The Treasure of Abbot Thomas
| "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" | |
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| Author | M.R. James |
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Horror short story |
| "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" | |
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| A Ghost Story for Christmas episode | |
Title screen
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 4 |
| Directed by | Lawrence Gordon Clark |
| Written by |
M. R. James (story) John Bowen (adaptation) |
| Original air date | 23 December 1974 |
"The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" is a ghost story written by M.R. James. It was published in his book Ghost Stories of an Antiquary.
The tale tells the story of Rev. Justin Somerton, a scholar of Medieval history, who tells a rector the frightening tale of how, while searching an abbey library, he found clues leading him to the hidden treasure of a disgraced abbot.
In 1974, the story was adapted as part the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas 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 mediums, which acts as a demonstration of Somerton's rational approach to the supernatural.
A parody, written by Stephen Sheridan and named 'The Teeth of Abbot Thomas' was made for radio broadcast.
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