Count Magnus by M.R. James (1892)
The story revolves around a Swedish count who died under mysterious circumstances and whose portrait hangs in an old church. The protagonist visits the church and becomes obsessed with the count's history, eventually uncovering dark secrets about his past. As he delves deeper into the mystery, supernatural events begin to occur, threatening his sanity and life.
By M.R. James · First published 1892 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery · 6,184 words
First lines
By what means the papers out of which I have made a connected story came into my hands is the last point which the reader will learn from these pages. But it is necessary to prefix to my extracts from them a statement of the form in which I possess them.
What this Textopian page supports
Count Magnus is listed on Textopian as a short story by M.R. James, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: M.R. James
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 6,184 words
- Structure: 1 section, 59 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Count Magnus 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Count Magnus?
- How does this short story by M.R. James fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Oh Whistle And Ill Come To You My Lad by M. R. James
- A View From A Hill by M. R. James
- Mr Humphreys And His Inheritance by M. R. James
- The Wyvern Mystery by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- My Aunt Margarets Adventure by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- The Banshee by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Genres
- Horror — The narrative contains supernatural elements, suspense, and a sense of dread, typical of horror literature.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting features a manor house, a mausoleum, and themes of decay and the macabre, characteristic of Gothic literature.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around uncovering secrets related to Count Magnus and the mysterious events surrounding him.
- Supernatural Fiction — The story includes supernatural occurrences and explores themes of the occult and alchemy.
Tags
Gothic Fiction · Horror · Supernatural · Ghost Story · Mystery · Atmosphere of Dread · Isolated Setting · Old House · Dark History · Forbidden Knowledge · Curse · Malevolent Spirit