The Tractate Middoth — M.R. James / Montague Rhodes James

From the mind of M. R. James, the acknowledged master who redefined the ghost story for the 20th century and founded the 'antiquarian ghost story' genre, comes a chilling tale where academic rivalry uncovers a terrifying spectral curse.

A young, unassuming librarian is tasked with locating a specific, obscure book known as the Tractate Middoth for a wealthy, peculiar client. The request draws him into a convoluted plot involving a bizarre will, an immense inheritance, and a relentless legal quest. Soon, the librarian realises the text is guarded not just by legal documents but by a grotesque, spirit figure whose elongated form and terrifying visage appear in the shadows of the library stacks. The pursuit of the ancient text becomes a frantic, chilling struggle for survival against a highly malevolent guardian.

This story is a quintessential example of James' genius for combining scholarly investigation with palpable creeping dread. It is essential reading for fans of classic ghost stories and supernatural fiction, proving that some knowledge is eternally cursed.