Book

Author:	Shirley Jackson
Title:	The Haunting Of Hill House
Publisher:	Popular Library
Country:	USA
Date:	Jun 1962
Format:	Paperback
Genre:	Fiction, Horror
Cat#:	K6
Total Editions:	3
Rating:	Rate
Collection:	I Own It I Want It
Community:	1 Owns
Price Guide:	Valuation Page
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Notes

174 numbered pages.
176 total pages.

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Comments and Reviews


Magic Marmalade 19th Nov 2021		Rated 7/10 Houses don't get haunted... People do. I found the modern Penguin edition of this a couple of weeks back, so was pleased to finally read it at last... ...And I've got to say, it's an odd one. The basic set up (which most may know by now), is that a Doctor conducting a scientific experiment in the supernatural phenomena of "Hauntings" leases an old house with a reputation for such goings on, and then invites people to apply to come and stay there, to be the subjects / observers of this experiment. Other than the Doctor, and Luke, a relative of the family who owns the house, only Theodora, a bit of a flake, and Eleanor actually arrive. So there's only four of them in the house, along with the brief appearance of Mr. Dudley, the gatekeeper, who lets them in, and his wife Mrs. Dudley, who cleans, makes the meals, then clears out as fast as possible. (The doctor's wife - a pain in the arse who has delusions of spiritual sensitivity and expertise, and her rather stiff friend, a school headmaster, are the only other characters who appear in the book, and they arrive rather late in the proceedings) But mostly this is a story about Eleanor; A 35 year old single woman who has spent most of her life caring for her mother (recently deceased) and so she has had a rather cloistered life, and is pretty meek, and subservient, but is trying to break out after her mother's passing, and live a little - seek a little adventure, though she is very timid and afraid at doing so. The house, seems to single her out, and wants her for it's very own in some capacity, and the narrative focuses entirely on her point of view... we are privy to her thoughts, as well as words and actions, in a way we are not with the other characters. This is perhaps the most impressive element of this story, in how Shirley Jackson perceives, and captures that thing we all do, in thinking one thing, then immediately saying something else - frequently the opposite! How Eleanor thinks and feels about the others grows in diverging from what she says to them as the story progresses, and she begins to feel more herself, with her subservience and compliance conditioned into her over a lifetime ebbing away, and as the influence of the house begins to take hold, and act on these characteristics. And this is the odd thing, because while the house, and it's architecture are a real presence in the story, there's not actually much by way of actual haunting "Events" in it. ....There's no "beings", or manifestations that appear "in the flesh" so to speak, although the previous occupants / owners / residents are referred to and their stories told. So if you are looking to get creeped out / chilled or have the willies scared out of you, you probably won't get that here, in the way you might with say, a Stephen King Novel or a more modern horror / ghost story book. The haunting events don't get going until about two thirds of the way in, and are more pronounced, and cursory. No, this is more a character study of one lonely, lost young woman after she has lost whatever dissatisfying reason for living she once had, and trying to reach out into a new life, however strange... ...And it's about her baggage, guilt (?), and timidity. It might be said, she brought her own hauntings with her to the house. The story is startling in that it doesn't end in anything like the way you think it might, and like Shirley Jackson's brilliant description of the house itself, it's full of odd angles that don't add up, or make conventional sense... but it does catch in the mind, perhaps the more so, because of all this. The writing style is superb, cracking along, at times almost poetic, but quickly read. (I read this in two days - which is good by my standards >Mr. Snail Brain!!!< :) A very enjoyable, if tragic story. (this review is from another edition of this book) 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



ppint. 9th Feb 2020		that's a shame; it's a clever and remarkably effective example of hinting just enough threat. . . (this comment is from another edition of this book)



OldMod67 1st Feb 2020		No credit for cover art on rear either.... (this comment is from another edition of this book)



ppint. 31st Oct 2019		transworld publishers corgi books imprint first printing, not first uk p/b edition cover art appears to be a photograph of a diorama (unsigned, at least on front) cover price 65p, $1.90 australia, $2.15 new zealand 192pp. including titles, indicia etc, end pp. advertising this edition should evidently be re-flagged "international", according to respected moderator's rule. - or not so re-flagged, according to equally well-respected moderator's heartfelt plea (this comment is from another edition of this book)



OldMod67 30th Oct 2019		Cover price 65p (UK) $1.90 (Australia) $2.15 (New Zealand) (this comment is from another edition of this book)



ppint. 17th Jul 2019		cover art uncredited, unsigned treated photographic cover price 2'6 192pp. including titles, indicia etc, end pp. (this comment is from another edition of this book)

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Other Editions

Book

Shirley Jackson - The Haunting Of Hill House - Four Square - Paperback - UK (1963)

Book

Shirley Jackson - The Haunting Of Hill House - Corgi Books - Paperback - UK - 0552103896 (1977)