Below a particular ancient ash-tree centuries ago, a woman was executed for witchcraft. The tree now stands outside a room where the present owner of the estate finds himself in increasing peril.
A vengeful infestation of a terrifying, unnatural kind begins to breed and manifest in the branches outside, acting as a macabre, living extension of the curse. The horrifying presence serves as a visceral reminder that some acts of injustice are never truly over.
From the mind of M. R. James, the acknowledged master who redefined the ghost story for the 20th century and founded the 'antiquarian ghost story' genre, comes a chilling tale where the sins of the past take root in the present.
This story is a quintessential example of James' genius for combining creeping dread with unsettling, visceral horror. It is essential reading for fans of classic ghost stories and supernatural fiction, proving that some curses are carried by the very land itself.