The Horror of M. R. James | The Dark Histories Podcast 

"Having trouble sleeping is a nightmare.." I loved that. Glad you're back.

I've had anxiety problems my whole life so your pod cast and voice is my escape into a different world. I really appreciate all your do thank you!💕

Mr James' stories are my very favourites, my go to when I need to escape from what scares me. Thanks for this, Ben. I really needed it. Please take good care💜

Just stumbled on your work the other day, now properly binging it instead of dealing with my loss of health coverage and employment. Glad I went to college for this. Now I’ll be back to the minimum-wage working world from whence I came with my silly aspirations of social mobility replaced with student debt. This century can bite my ass but it better wash its hands afterwards.

A great author !!!!! One of my favourites. Right up up there with Poe and lovecraft.

It's true, Ben. You're a comfort and a lifeline in these isolated times. It's nice to have another familiar voice in my house!

Oh yay! Came back from walking the dog to find a new upload. I'm sorry you've suffered with anxiety. I know from experience that it can be crippling sometimes. LOVE YOUR VOICE! THANKS.

i listen to these once for enjoyment and then several times afterwards to help me sleep. your voice is so soothing. i love it.

Hi Ben i suffer with anxiety love your shows mate thanks keep up the good work

I've come back to listen to all these again. Gets me through the isolation of working from home! I like that you mention what's going on. The videos and podcasts made during Covid Times will become a collection of historic documents on how we coped. Keep it up!

Just discovered your podcast a few days ago and it has been all I’ve listened too since. Love the work you put into this man! Thank you 🙏

Hello Ben. It's 2022 now. At least to me, this is your most frightening broadcast. Not for the stories - they're well chosen. But the anxiety in your voice as you described the "C" word brought me back to a spring day in 2020, when the entire world suddenly experienced its own personal horror story. In fact, I had to step back, stop listening, get the knot in my gut to back off a bit. This is no criticism. I'm impressed by your classy response, how you quickly switched gears and adapted. But mostly, this glimpse back, raw and unfiltered... truly, it's the most personally upsetting slice of history on your channel - global PTSD can be heard in your voice. So... congratulations? I think, in a small but telling way, you've become part of the material you so meticulously share with us.

Thank you. I love your work.

I do actually use this podcast as a escape. You do an excellent job and I will continue to enjoy you pulling me into these interesting stories of history. Thank you

M.R. James: love his ghost stories. The first time I read 'Count Magnus' I could not even sleep right ! These are my ultra-favorites: Rats, Lost Hearts, A Warning to the Curious, Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You My Lad.

Grateful for your wonderful distractions Ben. Your podcast and others like it are what are getting me through these crazy times. Quite scary, is the thought that one day this will be a dark history tale. I do feel so very blessed to be in Canada, to have my kids home, but, also, I am in that horrid group known as #wethevunerable so I am absolutely terrified of reality right now. Bang on for you to actually do a podcast to counter your own anxiety. Bloody hell, there is no way I could do that. I will stick to knitting jumpers and socks for my kids 🤗

I do indeed use your podcasts as a means of helping my anxiety, amongst other things. I've already told you in another comment that I listen to your voice when I get to sleep (the ones I've heard already and enjoy revisiting) and while I do various kinds of work. One big thing for which the podcasts are excellent falls under the umbrella of the latter category; I have serious anxiety around leaving the house, and in the past that's at times become overwhelming to the point that I'm unable to leave the house at all. When I was younger I used drugs and alcohol of course, but of course that becomes a problem in its own right in time as it becomes less useful as a means of numbing the anxiety. At first, as I worked to become sober I found myself overwhelmed and incapable of coping with the world, at all. I couldn't continue therapy of any sort as in time I was less and less capable of leaving the house for any reason whatsoever. At worst I just stopped at all, nevermind the self care that was rendered impossible. I had to stop smoking simply because I couldn't go out to buy cigarettes, I lost a great deal of weight because I couldn't leave to get food and slowly ran out. At one point a determined counselor, who risked her job to come to me outside work hours, had a crisis center send someone out to evaluate me within my house, which no longer had power or water (I did use the hose faucet of my neighbors at night, as it was only a foot or two from my door) and that kindness and determination on her part likely saved my life. I haven't had such a bad episode since, but leaving the house is a trial at times and wearing headphones helps tons. Having something to which I can pay deep attention helps me forget or sublimate that fear. I have other coping mechanisms and support networks now, I'm a long way from where I have been in the past, but your episodes are a piece of one of my most commonly used (and most powerful) tools. I walk dogs for a living now, I have a small social group who know pretty intuitively when I need to be alone and when I need to be nudged out of my comfort zone. Small pieces create a life, and you are one of my little pieces. Horrorbabble does good versions of this author, if you'd like to listen yourself. That's another channel that's fantastic for all of my purposes, but Ian's voice really lends itself towards sleep moreso than your voice does. Thanks so much for the help you offer in my daily life without even realizing it. Your coping tool has lent itself well to my coping techniques, and I appreciate it deeply. I've said before, I can't afford to patronize you to the degree representative of the good you do for me.

