Lost Hearts by M.R. James
Lost Hearts relates the tale of an orphaned boy taken in by an elderly cousin. He begins to experience strange encounters in the night while the rest of the household is sleeping.
M.R. James looking stern, but a trifle bemused.
Born in Kent, England in 1862, James grew up in Suffolk, residing in a rectory with his father, a clergyman, and family. Plagued by nightmares from a young age, James was tantalized by a cardboard figure, called The Ghost, from a toy Punch and Judy set and this particular character made frequent appearances in his dreams. James had a notable career as a don, but is chiefly remembered for his ghost stories, which influenced many later generations of writers.
For more about James’s life and his writing, visit this Wikipedia page.
Narration and music for Lost Hearts was created by David Purcell.
“If any of [my stories] succeed in causing their readers to feel pleasantly uncomfortable when walking along a solitary road at nightfall, or sitting over a dying fire in the small hours, my purpose in writing them will have been attained.”