The Turn of the Screw by Henry James Published by Penguin Group on 1898
Genres/Lists: Fiction, Classics, 1001 Books
Pages: 120
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Last week was gloomy and rainy, so I was in the mood for a good, short ghost story. I’m a big wuss when it comes to this genre, but Rory at Fourth Street Review assured me that, as far as horror goes, this one isn’t so bad. She’s right, although if I had seen this version of the cover before reading the book, I definitely wouldn’t have picked it up.
Despite its scant 120 pages, The Turn of the Screw is by no means a quick read. It’s been several years since I read Henry James and I forgot how long it takes to read his books. Regardless, it was a good one. The book centers around a woman (the narrator) who takes a job as governess to two young children, Miles and Flora, only to encounter ghostly evils that are trying to capture their attention. The problem is that the children are not only unafraid of the ghosts, they seem to want them around. This, of course, makes them susceptible to embracing the evil that is courting them.
This book is a classic, so I’m not going to write a lengthy review or analysis of the story, but I will say that it’s a great book to curl up with on a dark and stormy day. It’s a good, old-fashioned ghost story, complete with a sprawling estate and creepy children. Plus, it’s in the public domain and you can read it for free!
