Thanks for subscribing for updates about The Haunted Archive: The Annotated Ghost Story Manuscripts of M.R. James. Today, we want to give you a sneak peak of the rewards we will be offering when our Kickstarter campaign goes live tomrorow (Thursday 16 April 2026) at 5pmn UK time…

But first – be sure to follow the project on Kickstarter now so you are automatically notified when the campaign opens.

So what can you expect from the Kickstarter?

For a start, there’s the book – a beautiful limited edition hardback, restricted to 300 signed and numbered copies.

Volume 1: ‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’

• Foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning book critic and Washington Post columnist, Michael Dirda
• Beautiful cover art by celebrated Jamesian illustrator, Sarah Coomer
• New illustrations by artist Robert Hack, especially commissioned and exclusive to this volume
• The full autograph manuscript of M.R. James’s story, revealing his writing process, and reproduced courtesy of King’s School, Canterbury
• Trancription of the manuscript, with emendations noted 
• High quality reproductions of the three ‘Oh, Whistle’ illustrations by James McBryde, including his early draft, reproduced courtesy of King’s College, Cambridge 
• The complete text of the first appearance of the tale in Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904), with annotations from leading Jamesian scholars including Rosemary Pardoe, Darryl Jones, James Machin, Roger Luckhurst and Robert Lloyd Parry
• Extended commentary on many aspects of the story and the manuscript including the origins of the publication, television adaptations and the supernatural stories of the manuscript’s owner, Hugh Walpole.

Those who pledge and provide their name will be added to the printed list of subscribers. The book will be available for £45.

We also have two extras that can bought, aside from the book or bundled with it.

First, we’re pleased to offer a set of 6 exclusive art cards (6×8”) featuring the four new illustrations for the book by Robert Hack, plus the two famous illustrations by James McBryde. All six have been mastered from the original artwork. The art card pack will be available for £20.

And, for those brave enough, we have something a little recherché – a whistle engraved with FUR FLA FLE BIS, rendered from the artwork in the first printing (shown below on a later edition!). Manufactured by ACME Whistles in the United Kingdom, the 3” metal whistle is modelled on the Victorian Metropolitan Police whistle and finished as antique brass. The whistle is also available for £20.

(Please note, this is not a toy. Crumpled Linen Press is not liable for any visitations you may receive upon using this item.)

The book, art cards and whistle can be purchased separately or as a bundle for a discount.

What’s more, those who pledge in the first 24 hours of the campaign, will be able to access an Early Bird offer with a further discount, while stocks last. Be sure to select the rewards labelled [Early Bird].

We launch tomorrow (Thursday 16 April 2026) at 5pm UK time. Register at Kickstarter (bit.ly/OhWhistle) to be notified when the campaign is live and check your inbox for updates. And please help us out by spreading the word about the Haunted Archive.

With very best wishes

Mark and Paul