M.R. James (1862–1936) was a British scholar, medievalist, palaeographer, and Provost of King's College, Cambridge, renowned for revitalizing the ghost story genre with a refined and scholarly touch. His tales, often set in libraries, churches, or the English countryside, are celebrated for their suggestive atmosphere, restrained horror, and masterful storytelling. With Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, he launched a literary legacy that has profoundly influenced modern supernatural fiction.