Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Casting the Runes  By  cover art

Casting the Runes

By: M. R. James
Narrated by: David Suchet
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $1.43

Buy for $1.43

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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

What listeners say about Casting the Runes

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    319
  • 4 Stars
    105
  • 3 Stars
    47
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    357
  • 4 Stars
    56
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    273
  • 4 Stars
    95
  • 3 Stars
    50
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Suchet does M.R. James so well

I think i have five different versions of M.R. James stories, each with a different read. I love Derek Jacobi. But David Suchet really nailed this and the other James stories on Audible. I heard things in the stories i had not heard before.

This story was the basis of the excellent B horror flick from the 1950s, Curse of the Demon (Night of the Demon) with Dana Andrews. Really suspenseful film with decent effects for the time. Love the short story more. Has an academic air. I guess James was an Oxford (?) don. Comes thru. But he is a master of psychological horror. Can see how he might have influenced Lovecraft.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Supernatural fun

Short, not graphic, mildly creepy, great narrator. For fans of English Goths or Victorian atmosphere. Fun! Made cleaning kitchen cabinets entertaining, and you can't beat that!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just Deserts

This is my favorite story and the first that introduced me to MR James the author. I had an audio drama from the BBC called the Conception of Terror, tales based on MR James. It was a collection of some of tales updated for the modern era. Casting the Runes was the first and my favorite. It was a treat to read and listen to the original, superbly performed by thespian David Suchet. Still packs a punch.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enigmatic but interesting

Once I looked up the word "runes", I was able to get the gist of this enigmatic story. Not the easiest plot to follow, but David Suchet excels in conveying the darkness and suspense of the tale.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

excellent narration, story ok

Excellent narration. I don't think the story is one of James' best. towards the end it was a little hard to follow. and the ending didn't seem to flow well with the beginning.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Best M. R. James. Ever

I saw this in the theater about 60 years ago and it was as good as this story. If you want a very good read this is it.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Extremely unmemorable

performance was great and lovely to listen to... but after literally just finishing this 5 minutes ago... I don't remember the story. I don't remember character names or the plot or why any of the action was so important...which is not what you want in a story. The narrator was excellent, but absolutely nothing about the story itself stayed with me. I'm glad this was one I got for free.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story mildly scary

The narrator made the story
MR James, what a great find so far all his stories have been excellent

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully executed foray into horror

I’m a huge fan of Jacques Tourneur’s “Night of the Demon” (1957) and finally decided to visit the source of his finest film. CASTING THE RUNES is everything I hoped it would be. David Suchet’s performance is beautifully executed, one of the most evocative examples of “theater of the mind” that I’ve experienced. The story is brilliantly concise, and subtly horrifying. A literary masterpiece.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Casting The Runes

This was one of the best and scariest stories I have ever heard. Short and sweet. Narrator was perfect. Will have to listen to more of this author. Anyone who has seen the movie “Curse/Night of the Demon will have an extra interest in listening to this. Loved it.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!