E.G. Swain was Vicar of Stanground in East Anglia, and a friend of M.R. James. In 1912 he published a collection of stories featuring the Revd Mr Batchel, a mild-mannered clergyman who is constantly running across supernatural happenings in his parish. These charming ghost stories, written by Swain as a tribute to his friend Monty James, have been favourites of ghost story fans for many years. The Introduction to this volume is by Cardinal Cox, and Jack Adrian supplies an amusing tailpiece, which recounts a great Swain ‘find’ he once had (and which is reproduced in the book). There is also a reprint of the lengthy obituary of Swain which appeared in the Peterborough Advertiser on 3 February 1938. The front cover illustration is by Rachel Crittenden.