Classic Review: THE TURN OF THE SCREW

Title: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, published originally in a 12-part serialization in Collier's Weekly Magazine, 27 January- 16 April 1898.

Book Beginnings quote: 

The story has held us, round the fire, sufficiently breathless but except the obvious remark that it was gruesome,  as on Christmas Eve in an old house a strange tale should essentially be, I remember no comment uttered till somebody happened to note it as the only case he had met in which such a visitation had fallen on a child.

Friday56 quote: 

I remained a while at the top of the stair, but with effect presently of understanding that why my visitor had gone, he had gone; then I returned to my room.

From Collier's Weekly 1889. Illustration by Eric Pape. Where the governess sees the ghost on the stair.

Summary: A group of friends spend Christmas Eve telling ghost stories. Douglas assures the group he has a scarier tale. Days later he assembles the group again this time to read out the account written by a woman who lived the detailed experiences.

The woman was hired to be a governess of two children. Her employer wanted nothing to do with their upbringing and she was NOT to contact him at all about decisions concerning the children. When she arrived at the estate, the governess (unnamed) meets Flora, one of her young charges, and Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper. Flora is a beautiful, delightful girl. Days later her brother, Miles, returns home from boarding school but not before a letter arrives from the school stating that Miles has been expelled and will never be allowed back. The governess expects a hellion but finds Miles to be delightful also. Both children are so good, it strikes her as odd. Are they too good?

 Man on the turret.
Collier's Weekly, Illustration: Eric Pape.

One day the governess sees a man standing on the turret of the manor house. Later she sees the same man looking in the window. When she described him to Mrs. Grose, the older lady knew knew the man but said he was dead.  After several more encounters with this ghost and another female ghost, the governess is certain the children are aware of them and the ghosts are trying to make contact not with her but when the kids. After many attempts of trying to save the children, Flora and the housekeeper leave the manor for London, leaving the governess and Miles alone in the house. She is sure she can save Miles, but can she?

Review: Henry James, writing in the late 1890s, was famous for big novels which were studies in psychology where his characters pondered deeply about abstract ideas. He dealt with the interiority or the workings of people's minds. Some of his critics complained he wrote too well.  If one were to think back on his career they wouldn't automatically think horror or ghost stories, but here is The Turn of the Screw, one of the most terrifying ghost stories of all time. And also one which spawned generations of books and movies about creepy, terrifying children. I don't watch many horror movies but I am aware of a few involving creepy kids: Linda Blair in The Exorcist, the twins in The Shining, the devil boy in The Omen, Children of the Corn, etc. Beware of the children!

 

My husband and I listened to the audiobook together. I am one of those people who gets frightened by horror stories so listening while we were in the car, in the middle of the day worked fine for me. I was glad for the listening company since we were able to discuss the nuanced scenes which didn't make sense to us. Both of us felt like there were some hidden themes just below the obvious ghost story and the idea of good vs. evil. Repression was at play here, for sure. Was there references to incest? What was the governesses relationship with the employer? Was there a fall from grace? The book is definitely multi-layered and complex which has no doubt led to its popularity over time and its classification as a "classic." One reader told me she tries to read it every year. I understand why. There is so much to this tale, I am sure a rereading is in order, maybe two. I bet it won't be the same story second time around.

My rating: 4 stars.

Most editions of The Turn of the Screw are 100-130 pages in length. A perfect number of pages for a novella. The audiobook was 5 hours in length.

-Anne