Montague Rhodes James was an English medievalist scholar and author, best known for his ghost stories which are widely considered as the finest in English literature. Born on August 1, 1862, James served as provost of King's College, Cambridge from 1905 to 1918, and of Eton College from 1918 to 1936. He was also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge between 1913 and 1915.

James's ghost stories were initially read to friends and students at Eton and Cambridge as Christmas Eve entertainments. They gained wider attention through publications such as Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904), More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1911), A Thin Ghost and Others (1919), and A Warning to the Curious and Other Ghost Stories (1925). He published a further three stories before his death in 1936, and seven previously unpublished or unfinished stories appeared posthumously in collections.

James redefined the ghost story for a new century, abandoning formal Gothic clichés in favor of realism and dry humor, which provided a stark contrast to the supernatural elements. He is considered the originator of the "antiquarian ghost story" and "the Father of Folk Horror" due to his unique plot and character development drawing on ancient folklore and the rural landscapes of East Anglia.

His work remains influential, with many adaptations continuing into the 21st century, cementing his status as a pivotal figure in the genre of folk horror.