In this episode, Mike and Will share their thoughts on Mark Gatiss’s recent TV adaptation of M.R. James’s The Mezzotint.

Join us for some monocle-popping, mustache-bristling, spine-chilling fun!

Show notes

• A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Mezzotint (BBC iPlayer)
  Mark Gatiss’s adaptation is available to watch on BBC iPlayer for the next 11 months.
• Episode 3 – The Mezzotint (this very podcast)
  We dedicated a whole episode to the original story all the way back in October 2011! Fast forward to 31:30 to hear Will’s alternative ending suggestion that bears an uncanny resemblance to the plot alterations made in the Mark Gatiss adaptation!
• Interview with Mark Gatiss (Evolution of Horror Podcast)
  The excellent Evolution of Horror podcast recently featured an interview with Mark Gatiss talking about making The Mezzotint.

The image that accompanied this episode includes elements of ‘Mycroft Holmes post stamp‘ by iMontage (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), ‘Abbey Manor House‘ by David Luther Thomas (CC BY-SA 2.0) and ‘Picture frame‘ by Sailko (CC BY 3.0).

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Ho ho, and indeed ho! In this special festive episode, Mike and Will pull on their wellies and wander straight into Lucky’s Grove by H.R. Wakefield. But who’s that hiding behind the Christmas tree?

Big thanks to Julia Morgan for allowing us to use extracts from her excellent Youtube reading of this story.

Show notes:

• The Clock Strikes Twelve (Ash Tree Press)
  If you want to read this story, your best bet is to pick up the Ash Tree Press ebook of The Clock Strikes Twelve, the H.R. Wakefield collection that contains this story.
• H.R. Wakefield (Wikipedia)
  You can read some biographical information about Wakefield himself on Wikipedia.
• The Edda (Wikipedia)
  The quote that starts this story is liberally adapted by Wakefield from part of these 11th-century Icelandic works.
• The Folk Horror of H.R. Wakefield (whenchuchyardsyawn)
  This excellent article by Jason Lineham analyses both Lucky’s Grove and another Wakefield tale called the The First Sheaf from a modern folk horror perspective.
• The Disney wolf (Wikipedia)
  The intimidating wolf that adorns one of the Christmas lights was presumably based on the wolf from the Disney short film Three Little Pigs (1933). He does look a bit intimidating actually!

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This episode Mike and Will grab their torches and disappear up ‘The Tudor Chimney’ by A.N.L. Munby. But what is that shape moving up above? Meh, it’s probably nothing.

Thanks to Debbie Wedge for providing the readings for this episode!

In this episode, we also mention Will’s new project DarkOxfordshire.co.uk, which explores the darker side of Oxfordshire’s history, including ghosts, legends, murders and mayhem!

Story notes:

• The Tudor Chimney by A.N.L. Munby (Archive.org)
  Contrary to what we say in the episode, this story can in fact be read online for free! Thanks to Zach Forn for sharing the link with us.
• The Alabaster Hand by A.N.L. Munby (Sundial Press)
  Munby’s only volume of ghost stories is currently out of print and consequently rather hard to get hold of unless you have very deep pockets. However, Sundial Press are due to publish an affordably priced paperback to follow their recent hardback edition very soon.
• A.N.L. Munby book collector, academic and ghost story writer (jot101.com)
  This article republishes an article written in tribute to Munby that was published in 1975, a year after Munby’s death, and contains some entertaining details about his life and personality.
• The story location (Google Maps)
  In the story, Munby describes the location of the hall as being located between Lambourn and Wantage. The villages of Letcombe Bassett and Letcombe Regis seem likely candidates. Other locations that may have provided inspiration include Crowsley Park and Lambourn Place (check out those chimneys!)

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