Keep on taking care of you, Ben!!! Love your podcast!!! You Are a positive force! And I think you help more people than you realize!!! Keep up the great work! Bright Blessings ☮💜🌟🕉

Thank you so much for these videos ! Always fascinating. You are so kind for your brief introduction in this video. Hope all is well and sending you positive energy right back my friend.

Loved this - Thank you!

I love these stories and your delivery. Thank you for bringing them to a wider audience!

Hey Ben, sorry I've been such a stranger but my work schedule is nuts. I hope you're well and keep up the good work!!

You are conscientious, diverting, entertaining! Good on you! Thanks.

Just love Johnathan Millers adaptation of M R James' ' Whistle & I'll Come To You' . A big thankyou for yr work. We all really appreciate yr efforts Ben

🎊✨🎈🎊✨🎈🎊✨🎈🎊 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Dark Histories! You’re work is amazing, Ben!

Happy for you that your podcasts help you to feel better. They help us too. 😊 Kudos for your work.

I was already going through your catalogue as a fairly new subscriber, but just the other day I was thinking about 'The Mezzotint' and wanting to hear it and RU-vid recommended this. Must have been a 👻.

I listen to this on my pocket casts app, but there, I can't comment. This is one of the most professional, well-narrated, and produced podcasts on the Internet. I highly suggest listening to this gentleman's entire archive of podcasts on the free app.

MR James is definitely one of the best horror writers ever , There is one story he did called “ Whistle and I’ll come to you “.In the story a man discovers a Whistle in a graveyard with a Latin inscription “ who is this ? Who is coming “ and on either side of the inscription are two Swastikas .In the story of course the guy blows the whistle and is then followed by a presence . I found it interesting as obviously the swastika predates the Nazis as does his story - but MR James died during the Second World War ..

Thank you, I really appreciate your stories and how you present them, your voice is exceptionally relaxing, I hope you're well

Thanks for posting this Ben, Montague James is a great personal hero of mine.

Found these podcasts today...hooked already!

Thank you so much for your pod cast.

The BBC did a very good adaptation of the first story for Christmas 2021. They added a little sub plot, but its a pretty accurate adaptation.

Thank you Ben for all your wonderful stories ❣️

I am profoundly hard of hearing. It’s not always possible to find a speaker who I enjoy AND understand. You check both boxes. Maybe that’s an aspect of how you reach a person you hadn’t thought of. I do appreciate your channel.

Great episode...ty :)

I listen to you in the background while I play MMOs I really enjoy your videos!

excellent content

Great, so I should be ashamed. Your podcast does help me to sleep. I love listening to the Lord Lucan one. And I mean that in only the positive way

Hey brother I'm just now finding your podcast and I hope you're doing well over there across the Atlantic. In honestly happy to have found your podcast and I wonder if there's anything at all for me to help in some way or another to assist what you're doing aside from patreon, as this virus has robbed me in almost every facet as possible with the exceptions of health and love. I do have a rather large collection of plants that I've grown, harvested and extracting from these plants for over a decade and I have a great many books that I enjoy repairing and rebinding antique books with a many being focused on Mythology/folklore, mysticism, herbs, occult. and a good deal of good literature and many other subjects.Should you want me to elaborate further on anything that I have mentioned, you only need ask. Don't worry or hesitate if you're interested but fear that this is some kinda scam as I am not asking for money or something like that, I'm only hoping that I can do something that'll assist in ANY way whatsoever. One specific book that you might enjoy is an old book that goes into great detail of herbal formulas for various purposes, which I have used on many occasions and it allows one experience history been that allows us to reproduce medicine that have not been made since 1863! Pretty neat. I think that I can say on the behalf of everyone here thank you for helping us out during these brutal times

Still using podcasts on Christmas 2021 still lonely.

Ben, I love your work, and it is a bit of an escape for me. I binged every episode last year, and it helped me quit smoking. If I hadn’t spent Christmas with family, I’d still be smoke free. I plan to quit again this week, just FYI. I’m glad you found your work helpful. I understand, well, i should say, I can totally relate. I’d intended to email you ages ago about it when I heard you mention it a few years back. Ben@darkhistories? There was a Gmail a while back, I thought. Contact@darkhistoies? 🤷🏼‍♀️ is that just to you? Glad you plan not to discuss the “C-word”. Just a nasty word, but I do tend to use for the right people or occasions.😉 Take best care, Ben. Sending good vibes your way. 💨🦋 ✌🏼

Where you been Ben?!

I listen to m r James stories read by sir Michael hordern. Top work.

No problem. Carry on, Mate. Matter of fact, I've just spent a sleepless night and visited here for some solace. Maybe we should read you are story instead.

fifteen minutes later......

I dunno I prefer Blackwood over James....

Dreaded c word..conservtive cnuting gov.

One of my favourite authors, really enjoyed your narration👍you have an amazingly relaxing,easy to listen to voice, seems like your sitting here telling me the stories✊♥️