# Mr. Edward Dunning — Short Fiction character guide

> Mr. Edward Dunning in Short Fiction by M. R. James.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Edward, Mr. Dunning, Dunning

**First appearance:** 0014-casting-the-runes

## Snapshot

A comfortable, well-read scholar who becomes the unwitting target of an alchemist's grudge after dismissing a paper as hopeless.

## Who they are

Dunning is the man in England who knows about these things, which is precisely why the Secretary's committee sent Karswell's rejected paper to him. He has hobbies, a comfortable home, and no idea that his expert verdict has made him the object of a wealthy neighbor's unforgiving anger. When Karswell's attention fixes on him, Dunning's orderly scholarly life becomes the arena for a quiet, escalating campaign of occult menace.

## In the story

### [Casting the Runes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_35_se/chapters/casting-the-runes)

The protagonist who rejected Karswell's paper; returns home from the British Museum unaware of Karswell's discovery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_35_se/characters/mr_dunning
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_35_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_35_se/characters