Хоуп Майо, Инге Дюпон «Morgan Library Ghost Stories»

A collection of seven original tales, plus an introduction by Hope Mayo—the results of a ghost-story writing competition, the conditions for which being that the stories be in the style of M.R. James, and that they be in some way related to the J. Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City. The connection with M.R. James is facilitated by the fact that James (from Cambridge) worked on the cataloguing of the large number of medieval manuscripts and early printed books from the years 1902-1907, before the collection made its way across the Atlantic.

The seven stories, one of which is in verse, were all written by people associated at some time with the Morgan Library, or who were then professional librarians at other institutions. As a result, it is not surprising that the stories, while mostly competent and amusing, are not particularly original or in any way outstanding. The most interesting item in the volume (outside of the excellent illustrations) is the “Introduction,” which tells the story of the beginnings of Morgan’s Library, and of M.R. James’s connection with it. We learn that Belle de la Costa Greene, who was for many years in charge of Morgan’s library, exchanged letters with James (some of which are quoted in the book). She was also a fan of James’s ghost stories, and even requested new ghost stories from his pen. In 1933, James wrote her that “I am afraid that the vein of ghost stories has run rather dry.” After James’s death, the manuscript of “A Warning to the Curious” was purchased and presented as a gift to the Morgan Library in 1942, where it remains to this day.

7 • Introduction (Morgan Library Ghost Stories) • (1990) • essay by Hope Mayo

19 • Old macgregor: a Tale of Hallowe'en • (1990) • short story by Rhoda Mansbach

33 • Lily Hodge • (1990) • short story by Herbert Cahoon

40 • Lex Talionis • (1990) • short story by J. Rigbie Turner

58 • The Ballad of the Belle • (1990) • short story by Mark Farrell

65 • The Clergyman's Bargain • (1990) • short story by Janet Ing Freeman

80 • Non Furtum Facies • (1990) • short story by Richard Priest

87 • Slide Lecture • (1990) • short story by Liran Ludeley

105 • Notes on the Contributors (Morgan Library Ghost Stories) • (1990) • essay by uncredited