The Diary of Mr. Poynter
A middle-aged man inherits a diary from his great-uncle, who had been a clergyman at a rural church. The diary contains cryptic entries that hint at a dark event in the past involving a local family and a mysterious figure known only as "The Stranger." As the narrator reads on, he becomes increasingly unsettled by the events described, which seem to be connected to his own life.
By M.R. James · First published 1903 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery · 5,327 words
First lines
The saleroom of an old and famous firm of book auctioneers in London is, of course, a great meeting-place for collectors, librarians, dealers: not only when an auction is in progress, but perhaps even more notably when books that are coming on for sale are upon view. It was in such a saleroom that the remarkable series of events began which were detailed to me not many months ago by the person whom they principally affected, namely, Mr. James Denton, M. A., F. S. A., etc., etc., some time of Trinity Hall, now, or lately, of Rendcomb Manor in the county of Warwick.
What this Textopian page supports
The Diary of Mr. Poynter is listed on Textopian as a novel by M.R. James, dated 1903 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: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 5,327 words
- Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Diary of Mr. Poynter 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 The Diary of Mr. Poynter?
- How does this novel by M.R. James fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A View From A Hill by M. R. James
- Number 13 by M. R. James
- Mr Humphreys And His Inheritance by M. R. James
- The Tractate Middoth by M. R. James
- The Uncommon Prayer Book by M. R. James
- Martins Close by M. R. James
Genres
- Horror — The story contains elements of supernatural terror and psychological suspense, culminating in a frightening encounter.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting and themes evoke a sense of decay, mystery, and the uncanny, typical of Gothic literature.
- Mystery — The narrative revolves around the discovery of a diary and the secrets it holds, creating an atmosphere of intrigue.
- Historical Fiction — The diary's content reflects historical events and figures, grounding the story in a specific time period.
Tags
Supernatural Fiction · Ghost Story · Horror · Mystery · Short Story Collection · Classic Literature · English Gothic · Haunted House · Paranormal Activity · Psychological Thriller · Atmospheric Setting · Isolated Location