The Haunting of Hill House (Penguin Classics)
The greatest haunted house story ever written, the inspiration for a 10-part Netflix series directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, and Timothy Hutton First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers--and soon it will choose one of them to make its own. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Community Reviews
Dr Montague, an occult scholar, is researching for a book on what are considered 'psychic disturbances'. He finds Hill House and upon renting it for the summer, invites guests who have had experiences with the occult at some point in their lives. We see everything unfold through the eyes of one of the invited, Eleanor Vance. What follows is a creeping feeling of dread and the feelings of being in a fever dream. Eleanor goes from firmly grounded in reality to not being able to identify what is real and what is not.
Erie and creepy but not necessarily scary. I would say that the creepiness and fever dream feel to most of the story fit in the horror genre but I don't personally consider this a scary book.
I read this first as a child, and I would definitely re-read this again at some point in the future.
"The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson is an exceptional masterpiece of psychological horror that continues to resonate with readers decades after its initial publication. With its atmospheric setting and masterful storytelling, Jackson weaves a tale that explores the depths of fear and the sinister presence that haunts the infamous Hill House. From the very first page, the novel immerses readers in an unsettling atmosphere, where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs.
One of the strengths of "The Haunting of Hill House" lies in Jackson's ability to create a sense of impending dread and unease. The eerie descriptions of the house, its architecture, and its haunted history evoke a chilling ambiance that lingers long after the book is closed. Jackson's prose is both elegant and haunting, with each sentence carefully crafted to heighten the tension and draw readers deeper into the story. The characters themselves are complex and relatable, and as the supernatural events unfold, their psychological unraveling becomes as fascinating as the mysteries of the house itself.
Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" is a timeless classic of the horror genre that has left an indelible mark on literature. It is a chilling exploration of the human psyche, filled with subtle terror and an unrelenting sense of dread. Jackson's ability to create an atmosphere of creeping horror and her masterful character development make this novel a must-read for any fan of the genre. With its unforgettable narrative and haunting imagery, "The Haunting of Hill House" remains a testament to Jackson's unmatched storytelling prowess.
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