Casting an Eye: M. R. James, at the edge of the frame

Citation

Brewster S (2012) Casting an Eye: M. R. James, at the edge of the frame. Gothic Studies, 14 (2), pp. 40-54. https://doi.org/10.7227/GS.14.2.4

Abstract
This article examines the effects of distracted sight, peripheral objects and hazily-perceived images in the ghost stories of M. R. James. It argues that the uncanny illumination produced by the accidental glance in his tales bears affinity with many Gothic narratives, including those of E. T. A. Hoffmann and Margaret Oliphant. James's work has often solicited only a casual look from critics, yet his exploration of the haunted edge of vision not only grants his work a hitherto neglected complexity, but also places him firmly within the Gothic tradition.

Keywords
Ghost story; Spectral vision; M. R. James; E. T. A. Hoffmann; Margaret Oliphant

Journal
Gothic Studies: Volume 14, Issue 2