Count Magnus (Fantasy and Horror Classics)
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An English traveler, Mr. Wraxall, finds himself irresistibly drawn to the history of the late Baron Magnus in a remote Swedish town. Researching into the nobleman's sinister legacy, he discovers whispered rumors of dark pacts and unholy pilgrimages.
Relentless curiosity leads him to the Baron's fortified mausoleum, which bears three mysterious padlocks. By prying too deeply into the Count's secrets and disturbing his final resting place, the traveler awakens not only the Baron himself but a terrifying, spectral attendant bound by ancient, infernal commitments.
From the mind of M. R. James, the acknowledged master who redefined the ghost story for the 20th century and founded the 'antiquarian ghost story' genre, comes a chilling tale of forbidden knowledge and infernal pacts.
This story is a quintessential example of James' genius for combining creeping dread with a shocking, monstrous climax. It is essential reading for fans of classic ghost stories and supernatural fiction, proving that some secrets are best left locked away forever.
M. R. James
M. R. James (1862–1936) is considered the father of the British ghost story. Before gaining fame as a fiction writer, James had a career as a respected scholar of the medieval period. With the release of his Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, James built a reputation in horror literature that has gone on to inspire greats such as H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and Stephen King. James later became provost of Eton College from 1918 until his death in 1936. He is buried in Eton.
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