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) Orrin C. Judd

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