jane Lee £40, reflecting the escalating demands of the servant and the pressures on the archdeacon.
92 years old: Archdeacon Pulteney lives to the age of 92, showcasing the longevity of individuals in the early 19th century.
3 years: Dr. Haynes estimates that it will take three years to restore order to the Archdeaconry, demonstrating the extent of the administrative challenges facing the archdeacon.
1700: The stalls in Barchester Cathedral are dated to around 1700, highlighting the historical context of church architecture.
1786: The organist at Barchester Cathedral had been in office since 1786, illustrating the long tenures of individuals in church positions.
1834: Archdeacon Haynes’s sister bequeathed his papers to the college in 1834, illustrating the practice of preserving family papers in the 19th century.
1684: The parish records in “Martin’s Close” indicate that a gibbet was purchased in 1684 for the execution of George Martin.
1699: John Austin’s dream about the carved figure is recorded in 1699, demonstrating the historical context of the carving.
1870: Calton mentions 1870 as a point of comparison for the changes in the village shop in “Mr. Humphreys and his Inheritance.”
1875: The will of John Rant in “The Tractate Middoth” is dated 1875, providing a historical context for the story.
1889: The death of John Harrington in “Casting the Runes” is set in 1889, highlighting the late 19th-century context of the story.
190- : The year 190- is provided as the date of the first letter in “Casting the Runes,” indicating the story takes place in the early 20th century.

Terms:

Valentudinarian: A person who is excessively concerned with their health.
Signosier: A person who is an expert in gardening or landscaping.
Theseus: A hero in Greek mythology who slayed the Minotaur in a labyrinth.
Attick Tale: A reference to a story from Attic Greek mythology.
Topiary: The art of pruning plants into decorative shapes.
Palisadoes: A row of stakes or poles forming a fence or enclosure.
Catalogue raisonné: A detailed and descriptive catalog of a collection of books or artworks.
Tostatus Abulensis: A medieval Spanish theologian and biblical commentator.
Pineda on Job: A reference to a commentary on the Book of Job by a Spanish theologian.
Runes: A set of symbols used in ancient Germanic languages for writing and divination.
Chore: A giant in Greek mythology who was punished by being forced to support the celestial sphere.

Examples:

The story of the man who heard a noise in the passage at night, opened his door, and saw someone crawling towards him on all fours with his eye hanging out on his cheek: This is an example of a common type of ghost story that was often retold in private schools.
The house in Berkeley Square: This is an example of a famous ghost story that was often circulated in the 19th century.
The man who was found dead in bed with a horseshoe mark on his forehead: This is an example of a spooky tale that is often told in private schools.
The lady who, on locking her bedroom door in a strange house, heard a thin voice among the bed-curtains say, “Now we’re shut in for the night”: This is an example of a creepy story often shared in schools.
The dream of a young boy being tried in a courtroom: In “The Rose Garden,” the boy’s dream reflects his anxieties and fears.
The incident with the owls in the shrubbery: In “The Rose Garden,” the owls are seen as an ominous sign and a precursor to the supernatural events that unfold.
The missing stair-rod in the archdeacon’s house: In “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral,” the missing stair-rod serves as a catalyst for a series of unsettling events.
The tale of George Martin’s trial: “Martin’s Close” provides a detailed account of a murder trial in the 17th century, showcasing the legal system and social norms of the time.
The scene of the voice singing outside the inn: In “Martin’s Close,” the eerie voice singing outside the inn suggests the presence of a supernatural force, further unsettling the atmosphere.
The encounter with the “burnt human face” in the maze: In “Mr. Humphreys and his Inheritance,” the terrifying vision of the burnt face is a powerful climax, showcasing the horrifying power of the supernatural.

Conclusion:

M.R. James’s “More Ghost Stories” is a collection of suspenseful and unsettling tales that explore the dark side of human nature and the power of the supernatural. James’s stories are not simply about ghosts and hauntings, but rather about the anxieties, fears, and psychological vulnerabilities that make us susceptible to the uncanny. His narratives draw upon historical events, folklore, and the occult to create a haunting and unforgettable atmosphere, leaving the reader questioning the nature of reality and the limits of human perception.

The stories in this collection demonstrate James’s skill in blending the familiar with the eerie, creating a sense of unease and dread that lingers long after the story is finished. His tales offer a chilling reminder that the boundaries between the real and the supernatural are often blurred, and that the unseen forces that shape our lives are often more powerful than we realize.

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