MR James: Ghost Writer

Mark Gatiss, a fan of MR James presents this documentary of an author better known for his ghost stories.

However James was more than that. He was from a devout Anglican family who became an Academic at Cambridge University.

Apart from his ghost stories, he had great insight in Biblical writings and a medievalist.

Gatiss has the advantage of using excerpts from television adaptations of James's works. We have contributions from Jonathan Miller who directed the well known Whistle and I'll Come to You and Lawrence Gordon Clark who directed several of his stories.

It seems James has more than a life of a dusty Victorian academic. He was a passionate man with a tender platonic friendship with ex pupil James McBryde who illustrated some of James works.

Gatiss is the right man to present this insight. He is a self confessed fan of MR James's writings but makes sure it is not a hagiography.