M. R. James 
The Wanderings and Homes of Manuscripts (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) 

Published in 1919, this volume is a change of pace from an author best known for his classic ghost stories.  It is a history of the transmission of manuscripts from one area, culture, or age, to another.  The author’s moral:  ‘Be inquisitive.  See books for yourself; do not trust that the cataloguer has told you everything.’  

Circa l’autore

Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936), better known as M. R. James, was an English medieval scholar who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential ghost story writers. He replaced the gothic staples with contemporary, realistic settings. Notable collections include Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904), More Ghost Stories (1911), A Thin Ghost and Others (1919), and A Warning to the Curious (1925).  His stories have often been adapted for radio and the stage.