Haunted Studies: The Ghost Stories of M.R. James

Following the success of, M.R. James and the Modern Ghost Story, held at in March 2015, we are excited to announce a second one-day conference bringing together researchers with an interest in James’s fiction, assessing the significance of James’s ghost stories from a range of theoretical, literary and historical perspectives.

The ghost stories of Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) are amongst the most influential in the English language. Never out of print, they have been adapted numerous times for stage, screen and other media and their formal and thematic features have come to embody the very model of the traditional English ghost story. Although widely read and tremendously influential, his stories have only recently begun to attract detailed academic attention. Haunted Studies will bring together researchers, writers and others with an interest in James, in order to promote discussion and analysis of these tales and their place in late-Victorian and Edwardian literature and culture, from a wide variety of perspectives.

Confirmed Keynotes:

• Ramsey Campbell (Author)
• Jacqueline Simpson (Folklorist and former President of the Folklore Society)
• Andrew Smith (University of Sheffield)

The conference is organised by Dr Dewi Evans and Jane Mainley-Piddock and hosted by the Leeds Library.  Follow along at #mezzotweet

Registration for the conference will open in January 2016. Please see our Call for Papers for details of how to participate.