Lost Hearts

A Short Horror from the Master of Ghost Stories

First published in 1895, 'Lost Hearts' is a classic paranormal tale written by M.R. James, an author considered to be the originator of the modern-age ghost story. Though popular in written form, his stories were in fact designed to be read out loud - something he would do every Christmas in his role as housemaster to young boys boarding at Eton school.

In this particular story we meet Stephen Elliott, a young orphan boy who is sent to stay with his much older cousin, Mr Abney, at a remote country mansion. His cousin is a reclusive alchemist, obsessed with making himself immortal. Stephen is repeatedly troubled by visions of a young gypsy girl and a travelling Italian boy, but what could they be trying to tell him?

Public Domain (P)2021 Acorn Classics