The Mezzotint — M.R. James / Montague Rhodes James

A museum curator acquires a beautiful print of an English country house. However, he soon discovers the print is far from static: over several nights, the image subtly shifts and changes. It begins to reveal a chilling sequence of night scenes, slowly recording a long-ago crime and the ominous approach of a a ghost. The curator and his colleagues watch in growing terror as the image details a horrific plan that culminates in a final act.

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 of art that refuses to be static.

This story is a quintessential example of James' genius for building creeping dread around everyday objects, making it essential reading for fans of classic ghost stories and supernatural fiction, proving that history's darkest moments can be forever captured (and replayed) in the most unexpected places.