M.R James Symposium

The Centre for Culture and Heritage proudly presents ‘Sequestered Places, Heaving Seas: The Life and Works of M. R. James.’ This one-day symposium celebrates 120 years since the publication of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904) and brings together scholars, writers, and researchers of M. R. James working in diverse fields including literature, film, art, history, and archaeology. View the full programme of 20-minute papers.

Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) is widely regarded as one of the greatest ghost story writers of all time. His published collections have never been out of print, while popular tales such as ‘A Warning to the Curious’ and ‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’ have been adapted for the screen and hailed as defining the modern style of horror fiction. 

Born in Kent, M. R. James moved to Great Livermere, Suffolk, with his family in 1865. Some of his most famous ghost stories are set in the county under disguised names such as Seaburgh (Aldeburgh) and Burnstow (Felixstowe). James was also an influential scholar and medievalist. Following his education at Eton and King’s College, Cambridge, he became Provost of King’s before returning to Eton as Provost in 1918.  

The Centre for Culture and Heritage proudly presents ‘Sequestered Places, Heaving Seas: The Life and Works of M. R. James.’ This one-day symposium celebrates 120 years since the publication of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904) and brings together scholars, writers, and researchers of M. R. James working in diverse fields including literature, film, art, history, and archaeology. A full programme of 20-minute papers will be available here shortly. 

This event follows the Phantasmagoria Conference on Monday 29 April 2024. Conference attendees are warmly encouraged to attend both events and join us at the Hold on Monday evening for a double screening of M. R. James ghost stories. Tickets for the screening must be purchased separately via the Suffolk Archives website. 

If you have any queries, please contact the event organisers Dr Lindsey Scott (Lindsey.Scott@uos.ac.uk) and Dr Jamie Bernthal-Hooker  (J.Bernthal-Hooker@uos.ac.uk).