The Ash Tree Audiobook By M. R. James cover art

The Ash Tree

Preview

The Ash Tree

By: M. R. James
Narrated by: David Suchet
Listen for free

About this listen

The tale of a man who unwittingly angers a sorcerer, who is assumed by some Monty scholars to be based on the self-styled 'Great Beast,' occultist Aleister Crowley.

Montague Rhodes James was a noted British mediaeval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918) and of Eton College (1918–1936). He is best remembered for his ghost stories which are widely regarded as among the finest in English literature.

One of James's most important achievements was to redefine the ghost story for the new century by dispensing with many of the formal Gothic trappings of his predecessors, and replacing them with more realistic contemporary settings.

'Montague Rhodes James has an intelligent and scientific knowledge of human nerves and feelings; and knows just how to apportion statement, imagery, and subtle suggestions in order to secure the best results with his readers.' HP Lovecraft.

Actor David Suchet is best known for his definitive portrayal of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective created by the legendary mystery author Agatha Christie, in a number of international television productions. He narrates his story in Poirot and Me.

©1904 M. R. James (P)2013 Audible Ltd
Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Horror Scary Fantasy Short Stories
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_T1_webcro805_stickypopup
Eerie Story • Captivating Narrative • Creepy Tale • Classic Ghost Story • Enjoyable Storyline • Excellent Voice Acting
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Short story written by one of the masters!
I’ve always enjoyed M.R. James and his craft for writing books in a Victorian style.
These treasured authors of old are invaluable.
The story is interesting, and the performance was excellent.

Masterfully written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Interesting story. the narrator is very good as well, he had the perfect voice for it.

Very good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I'm a huge fan of M.R. James, and enjoy hearing various interpretations of his work.
David Suchet is a wonderful actor and does a credible job with this creepy story.
Take a risk.. tune in and feel the chills.

Another spooky treatise from the master

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I love Suchet’s work as Poirot, but this was the first time I’d heard him narrate literature. Spectacular performance, as expected. This was also my first taste of M.R. James. I liked this story and will read more.

A Great Classic Ghost Story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Old time scary story that is very short but has a big impact. Enjoyable story

The spooky tree

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is one of my favorite MR James stories. The Ash Tree is a classic tale of horror. This edition is superbly narrated by David Suchet. He only narrated a few of James’ tales, but this was one and a treat for the ears is indeed. I wish he’d done all of them. He and Derek Jacobi’s readings are superb.

Superbly Narrated Spooky Tale

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Great story, amazing narrator, I will definitely look for more stories. Short story but captivating and interesting

Great narrator

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The lost art of the short story can be discovered here. A tale told in such a compact rich narrative is a thing to be treasured. Enjoy.

outstanding short story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

As someone who enjoys a good ghost story, I found this one eerie. a must-listen for anyone into classic horror

classic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The narrator was superb as always.
MR James never fails to create a captivating story.

Wonderful performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews