The Treasure of Abbot Thomas
Encyclopedia
"The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" is a ghost story by M.R. James, found in his book Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
. The original tale tells the story of Rev. Justin Somerton, a scholar of medieval history, who tells a rector the tale of how, while searching an abbey library he had stumbled across clues leading him the hidden treasure of a disgraced abbot.
strand by John Bowen
. It was first broadcast on 23 December 1974 at 11.35. The adaptation stars Michael Bryant
as Somerton, and it was directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
.
In creating his adaptation, Bowen changed a number of elements of M.R. James's story, such as including another character, Lord Peter Dattering (Paul Lavers) as Somerton's protégé, with whom he shares his investigation. The story is not told in flashback, and also includes a scene in which Somerton exposes two fraudulent medium
s, which acts as a demonstration of Somerton's rational approach to the supernatural.
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary is the title of M. R. James' first collection of ghost stories, published in 1904...
. The original tale tells the story of Rev. Justin Somerton, a scholar of medieval history, who tells a rector the tale of how, while searching an abbey library he had stumbled across clues leading him the hidden treasure of a disgraced abbot.
BBC adaptation
In 1974, the story was adapted as part the BBC's A Ghost Story for ChristmasA Ghost Story for Christmas
A Ghost Story for Christmas is a strand of annual British short television films originally broadcast on BBC One from 1971 to 1978, and later revived in 2005 on BBC Four. With one exception, the original instalments are directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark and the films are all shot on 16 mm...
strand by John Bowen
John Griffith Bowen
John Griffith Bowen is a British playwright and novelist. He was born in Calcutta, India, studied at the University of Oxford and worked in publishing, drama and television.-Novels:...
. It was first broadcast on 23 December 1974 at 11.35. The adaptation stars Michael Bryant
Michael Bryant (actor)
Michael Dennis Bryant was a British stage and television actor.-Biography:Bryant attended Battersea Grammar School and after service in the Merchant Navy and Army, he attended drama school and appeared in many productions on the London stage. He made his film debut in 1955...
as Somerton, and it was directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark is an English television director and producer, perhaps best known for his A Ghost Story for Christmas series of mostly M.R...
.
In creating his adaptation, Bowen changed a number of elements of M.R. James's story, such as including another character, Lord Peter Dattering (Paul Lavers) as Somerton's protégé, with whom he shares his investigation. The story is not told in flashback, and also includes a scene in which Somerton exposes two fraudulent medium
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
s, which acts as a demonstration of Somerton's rational approach to the supernatural.
External links
- A Warning to the Curious at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
.