Join Mike & Will as they delve into Brian Blessed’s beard, the truth of alchemy, diabolical magic lantern shows and class war in the first of our two-part extravaganza on M.R. James’s chilling story ‘Casting the Runes’!
Our reader for this episode is Mr Torion Bowles.
Show notes:
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In this episode Mike & Will whip out their library cards and prepare to crack the spine of ‘The Tractate Middoth’ by M.R. James.
Questions addressed in this episode include: Does Mr Eldred like MC Hammer? Did Sir Jimmy Saville make a pact with the devil? Is Miss Simpson a slamming hotty or merely a comely wench? And is it even politically correct to call someone a wench in this day and age?
Show Notes:
- The Lost Will of Dr Rant (1951) (archive.org)
This American television version of ‘The Tractate Middoth’ was part of the ‘Lights Out’ mystery series, and stars none other than a young Leslie Nielson!
- Cambridge University Library (cam.ac.uk)
The real world location of this story was the university library at Cambridge, though the current library is no longer housed in the same building as it was in James’s time.
- Bredfield, Suffolk (googlemaps)
The likely real-world location of Dr Rant/Mr Eldred’s house, Bredfield in Suffolk. Note Melton station about three miles to the south east (or shorter if you go across country!).
- E.W. Pugin (1834 – 1875) (Wikipedia)
Information on E.W. Pugin, who may or may not be linked to this story.
- The Real Tractate Middoth (google books)
More information on the real book can be read in ‘A history of the Mishnaic law of Holy Things, Volume 2’, available on Google Books.
- Squire Toby’s Will by J. Sheridan le Fanu (horrormasters.com)
The plot of this story by M.R. James’s favourite author of ghost stories bares some resemblance to the plot of ‘The Tractate Middoth’.
- Piccadilly Weepers and More (oook.info)
Information on Piccadilly/Dundreary Weepers and other fabulous contemporary facial hair styles can be found here.
- Tractate Middoth Postcard & Bookmark (Ghosts & Scholars)
- Burial of William McKenzie (forteantimes.com)
Liverpool architect and builder William McKenzie (1794 – 1851) was supposedly buried sitting up in a pyramid-shaped tomb to trick the devil, to whom he had sold his soul in exchange for luck at cards.
- Burial of Sir Jimmy Saville (telegraph.co.uk)
We were slightly mistaken in the podcast, Sir Jimmy Saville was not buried sitting up but propped up at a 45 degree angle so he could ‘see the sea’!
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In this episode Will & Mike experience the horticultural horror of M.R. James’s ‘The Rose Garden’. Thanks to Kirsty Woodfield who was our reader for this episode.
Show notes:
- Popish Plot Playing Cards (BritishMuseum.org)
Having trouble getting your head around the popish plot? Why not invest in a pack of Popish Plot Playing Cards! Alas hundreds of years out of print. The Seven of Hearts is the one of Edward Coleman being ‘drawn’ to his execution behind a horse, and the Six of Diamonds is also particularly gruesome.
- M.R. James’s Women by David G. Rowlands (Ghosts & Scholars)
This essay looks at the small selection of women who appear in James’s work, including ‘The Rose Garden’s Mrs Anstruther.
- “The Rules of Folklore” in the Ghost Stories of M.R. James by Jacqueline Simpson
Landmarks and Shrieking Ghosts by Jacqueline Simpson
An excellent pair of essays originally published in Ghosts & Scholars that drew our attention to the influence of Danish and Suffolk folklore on ‘The Rose Garden’.
- Weald Country Park, Essex (Wikipedia)
The site of the former Weald Hall, residence of the terrible Sir William Scroggs and the possible real-world ‘Westfield Hall’. The hall fell into disrepair and was pulled down after world war II but the park can still be visited and looks like a nice day out!
- Victims of the Popish Plot (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia provides a brief rundown of those accused during the popish plot. Play special attention to Sir William Scroggs, Oliver Plunkett and Edward Colman!
- The Head of Oliver Plunkett (Wikipedia)
As mentioned in this episode, popish plot victim Oliver Plunkett’s head is on display in Drogheda, Ireland. A possible inspiration for the strange face in ‘The Rose Garden’?
- Proceedings against Sir William Scroggs (on Google Books)
Cobbett’s Complete Collection of State Trials features a transcript of the indictment against Sir William Scroggs that makes very interesting (and frequently humorous) reading.
- Gaude, Gaudy, Domini in Laude by Roger Johnson
The essay that drew my attention to Weald Hall was featured in the Ghosts & Scholars Newsletter 15, not available online but an incentive (if more were needed) to subscribe to this foremost Jamesian news source.
- Eastscapes: Doggerland
Photographic work by friend of the podcast and M.R. James fan David Senior will be on display at the House Gallery in Camberwell, London from the 15-22nd March 2012 as part of his collaboration with artists Misa Tamura and Dan Howse.
Errata: Since recording we have been informed that the correct term is ‘Hanged’ rather than ‘Hung’. Could we be arsed to go back and re-record? We could not.
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