I realized as I listened to you that I had read this story about two or so years ago. There was a lovely set of about a dozen books, bound in red leather at our local library and this story was in one of the volumes. I remember handling it with delicacy and upon taking out the other volumes one by one, I saw that it was left to our library from a local collection. I was shocked and saddened to catch sight of this collection a few months ago and saw all volumes had been torn and mutilated. I wish I could personally kick the butts of every one of the people who would do this to such lovely books. Whoever did this doesn't deserve to take out anybooks at all.
Great story and narration. I had to listen to it three times to get all the details! Lol! This is a well-written story. Your narration, as always, is excellent. We have "TJ MAXX" in the US (same parent company). I get tons of halloween and Christmas stuff there. Awesome store. Love your chat at the end. Thanks!
It is an unmitigated joy to listen to your stories: both in terms of the selection and the execution of fantastic selections. The stories you’ve chosen so far run the gamut of the genre and have included many old favorites of mine as well as some new gems. Your delivery is compelling, intimate but mysterious, and just perfectly inflected! I also enjoy the comment (rambling) part of the the show as it highlights a personality I would enjoy getting to know better! Keep up the great work and thank you!
One of my favorite renditions, I love how you made Austin the twice Born's incantation rhyme and the use of the different accents. It really makes the characters come alive! :)
One of my all time favourites. As someone who photographs, draws and writes about architectural and landscape history, I love M R's settings of old churches and the scholarly look at old documents and interesting architecture. It really sets the scene for me. Thank you, Tony, and have a lovely Samhain. :)
So I come upon this tale a few months after Halloween, and thoroughly enjoyed it of course! I loved the church setting, which always works for me ( like trains!) Also agree about the attractions of TKMAX ! Never know what weird thing you might find - I haunt the place! 😁
You make these excellent stories come to life for me! I’m a very visual person and generally prefer to read stories and books rather than to listen to them. However, your extremely expressive way of telling stories allows me to use my already very vivid imagination to a greater degree than with the work of other voice artists. Thank you so much for the hours I’ve enjoyed thus far listening to these wonderfully scary stories.
You have such a beautiful voice! And I love all the different british accents you can perform, especially the Welch accident and the Yorkshire one😊😊😊😊😊😊
I love M.R. James, and your readings are excellent. I did put off listening to this for a couple of days because I have heard several other versions of The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral recently. You definitely should present lots of James' tales in the future.
Cosmo Medici very much approves. (And just like how the Sistine Chapel survived its painter, these will definitely survive us.) Regards to you Tony, thank you again.
Been listening for a while via Spotify, and I am finally going to write a comment on how much I love listening to your stories, by that I do literally mean your stories, and also the other stories that you read. I definitely like some stories better than others, but I have listened to everyone. I look forward to a new one every week, I always am giddy when I know I’ll be hearing a new one. Keep up the awesome work, and have you ever thought about reading any Clive Barker short stories? I know they tend to be a little more of a modern fare, but they definitely are great horror stories.
Awesome reading. I particularly liked your take on Jane's letter. Some presenters put so much emphasis on its illegibility that they lose the menace in her voice!
Sorry Tony. Have been busy doing Halloween duties. I had three nights of spookiness including a tour for my Sunday School class of 80+ year olds. This little Southern USA town has its share of weird tales and strange goings-on. I'll get caught up on your stories!
I enjoy James second only to Lovecraft, and while I've heard quite a few people read his work, I think this is the best reading I've encountered so far. I am very much looking forward to diving into your back catalogue and hearing what you do with other classic authors. I don't see that you've read "The Ash Tree" yet, but as it's one of my favorites, I'd like to suggest you add it to your repertoire if possible.
I haven't done a lot of James because many do him, understandably of course. I've done Mezzotint, Whistle, The Experiment, A Dissapearance etc and Number 13. That's it though. Ash Tree, Lost Hearts so many! I will get to them.
