Casting the Runes by M.R. James
The story revolves around a scholar who discovers an ancient manuscript containing magical runes. He becomes obsessed with deciphering their meaning and uses them to uncover dark secrets from the past. However, he soon realizes that the runes hold a malevolent power that threatens his own life.
By M.R. James · First published 1898 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Supernatural Fiction · 10,611 words
First lines
April 15th, 190- / Dear Sir, -- I am requested by the Council of the -- -- - Association to return to you the draft of a paper on "The Truth of Alchemy," which you have been good enough to offer to read at our forthcoming meeting, and to inform you that the Council do not see their way to including it in the programme.
I am,
What this Textopian page supports
Casting the Runes is listed on Textopian as a novel by M.R. James, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: M.R. James
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction
- Length: 10,611 words
- Structure: 1 section, 84 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Casting the Runes by M.R. James
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
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- The Golgotha Dancers by Manly Wade Wellman
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Genres
- Horror — The narrative explores themes of supernatural terror, psychological dread, and the unknown, characteristic of horror literature.
- Gothic Fiction — The story features elements typical of Gothic fiction, including a mysterious antagonist, a sense of foreboding, and settings that evoke a dark atmosphere.
- Supernatural Fiction — The plot revolves around supernatural occurrences, including curses and the manipulation of fate through arcane practices.
- Mystery — The narrative includes a mystery surrounding the protagonist's experiences and the enigmatic character of Karswell.
Tags
Supernatural Fiction · Horror Story · Occultism · Magic · Cursed Objects · Antiquarianism · Archaeology · Mystery · Suspense · Atmosphere of Dread · Isolated Setting · Old Manuscripts