The Experiment

by M.R. James

The Experiment is short story by M. R. James which was published in the Morning Post on New Years day of 1931, subtitled "A New Year's Eve Ghost Story".

Genres: Short Stories, Horror

30 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 1931

About the author

Montague Rhodes James, who used the publication name M.R. James, was a noted English mediaeval scholar & provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–18) & of Eton College (1918–36). He's best remembered for his ghost stories which are widely regarded as among the finest in English literature. One of James' 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, replacing them with more realistic contemporary settings.

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

M.R.^James

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

First printed in London’s The Morning Chronicle on December 31, 1931, “The Experiment: a Christmas Eve Ghost Story” is the second last of Jame’s stories to be published during his lifetime, and—although it is a pleasant diversion—it is not particularly memorable or important.

It tells of a widow, and her son by a previous marriage, who conduct a supernatural experiment following the recent unexpected death of her husband, an experiment that eventually brings about unfortunate consequences for the both of them. I’ll leave the story itself to you, of course, but I will reprint in its entirety the “recipe” for the experiment itself which James appends to his story.

Bishop Moore’s book of recipes is now in the University Library at Cambridge, marked Dd 11, 45, and on the leaf numbered 144 this is written:

“An experiment most ofte proved true, to find out tresure hidden in the ground, theft, manslaughter, or anie other thynge. Go to the grave of a ded man, and three tymes call hym by his nam at the hed of the grave, and say. Thou, N., N., N., I coniure the, I require the, and I charge the, by thi Christendome that thou takest leave of the Lord Raffael and Nares and then askest leave this night to come and tell me trewlie of the tresure that lyith hid in such a place. Then take of the earth of the grave at the dead bodyes hed and knitt it in a lynnen clothe and put itt under thi right eare and sleape theruppon: and wheresoever thou lyest or slepest, that night he will com and tell thee trewlie in waking or sleping.”

[Joy-Marie Karahkwiio 🍉 Canadian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly wasn’t a fan, I feel bad for not enjoying it the way others have/do.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The story begins with the sudden death of a wealthy landowner named Francis Bowles. Squire Bowles' estate is inherited by his widow. She and Joseph Calvert, her son from a previous marriage, are unable to find any cash that belonged to Squire Bowles and conclude that he must have hidden his money somewhere. While searching through his stepfather's papers for clues to where he might have buried his treasure, Joseph Calvert discovers that Francis Bowles believed that it was possible for the living to summon the spirits of the recently deceased and force them to answer questions. Although Squire Bowles warned in his writings that the experience would most likely be an unpleasant one, Joseph Calvert carries out 'the experiment' himself." https://literature.fandom.com/wiki/Th...

[Nekrotikk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Experiment by M. R. James

Originally I wrote this review thinking about the collected works of M. R. James. I use it here because although this story didn't appear in a collected edition of his work in his lifetime it does have the same style and quality as his other stories and I read it along with them.

M. R. James was a master of his craft so his ghost stories have influenced many authors and filmmakers. Each of his short stories evokes the most vivid images even though James tends to limit his descriptions, allowing the imagination of the reader to run wild. A lot has changed since James wrote these stories, but the ghosts can still scare. Imagine putting the book down and seeing a shape close by, not too dissimilar to the one you'd just read about... Did an entity from the mind of M. R. James find its way into this world..? Or perhaps, after all, it was nothing more than a shadow.

I love M. R. James and tend to read his ghost stories every year around Halloween.

[John Yelverton · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mother and son, in a fit of wanton greed, dabble in a supernatural experiment which leads to their doom.

[Pablo Enrique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ghostly tale unfolds with an old-fashioned charm, weaving period dialogue and subtle suspense into a quiet but compelling narrative. The atmosphere is tinged with mystery—death, hidden wealth, and a whispered presence lurking just out of sight—and its characters speak in a style that feels both authentic and absorbing. The language is what truly stands out, delivering a rhythmic elegance that pulls you into the story’s era as easily as it reveals unsettling secrets.

While the plot remains fairly straightforward, its simplicity doesn’t diminish the story’s pleasure. Instead, it allows the tension to build naturally, keeping readers curious about what lies just beneath the surface. Though not especially frightening, the unfolding events provide a pleasant shiver, creating the sense that something faintly otherworldly is pressing at the edges of the page. For anyone who appreciates a classic, well-told ghost story with rich period flavor, this one offers a neatly crafted, engaging read.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great short story about an experiment that caught two murderers. A wonderful setup and surprising ending. One of the better tales, wonderfully narrated.

[Forked Radish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skeletal. Intriguing, but lacking exposition.

[Red Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unexpected treat of a James ghost story not in his collected works! And this one is a classic, quiet doozy, with real shades of Count Magnus but more (or more modern) murder.

[Tobias Nilsson]

From The Great Library of Dreams

[Thomas Houghton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst by no means my favourite M.R. James short story - this is still an intriguing tale about a mother and son’s desperate journey to find the riches supposedly left to them after the death of her husband (the boy’s stepfather).

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A New Year's Eve ghost story. A squire suddenly dies leaving behind his widow and her son. Not one of my favorite James stories, but it is okay. This can be found in many compilations as well as in the podcast Classic Ghost Stories, narrated by Tony Walker.