The Treasure of Abbot Thomas
A young man inherits a property from an uncle he never knew and discovers a treasure hidden by Abbot Thomas, a medieval abbot who was said to have been murdered. The story revolves around the discovery of the treasure and its consequences for the protagonist.
By M.R. James · First published 1904 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Gothic Fiction · 3 chapters · 8,770 words
First lines
"Verum usque in presentem diem multa garriunt inter se Canonici de abscondito quodam istius Abbatis Thome thesauro, quem sepe, quanquam adhuc incassum, quesiverunt Steinfeldenses. Ipsum enim Thomam adhuc florida in etate existentem ingentem auri massam circa monasterium defodisse perhibent; de quo multoties interrogatus ubi esset, cum risu respondere solitus erat: ‘Job, Johannes, et Zacharias vel vobis vel posteris indicabunt'; idemque aliquando adiicere se inventuris minime invisurum. Inter alia huius Abbatis opera, hoc memoria precipue dignum iudico quod fenestram magnam in orientali parte ale australis in ecclesia sua imaginibus optime in vitro depictis impleverit: id quod et ipsius effigies et insignia ibidem posita demonstrant. Domum quoque Abbatialem fere totam restauravit: puteo in atrio ipsius effosso et lapidibus marmoreis pulchre celatis exornato. Decessit autem, morte aliquantulum subitanea perculsus, etatis sue anno lxxiido, incarnationis vero Dominice mdxxixo."
What this Textopian page supports
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is listed on Textopian as a novel by M.R. James, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Gothic Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 8,770 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 81 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Treasure of Abbot Thomas 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Treasure of Abbot Thomas?
- How does this novel by M.R. James fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The story contains elements of fear, suspense, and the supernatural, particularly surrounding the hidden treasure and the mysterious guardian.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around the investigation of a hidden treasure, involving cryptography and clues that lead to its discovery.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting includes an abbey with a dark history, contributing to the eerie atmosphere typical of Gothic literature.
- Supernatural Fiction — The presence of enigmatic figures and the supernatural implications of the treasure's guardian align with supernatural themes.
Tags
Supernatural Fiction · Ghost Story · Horror · Mystery · Historical Fiction · English Literature · Short Story Collection · Classic Horror · Haunted House · Cursed Treasure · Medieval Setting · Monastic Life