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  • The Tractate Middoth

  • By: M. R. James
  • Narrated by: David Suchet
  • Length: 42 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (386 ratings)

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The Tractate Middoth cover art

The Tractate Middoth

By: M. R. James
Narrated by: David Suchet
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Summary

A young librarian receives a request for an obscure Hebrew book from a sinister gentleman, unaware of its contents. 

Montague Rhodes James was a noted British mediaeval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918) and of Eton College (1918–1936). He is best remembered for his ghost stories which are widely regarded as among the finest in English literature. 

One of James's most important achievements was to redefine the ghost story for the new century by dispensing with many of the formal Gothic trappings of his predecessors, and replacing them with more realistic contemporary settings. 

'Montague Rhodes James has an intelligent and scientific knowledge of human nerves and feelings; and knows just how to apportion statement, imagery, and subtle suggestions in order to secure the best results with his readers.' HP Lovecraft. 

Actor David Suchet is best known for his definitive portrayal of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective created by the legendary mystery author Agatha Christie, in a number of international television productions. He narrates his story in Poirot and Me

©1911 M. R. James (P)2013 Audible Ltd

What listeners say about The Tractate Middoth

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Ghost story typical of the 19th genre

Would you listen to The Tractate Middoth again? Why?

Possibly, if i had a little time to kill. Nothing in the story to warrant a rereading but classical stye writing and a good reading would stand repeating ( Since the book is well under an hour long)

If you’ve listened to books by M. R. James before, how does this one compare?

Read several of the authors shorts, this one is very typical. I wonder why they are published as seperate books rather than as a collection - i have five and in total they do not add up to even a short novel, under four hours.

What does David Suchet bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Suchet is unobtrusive, i read to myself unobtrusively ergo . . .

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Necessary to listen to in one reading due to it nature and length

Any additional comments?

Good classic style writing and fine reading. Very typical of the genre and the other stories by James. This review to be attached to each of the other short stories by the autor, vis a vis their reviews to this. Ah.. had they be published as a collection i would only have to write one!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

not engaging enough

5 stars for David Suchet reading, but the story really didn't hold my interest enough.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb Story

David Suchet is a superb actor. His reading of this story was fantastic. He reads it with enthusiasm. I love his use of good characters voices. It is a short tale with much sinister content. I loved the reading.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Didn't chill

Would you try another book written by M. R. James or narrated by David Suchet?

Yes. It was bit-sized at less than n hour and the story was okay if really quite nt up to modern "spook" tastes.

Would you ever listen to anything by M. R. James again?

Yes. I bought several at Christmas but I'll only try 1 more if its as tame as this one.

Did David Suchet do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Yes, very good. He reads well and has a voice tha's easy to listen to.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Em
  • 29-12-13

LIGHT ON FRIGHTS, BUT WORTH A LISTEN

What did you like best about The Tractate Middoth? What did you like least?

The Tractate Middoth is one of the least scary of M. R. James's tales and it's to David Suchet's credit that he has resisted the temptation to ham it up. His precise, understated delivery ensures that such disquieting moments as the story has do not leap out at the listener but slide insidiously into his or her mind.Only the burst of music at the start of this recording strikes the wrong note. It's neither eerie nor ominous - just irritating!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A classic story!

This is one of my favourite M.R.James stories. And I thoroughly enjoyed David Suchet's narration of it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Author, great Narrator

I love M. R. James’ ghostly tales from start to finish. Although I already have James’ Collected Ghost Stories on Audible, I’d buy the collection again, without the slightest hesitation, if they were read by David.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Tractate Middoth by M R James.

Another absolutely fantastic reading by the wonderful David Suchet. Can’t get enough of these brilliant old ghost stories.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Em
  • 04-12-22

Perfect

I adore David Suchet- he brings this, and all the others in this series of M.R James stories to life superbly. Perfect entertainment for dark winter evenings!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Well read

Wonderful narration but the story was slightly weak in comparison,, not my favourite M R James offering

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