Thank you so much for reading this M.R. James gem of a story. I found your rendition very atmospheric. It sent chills down my spine several times. I also enjoyed the commentary after the story in all your videos. There's always something to learn or to think about afterwards. So thank you. Could I ask what that term you used which sounded like "in aghia" was? I have been trying to find it myself but I'm not sure how to spell it or which fields this term comes from. Thank you for your help. :) And for the chills.
The cat might represent the Cat Sheet / Cat Si faery cat. They were supposed to be the indigenous wild cats of the British isles but a melanistic version. Their mythology goes back a long way.
Tony, I'm going back to being homeless. In the "rehabilitation facility" where I have been placed, I can't call my soul my own. And (thanks to the American capitalist health care system) they are taking all my money to pay for it. At least when I am homeless, I have money to do what I want.
I realized as I listened to you that I had read this story about two or so years ago. There was a lovely set of about a dozen books, bound in red leather at our local library and this story was in one of the volumes. I remember handling it with delicacy and upon taking out the other volumes one by one, I saw that it was left to our library from a local collection. I was shocked and saddened to catch sight of this collection a few months ago and saw all volumes had been torn and mutilated. I wish I could personally kick the butts of every one of the people who would do this to such lovely books. Whoever did this doesn't deserve to take out anybooks at all.
I'd give one of my souls to hear Tony read "Count Magnus".
HOW many souls you have sir
Only one?
*sets out an empty box and waits patiently*
Might I inquire as to where you acquired such aforementioned souls, Sir?
You got none left... Sincerely yours, Satan.
Honestly I’m not sure what I enjoy more, the story or the commentary afterward! Thank you Tony, love from Oz 🦘
Fantastic...this my favourite M.R James story and your reading did it justice Tony.
Fantastic, Tony--also this tiime around! Thank you!
Brilliantly read, Tony.
Great story and narration. I had to listen to it three times to get all the details! Lol!
This is a well-written story.
Your narration, as always, is excellent.
We have "TJ MAXX" in the US (same parent company). I get tons of halloween and Christmas stuff there. Awesome store.
Love your chat at the end.
Thanks!
It is an unmitigated joy to listen to your stories: both in terms of the selection and the execution of fantastic selections. The stories you’ve chosen so far run the gamut of the genre and have included many old favorites of mine as well as some new gems. Your delivery is compelling, intimate but mysterious, and just perfectly inflected! I also enjoy the comment (rambling) part of the the show as it highlights a personality I would enjoy getting to know better! Keep up the great work and thank you!
One of my favorite renditions, I love how you made Austin the twice Born's incantation rhyme and the use of the different accents. It really makes the characters come alive! :)
Wonderful! I've listened to this before and like to revisit it. Beautifully read, as always. Thank you.
Thank you :)
Perfect favorite for Halloween, compleat with hot chocolate and blankets and Dog Nico chewing on his favorite treat;: duck stick. Thank you, Tony!!!
One of my all time favourites. As someone who photographs, draws and writes about architectural and landscape history, I love M R's settings of old churches and the scholarly look at old documents and interesting architecture. It really sets the scene for me. Thank you, Tony, and have a lovely Samhain. :)
So I come upon this tale a few months after Halloween, and thoroughly enjoyed it of course!
I loved the church setting, which always works for me ( like trains!)
Also agree about the attractions of TKMAX ! Never know what weird thing you might find - I haunt the place! 😁
Ooh good! A bona fide classic! Thanks Tony!
Hope you are well J
You make these excellent stories come to life for me! I’m a very visual person and generally prefer to read stories and books rather than to listen to them. However, your extremely expressive way of telling stories allows me to use my already very vivid imagination to a greater degree than with the work of other voice artists. Thank you so much for the hours I’ve enjoyed thus far listening to these wonderfully scary stories.
You have such a beautiful voice! And I love all the different british accents you can perform, especially the Welch accident and the Yorkshire one😊😊😊😊😊😊
Great job with this classic, Tony.. I listen to HorrorBabble regularly and I don't think Ian has done this one yet.
