Mr Humphreys and His Inheritance

by M.R. James

"Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance" by Montague Rhodes James. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, Gothic, Paranormal

46 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1911

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 5 out of 5]

“Mr. Humphrey’s Inheritance” is the final story in M.R. James’ second collection, More Ghost Stories, and it was also the last tale composed (written specifically to fatten the book). It is James’ longest story, and one of his most difficult—I had almost said most “disagreeable.” It does not welcome the reader in, with a shy smile, like an old Oxford provost on Christmas Eve reading ghost stories by the fire. No, instead it withholds things the reader would like to know, offers clues that reveal little of importance, display apparent red herrings that are never explained, and holds at its core a defiant, intractable mystery: a maze—an actual maze, a garden maze—which is explored, but never explained. In this it more closely resembles the later stories in James' next book, A Thin Ghost and Others (1919), James' most distant and chilliest collection.

It begins in a familiar fashion, with young Mr. Humphrey’s coming down to the country to examine an estate he had recently acquired upon the death of a Mr. James Wilson, an uncle whom he never knew. He is met at the train station by Mr. Cooper, the estate manager, a source of valuable information and assorted malapropisms, from whom he learns that the estate, along with a house and other things, contains, a garden surrounding a “temple of friendship” and maze containing a mysterious celestial globe—a maze Uncle James kept locked up from everyone. Above the gate is the following inscription: Secretum meum mihi et filis domus maeae ("This secret belongs to me and the sons of my house").

Then, of course, Mr. Humphreys endeavors to solve the mystery of the maze. Only he never quite solves it. Instead he uncovers misfortune, and injury, and mysterious fragments of a story that never quite reveals itself.

Thus it ends, one of M.R. James most disturbing and inconclusive tales. And there would be more like it soon, published in A Thin Ghost and Others (1914), James’ most unsettling (and darkest) collection of tales.

I will conclude with an excerpt from a 17th century collection of sermons that Mr. Humphreys discovers in his uncle’s library one evening, in which the old preacher tells the tale of a young man who tells his companion of how he entered a Labyrinth in order to find a precious jewel:

[A]t first, while the Sun was bright, he went merrily on, and without any Difficulty reached the Heart of the Labyrinth and got the Jewel, and so set out on his way back rejoycing: but as the Night fell, wherein all the Beasts of the Forest do move, he begun to be sensible of some Creature keeping Pace with him and, as he thought, peering and looking upon him from the next Alley to that he was in; and that when he should stop, this Companion should stop also, which put him in some Disorder of his Spirits. And, indeed, as the Darkness increas’d, it seemed to him that there was more than one, and, it might be, even a whole Band of such Followers: at least so he judg’d by the Rustling and Cracking that they kept among the Thickets; besides that there would be at a Time a Sound of Whispering, which seem’d to import a Conference among them. But in regard of who they were or what Form they were of, he would not be persuaded to say what he thought. Upon his Hearers asking him what the Cries were which they heard in the Night (as was observ’d above) he gave them this Account: That about Midnight (so far as he could judge) he heard his Name call’d from a long way off, and he would have been sworn it was his Brother that so call’d him. So he stood still and hilloo’d at the Pitch of his Voice, and he suppos’d that the Echo, or the Noyse of his Shouting, disguis’d for the Moment any lesser sound; because, when there fell a Stillness again, he distinguish’d a Trampling (not loud) of running Feet coming very close behind him, wherewith he was so daunted that himself set off to run, and that he continued till the Dawn broke. Sometimes when his Breath fail’d him, he would cast himself flat on his Face, and hope that his Pursuers might over-run him in the Darkness, but at such a Time they would regularly make a Pause, and he could hear them pant and snuff as it had been a Hound at Fault: which wrought in him so extream an Horrour of mind, that he would be forc’d to betake himself again to turning and doubling, if by any Means he might throw them off the Scent. And, as if this Exertion was in itself not terrible enough, he had before him the constant Fear of falling into some Pit or Trap, of which he had heard, and indeed seen with his own Eyes that there were several, some at the sides and other in the Midst of the Alleys. So that in fine (he said) a more dreadful Night was never spent by Mortal Creature than that he had endur’d in that Labyrinth; and not that Jewel which he had in his Wallet, nor the richest that was ever brought out of the Indies, could be a sufficient Recompence to him for the Pains he had suffered.

[Shaelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday I bought audible credits on a splurge, I very rarely do this. I then spent the entire day today listening to everything but what I picked out, I think it's a subconscious way of trying to prolong the'opening of my presents' make it last longer, I don't know, but as a result I listened to several very short stories that aren't necessarily in my typical mystery genre. This was a great listen on YouTube. There's several versions I guess mine was perfectly narrated but I love British narration. The story was great even though I'm normally not into supernatural stories I really enjoyed this, if it had been longer perhaps I wouldn't have as much but the length was perfect. It was strangely, a good comfort read on a cold, overcast early Saturday morning.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised to see that I had formerly rated this one only two stars. I mean, sure, it’s nothing amazing. But there is also plenty to enjoy, especially with James playing around with the idea of a haunted maze - a particular household feature of the wealthy from a bygone era which has a lot of obvious creepy potential. I guess, the last time I read it, I was just going through a little M.R. James fatigue or something. Or maybe it was just that time of the month for me, I don’t know …

Either way, three stars is a more just and honest rating. No more of that two-star shit, you miserable bastard.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a man who inherits an estate which includes a haunted maze, and the havoc that comes from it.

[SHANE ELLIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see a lot of people saying this story is not 'scary'. I think that is purely down to imagination. Those with a powerful imagination, who can picture themselves there in the maze all alone with the dawning sunlight will feel eerie. Those who have somewhat weaker imaginations will scoff, toss the story aside and pillory it.
I love this story. There are enough clues within the pages for you to work out its meaning. For those who are confused, I recommend reading again and again. There is a plot, I assure you, and a very good one at that.
I, personally, found the story very eerie in places - particularly the sense of being watched in the maze, the fact hats mysteriously move when left in certain places, the fact Mr Humphreys could navigate the yew paths so easily while others found it near impossible, Mr Humphrey’s suspicion that something had crawled through his window and was crawling on the floor. And, of course, the fact one of the trees seemed to move at night.
This is one of my favorite stories from James and I implore anyone who scratched their chins at the end and dismissed it for 'not being scary' or 'having no plot' to re-read it, many times if need be, and piece together the clues.
Truly brilliant.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Humphreys inherits a large country house with spacious gardens from an uncle, Mr. Wilson, whom he had never met or communicated with in any way. On the estate is a yew maze of circular form that has been securely locked up for decades. A Latin inscription above the entrance to the maze speaks of a secret and translated reads "My secret is for me and the sons of my house."

In the middle of the maze is a strange copper globe on a stone pillar with odd names and figures on it and something like a yew tree seen about.

When Humphreys opens the maze strange happenings occur.

[Lynsey Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last MR James for today me thinks.

And a bit of a disappointment to end on, although an enjoyable enough story it’s not really about anything, and is not at all a ghost story or in anyway scary. It is all very character based and there is a lot of build up for not a very big climax.

Very high brow this one, lots of latin and literary referenced which I enjoyed but still this left me feeling a bit meh.

Still, I’d quite like a house with a maze please.

[April Helms · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a "spooky light" story. I can see this being turned into a family-friendly creepy story to enjoy on Halloween. It's a lot of fun. The story centers on Mr. Humphreys, who has found himself the beneficiary of a large estate from an uncle he never met. It seems like a fantastic inheritance. The house is lovely, the people kind and hard-working, and the grounds spectacular. But of particular interest is a strange maze, which doesn't behave like mazes should.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an account of one of the ghost stories of M R James. A bit long and quite wordy, this particular tale was a bit harder to follow. Many of the Latin phrases were not translated and the very long build up to a too short event was a bit of a let down. Narration was excellent. Not one of my favorites.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this a part of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary part 2. The best of the seven novellas in the novella with the haunting and horror from the maze but all is will the ends will. Enjoy reading 2022

[Vidhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having high hopes for this novella (a haunted maze!!) I was sorely let down. An unfinished ending, the last two pages left me bewildered, confused, and unsatisfied. I will acquiesce, the set up was amazing leading me to really set the bar high for this horror story.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a man inherits his late uncle's house it also comes with a padlocked maze in the garden which holds within horrors! No Spoilers but I do recommend this one for Gothic fans!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very interesting story involving an inherited property which includes a hedge maze.

[Sascha Nolte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Labyrinth des Todes. Äußert gelungen, auch wenn ich diesmal nicht alle verstörenden Elemente im eigenen verrottenden Schädel zusammen bekommen habe …

[Tony Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

If someone can explain what happens at the end of this story, kindly send me a DM.

Mr. Humphreys inherits a house in the English countryside. The house includes an overgrown hedge maze -- think The Shining (the movie, not the book) -- which proves difficult to find your way out of if you wander in after dark. Hilarity ensues.

As is frequently the case with James, the best moments here are the often amusing social interactions between Humphreys and the townsfolk he encounters (in particular the realtor, or solicitor, or whoever the Hell he is, put in charge of helping Humphreys get settled in his new estate).

In the end a rather confusing and ambiguous story, but well-told.

[Per · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/james-hum...

The story was adapted for television as part of the ITV Schools educational strand in 1976 and is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUUzM...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Hump...

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 19th-century horror short story set in England.