Casting the Runes (1911)
The art of Dr. James is by no means haphazard, and
in the preface to one of his collections he has formulated three very sound
rules for
macabre composition. A ghost story, he believes,
should have a familiar setting in the modern period, in order to approach
closely the
reader's sphere of experience. Its spectral phenomena,
moreover, should be malevolent rather than beneficent; since fear is the
emotion
primarily to be excited. And finally, the technical
patois of 'occultism' or pseudo-science ought carefully to be avoided;
lest the charm of
casual verisimilitude be smothered in unconvincing
pedantry.
-H.P. Lovecraft
Though less well remembered today than some other authors of Gothic
ghost stories--like J. S. [John Sheridan] LeFanu, whose work he edited,
Bram Stoker, and Henry James
(no relation), or their successors H.P.
Lovecraft, Algernon Blackwood, and the like--M. R. James is one of
the great early horror writers. This story,
which concerns a mysterious and unpleasant Mr. Karswell, who takes creepy
exception to a negative review of his book, The Truth of Alchemy,
shows off James's talents to good effect, combining genuine scares with
a droll wit. But what makes this edition particularly appealing are
the 12 splendid black-and-white drawings by Jeff White--an artist with
whom I am not familiar and about whom I could find nearly
nothing on the Web--that accompany the text. This slender volume
seems certain to get any reader looking for more stories by Mr. James and
more books illustrated by the estimable Mr. White
(Reviewed:03-Jan-02)
Grade: (A)