THX *Tony* one of my favorite *MR James* ... great movie too I've watched it many times
I love this story and the thumbnail
I like the thumbnail too
Listening on the 9th of June 2024. Not the 6th but close enough. Thanks as always for sharing your talent. You're awesome.
I love M.R. James, and your readings are excellent. I did put off listening to this for a couple of days because I have heard several other versions of The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral recently. You definitely should present lots of James' tales in the future.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head though . There are lots of versions of James out there
I am excited!!!!!
Cosmo Medici very much approves.
(And just like how the Sistine Chapel survived its painter, these will definitely survive us.)
Regards to you Tony, thank you again.
Loved it!
That's Halloween sorted thank you
Been listening for a while via Spotify, and I am finally going to write a comment on how much I love listening to your stories, by that I do literally mean your stories, and also the other stories that you read. I definitely like some stories better than others, but I have listened to everyone.
I look forward to a new one every week, I always am giddy when I know I’ll be hearing a new one. Keep up the awesome work, and have you ever thought about reading any Clive Barker short stories? I know they tend to be a little more of a modern fare, but they definitely are great horror stories.
Thank you! I have done one Clive Barker as a members only and a Ramsey Campbell
Good book one for bool club ,❤.
I know I won't be the only one examining the carved wood in church next time.....
Love your stories and the perfect way you narrate. Happy Halloween Tony. Cheers
I like the reverb.
Oh good! I've put it on all the current ones. I think it's better...
Awesome reading. I particularly liked your take on Jane's letter. Some presenters put so much emphasis on its illegibility that they lose the menace in her voice!
I actually tried to work out what the spelling was supposed to say and then did it in more standard English than he writes.
Sorry Tony. Have been busy doing Halloween duties. I had three nights of spookiness including a tour for my Sunday School class of 80+ year olds. This little Southern USA town has its share of weird tales and strange goings-on. I'll get caught up on your stories!
I like that James' stories revolve around transgressions being punished; that the sin draws the evil so that the evil is used to police the world.
I enjoy James second only to Lovecraft, and while I've heard quite a few people read his work, I think this is the best reading I've encountered so far. I am very much looking forward to diving into your back catalogue and hearing what you do with other classic authors.
I don't see that you've read "The Ash Tree" yet, but as it's one of my favorites, I'd like to suggest you add it to your repertoire if possible.
I haven't done a lot of James because many do him, understandably of course. I've done Mezzotint, Whistle, The Experiment, A Dissapearance etc and Number 13. That's it though. Ash Tree, Lost Hearts so many! I will get to them.
@@ClassicGhost I haven't heard a really good version of Lost Hearts. You definitely should record one.
Yes, others have read the MR James stories, but your special ability to make his stories come to life would be a much needed addition to the catalog.
Here I am Tony. Listened to your long plays all night. Did you get to watch your del Toro?
No, I watched the Witch of Kings Cross, but I am going to do it soon. Too many options indeed
Happy Halloween!
Thank you so much for reading this M.R. James gem of a story. I found your rendition very atmospheric. It sent chills down my spine several times.
I also enjoyed the commentary after the story in all your videos. There's always something to learn or to think about afterwards. So thank you.
Could I ask what that term you used which sounded like "in aghia" was? I have been trying to find it myself but I'm not sure how to spell it or which fields this term comes from. Thank you for your help. :) And for the chills.
It is soon Christmas ;0)
Lighting candles in the choir…..
The cat might represent the Cat Sheet / Cat Si faery cat. They were supposed to be the indigenous wild cats of the British isles but a melanistic version. Their mythology goes back a long way.
Tony, I'm going back to being homeless. In the "rehabilitation facility" where I have been placed, I can't call my soul my own. And (thanks to the American capitalist health care system) they are taking all my money to pay for it.
At least when I am homeless, I have money to do what I want.