Two classic books of supernatural tales by masters of the genre
These two collections of supernatural short stories have been brought together in this special Leonaur edition because of their relatively small sizes and because each, in its way, has links to that great master of the academically inspired literature of the other worldly, M. R James. Swain's connection is quite straightforward-he knew and was a friend of James. They came from similar backgrounds, were academics and shared common interests-particularly concerning the church and its history. There can be little doubt that Swain was an ardent admirer of James' writing and while it is true that his own literary efforts are not in the class of the grand-master of the genre, to criticise him for that would be to forget that very few writers of supernatural tales have consistently risen to James' standard. Nonetheless, Swain's 'Stoneground Stories' are wonderfully charming. The principal character of these tales is, of course, based on Swain himself; he is a cleric whose benefice-like Swain's own at Stanground-sat close by the railway city of Peterborough in the English East Midlands. Those who relish a good ghost story will find much to enjoy in Swain's tales and little to regret. Cram was a renowned American architect by profession. He too was no stranger to the world of academia, since among many other important commissions of an ecclesiastical and collegiate nature he worked on the design for the military academy at West Point. Both these books are rare in their original editions and Leonaur has brought them together in this good value form so that enthusiasts may enjoy them.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.

Two classic books of supernatural tales by masters of the genre
These two collections of supernatural short stories have been brought together in this special Leonaur edition because of their relatively small sizes and because each, in its way, has links to that great master of the academically inspired literature of the other worldly, M. R James. Swain's connection is quite straightforward-he knew and was a friend of James. They came from similar backgrounds, were academics and shared common interests-particularly concerning the church and its history. There can be little doubt that Swain was an ardent admirer of James' writing and while it is true that his own literary efforts are not in the class of the grand-master of the genre, to criticise him for that would be to forget that very few writers of supernatural tales have consistently risen to James' standard. Nonetheless, Swain's 'Stoneground Stories' are wonderfully charming. The principal character of these tales is, of course, based on Swain himself; he is a cleric whose benefice-like Swain's own at Stanground-sat close by the railway city of Peterborough in the English East Midlands. Those who relish a good ghost story will find much to enjoy in Swain's tales and little to regret. Cram was a renowned American architect by profession. He too was no stranger to the world of academia, since among many other important commissions of an ecclesiastical and collegiate nature he worked on the design for the military academy at West Point. Both these books are rare in their original editions and Leonaur has brought them together in this good value form so that enthusiasts may enjoy them.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.

Ancestral Haunts collects two rare volumes of classic ghost stories: The Stoneground Ghost Tales (1912) by E. G. Swain, and Tedious Brief Tales of Granta and Gramarye (1919) by Arthur Gray, Master of Jesus College (Cambridge). These stories show the influence of M. R. James, but each author retains a distinctive voice and style, and both will be enjoyed by those who read classic supernatural tales.

CLASSIC EARLY HORROR IN THE STYLE OF MR JAMES BY A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE

"The Stoneground Ghost Tales" are an atmospheric collection of unsettling supernatural stories, first published in 1912 by E.G. Swain who had been chaplain of King's College, Cambridge, and was a colleague and friend of M.R. James. These charmingly ghoulish tales, written by Swain as a tribute to his friend, have been favourites of ghost story fans for many years. The nine tales, each narrated in the Jamesian manner, are, however, rather milder in tone and regularly incorporate a playful humour not often found in James' work. The stories are set in and around Stanground, on the edge of the Fens, where Swain was vicar for many years and recount the adventures of the genial, ghost-hunting rector Rev. Roland Batchel.

Who is the alluring young woman that appears, tearfully pleading, in Mr Batchel's study - only to disappear the very next minute, with no clue as to her purpose? Why is a previously unblemished photograph now displaying a man "with an indescribably horrible, suffering face"? Is it possible that a mirror could have "the power of retaining indefinitely the light which fell upon it"? And if so, what horrors might one see? And what might be the bloody repercussions of ignoring the warning, "MOVE NOT THIS STAKE" even after 200 years?

The answers to these and more eerie mysteries are to be found in Oleander's reprint of this classic horror text, "The Stoneground Ghost Tales" which, having been out of print for many years, are now available once more.

OTHER RARE, CLASSIC HORROR LITERATURE FROM OLEANDER RANDALLS ROUND by Eleanor Scott (Cut & Paste 9780900891953 to search)
THE HOLE OF THE PIT by Adrian Ross (Cut & Paste 9780900891861 to search)
TEDIOUS BRIEF TALES OF GRANTA AND GRAMARYE by INGULPHUS (Cut & Paste 9780906672860 to search)

The Stoneground Ghost Tales was first published in 1912 by Heffer & Sons of Cambridge. Its author, Edmund Gill Swain (1861-1938), was a cleric, antiquary and colleague of M.R.James. Swain was born in Stockport in Cheshire and was educated at Manchester Grammar School before reading Natural Sciences at Cambridge. After ordination in 1886, he was appointed Chaplain of King's College, Cambridge, and was one of the privileged few to enjoy the original readings of James's famous annual Christmas ghost stories.

In 1905, Swain became vicar of Stanground-now a suburb of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire-where he resided until 1916. This erstwhile parish is the thinly-disguised location of "Stoneground," where all of the tales in this volume are set.

The central character of The Stoneground Ghost Tales is the Rev. Roland Batchel, vicar of Stoneground. He is a gentle, avuncular protagonist who enjoys a slightly wry sense of humour, as befits an erudite, English minister of the cloth. The style and subject matter of his tales is similar to that of James's own stories. They are mildly unsettling tales, although they lack the malevolence that characterises those of James.

Reverend Roland Batchel is the kind amateur antiquarian working as the Rector of Stoneground in these nine ghost stories set at the edge of England's fen country. The style is reminiscent of the works of M.R. James, one of Swain's contemporaries.