Join Mike & Will for the first in a two part special on ‘The Residence at Whitminster’ by M.R. James! No black cockerels were harmed in the recording of this podcast (OK, maybe one or two. It’s called research people). This episode features readings by Hamish Symington and Peter Ross. Show Notes: M.R. James – An Informal Portrait by Michael Cox (Amazon) For details of Monty’s life during WWI we lean heavily on Michael Cox’s excellent biography. It is sadly now out of print but secondhand copies are available, if expensive. Try your local library before you splash out, they may be able to order it in for you. Warnings to the Curious (Ed. Joshi & Pardoe) (Amazon) We have recommended this many times before, but once again this great book of essays has helped a lot with our understanding of the story. Whitminster/Wheatenhurst, Gloucestershire (Googlemaps) The real Whitminster can be found here, although it was known as Wheatenhurst in James’s lifetime. More information on Whitminster House and estate, from which the place got it’s new name, can be found at british-history.ac.uk. Also see the Whitminster Community Website. Saul, in the Bible (Wikipedia) Lord Saul’s namesake appears in the Books of Samuel, and comes to a sticky end after some necromantic funny-business involving the Witch of Endor (no, not that Endor). Some Remarks on Ghost Stories by M.R. James (Ash Tree Press) In this episode we mention the M.R. James essay ‘Some Remarks on Ghost Stories’ which can be found in the ‘Pleasing Terror’ M.R. James anthology. The hardback is out of print but the eBook version is available.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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