Stephen Sheridan's drama has the master of the ghost story M.R. James describing an incident in his life 'far more substantial than a work of fiction.' James is taking a break at a remote house in Cornwall. But the owner is keeping a lamp burning all night and is obviously terrified. The moral of the tale was that we should be careful how we acquire secondhand books
M.R James - the master of the English ghost story, and celebrated Provost of King's College Cambridge - explains to a Christmas gathering of friends and undergraduates how he first became interested in the supernatural. He tells the tale of an ancient cabbalistic text that dooms the family and associates of a Cornish bibliophile. What terrible secret lies hidden in the library at Cranleigh Hall, and why is old Uncle Magnus so afraid of the night?
Dawlish....James Durrant
Dr de Lacey....David Collings
Henry Gilbert....Charles Simpson
Landlord....Trevor Nichols
Lincoln....Alex Hutchinson
M.R James....John Rowe
Mrs Turner....Jean Trend
Uncle Jagnus....john Evitts
Young James....Jonathan Keeble