M R James - Count Magnus (read by Michael Hordern) 

Mars mass , things ridiculous this planet of apes

Perfect moments in this thing we call "life." I'm glad that you think in the same way as myself. ;^> Your comment is practically an equal of Hordern's conscious poetry.

Rod & line it was called I think

Sir Hordern

I honestly believe that this is James' absolute BEST, and it's in great company with several of his other tales chasing just inches behind. "Count Magnus" connotes a kind of cosmic horror not-too-far-removed from Cthulhu and the like. The effect of that horror upon the rural folk of some of my family's own homeland, Västergötland (which I had the privilege to visit back in '92 -- BEAUTIFUL country!!!), is suggested with absolute mastery. Of course, this is total fiction, but it impresses tremendously upon me as if it were "drawn from the life." (Thanks, Canon Alberic! X^D )

@@rebekkahdruck1392 I think the less one knows the greater the terror. Count Magnus excels at that.

The funny thing to me is that he plays an older, tongue-tied Professor Parkins in the original "Whistle And I'll Comes To You" movie, but he is eloquent beyond all measure in reading these tales aloud. Hordern IS the bomb!!!

@@rebekkahdruck1392 Yes. That's a good film but I think the ending is mismanaged. You can't really beat the words can you? The McBride engraving is hanging in my study as I type. "A horrible, an intensely horrible face of crumpled linen"

James wrote devastating horror in single lines what modern "horror masters" take an entire novel to effect. ;^> What do you think of Arthur Machen and Algernon Blackwood?

yes, it really is. What is even more insane is this character wanting to meet him! . Its akin to a group of giggling middle school students calling a serial killer as a prank call and inviting him over, and then being shocked when he shows up in the middle of the night (after cutting the lights). One of the scariest things about it is that it is so true to human nature.

the sort of remark that haunts your mind

Tru dat

Jason, Is your number two, his Number 13?

@@BioDieselEstate Thanks for the reminder. This is one of the good things about RU-vid.

@@BioDieselEstate Spooky lols

I fully agree with that top three list!

I find myself reciting this in the same almost-musical way of Hordern -- PERFECT reading!!! I also LOVE the landlord's recount of the people saying, "NO. Do not go. We are sure you will meet with persons walking who should NOT BE walking. They should be resting, not walking." Simple advice cautioning against a monstrous nightmare.

So, it is not just me with that image then...

The best version of one of the most beloved, English children's characters of the early 20th century, reading one of the best English ghost story writers of the same time. In my opinion, the best writer of both the time and genre.

The narrator of paddington for me. I feel like paddington will pop up and mess with something

And don’t EVEN talk to me about the Judderman advert!!!!

Dutch people are from the Netherlands, not Scandinavia.

Agree except I would replace 'Number 13' with 'Lost Hearts'. This story of revenge gives a sense of quelle horreur too ! (My top 5 also in this thread )

On moving to central Sweden and wandering around Varnhem Abbey I was quite taken aback to find myself standing beside the Count's sarcophagus!

Same like Count Dracula of Brahm Stoker.

You are right - but still bit of a devil...

@@christinecarrick4352 Yikes. That would give me the Scandinavian willies.

@@stephenmurphy9949 She probably got the Scandinavian willies.

The father of all trolls -- especially on the internet! X^D

Trust me, the effect of James' marvelous writing combined with Hordern's masterful recitation is worth EVERY ounce of patience you can distill. But I can only suggest that you stop TRYING to "get it" -- just let it be, and come back to it in a while. Eventually, your brain will process everything, and you'll be ready for the full effect.

I always come back to this one for the dread the it invokes. It's amazing how short and for a large part almost detatched the story is, but somehow effective in a way hundreds of following imitators can't quite achieve.

@@colemarie9262 yep, same!

It's the feeling of pursuit by a malicious entity I think. A pursuit that the fleeing individual has no chance of escaping

I wonder if BBC dramatized this story? can't find on you tube..

@@javedsultan4830 Looks like there hasn't been an adaptation of this, save for a 12 minute animated short which I can't even find.

bronte1987 ermmmmm . 😉😂

You're not exactly wrong, but Count Magnus is FAR more than a mere vampire. He is a destructive force in once-human form, arrogant to the extent of another Stalin or Pol-Pot, and willing to slaughter everything standing against him. Do you want to understand TRUE evil? HE IS IT.

It is very much the nearest thing James wrote to a Dracula tale but Magnus' demon assistant seems to do most of the sucking.

The trip on the ship is indeed reminiscent of Dracula. The fact that CM has a “familiar”, however, is where perhaps it departs. Dracula could be both the familiar (e.g., the dog) and the human-like being. Why CM and the ghoul had to follow the poor protagonist will remain a mystery. Perhaps to make him feel safe before trespassing on his own native land - James’s use of the uncanny. Dracula was trying to colonise by doing so. CM and his ghoul seem to have even more malevolent reason - sheer cruelty (playing with their prey).

CM and the ghoul are all about the chase. They even literally give him a head start. So, though I said it’s a mystery, maybe it’s not completely one…One of James’s best!

His valet :)

The ghoul who is his “faithful servant”.

I watched it last night. It was very good 😃 👻 🎄

Oh, he's FAR-worse than a mere vampire. He's a greater devil in subhuman form. And the Count's "helper" is practically a shoggoth, albeit in smaller form. The evil masked by the practical directness of this story rivals the cosmic horror in Blackwood's "The Wendigo."

Hi Jan, Thank you for your comment. I don't monetise any video on all my channels to which I have 4. I upload content to this channel that I feel people will enjoy for free. Unfortunately RU-vid are now putting adverts in a lot of videos. I wouldn't advertise on this video as I didn't create any of the work up uploaded. I'm sorry your enjoyment was spoilt but unfortunately the ads have nothing to do with me.