The Mezzotint Fantasy And Horror Classics

M. R. James was born in Kent, England in 1862. James came to writing fiction relatively late, not publishing his first collection of short stories - Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904) - until the age of 42. Modern scholars now see James as having redefined the ghost story for the 20th century and he is seen as the founder of the 'antiquarian ghost story'. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions with a brand new introductory biography of the author.

A classic ghost tale by M R James. A ghoulish revenge is enacted within a work of art, before the helpless eyes of a museum curator in Oxford.

Many of the earliest ghost stories, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Seabury Quinn was one of the most popular pulp authors of the early 20th century. Set in the aftermath of the Salem Witch Trials, 'Is the Devil a Gentleman?' is one of his best tales. Many of the demonic and thriller stories, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

The Return of the Ritual is an enthralling short story that follows the savvy Sherlock Holmes-type character Dr Taverner and his unassuming assistant as they hunt for a stolen manuscript – the type of which, if found in the wrong hands, could have catastrophic consequences for humanity. After Dr Taverner receives a telepathic lead on the misuse of the ancient ritual, he and his assistant Dr Rhodes set out on an adventure to track down the stolen manuscript and save the world from ruin. But will they track down the missing ritual and prevail? First published in 1926, this story by Dion Fortune forms part of a more extensive collection of scary detective stories based around the eccentric character, Dr Taverner. Taverner runs a nursing home where the occupants are far from ordinary, with vampires, shapeshifters, telepaths and bloodhounds as residents. With her fiction deeply rooted in the esoteric sciences, Dion Fortune has created a world unlike no other, directly influenced by her personal beliefs and experiences with occultism. Republished by Fantasy and Horror Classics as a short story in its own right, this fantasy and horror classic is a must-read for lovers of occultist literature, and those interested in classic mysteries and crime fiction.

Many of the horror stories of monsters and ghouls, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This early work by E. T. A. Hoffmann was originally published in the 19th century. Born in Königsberg, East Prussia in 1776, Hoffmann's family were all jurists, and during his youth he was initially encouraged to pursue a career in law. However, in his late teens Hoffman became increasingly interested in literature and philosophy, and spent much of his time reading German classicists and attending lectures by, amongst others, Immanuel Kant. Hoffman went on to produce a great range of both literary and musical works. Probably Hoffman's most well-known story, produced in 1816, is 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King', due to the fact that - some seventy-six years later - it inspired Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. In the same vein, his story 'The Sandman' provided both the inspiration for Léo Delibes's ballet Coppélia, and the basis for a highly influential essay by Sigmund Freud, called 'The Uncanny'. (Indeed, Freud referred to Hoffman as the "unrivalled master of the uncanny in literature.") Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions.

M. R. James was born in Kent, England in 1862. James came to writing fiction relatively late, not publishing his first collection of short stories – Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904) – until the age of 42. Modern scholars now see James as having redefined the ghost story for the 20th century and he is seen as the founder of the 'antiquarian ghost story'. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions with a brand new introductory biography of the author.