Most Popular Books by Shirley Jackson

Red and yellow and pink and blue. She likes brown. Do you? * Sharing a story or rhyme for only 10 minutes each day helps your child to enjoy practising his reading. * Books 1-8 of Read with Ladybird will help children who are just starting to learn to read. * You can be confident that practising at home with Read with Ladybird will support work done at school.

Loop the loop, climb to the top... Hold on tight, it''s about to drop! * Sharing a story or rhyme for only 10 minutes each day helps your child to enjoy practising her reading. * Books 1-8 of Read with Ladybird will help children who are just starting to learn to read. * You can be confident that practising at home with Read with Ladybird will support work done at school.

Welcome to the maddest salon in town, where every day is a bad hair day! * You can help your child to practise his reading by spending 10 minutes a day sharing short stories and simple rhymes. * Books 9-16 of Read with Ladybird are ideal for children who are in the early stages of learning to read. * You can be confident that practising at home with Read with Ladybird will support work done at school.

This reader for 4 to 5 year olds comprises 3 stories and a rhyme which cover a comprehensive selection of material to help build the foundation of successful reading.

The main purpose of the present volume is to set forth the evidence for believing in the historical reality of Jesus'' existence upon earth. By way of approach, the characteristic features of more recent opinion regarding the historical Jesus have been surveyed, and, on the other hand, the views of those who deny his existence have been examined in detail. The negative arguments have been carefully analyzed in order accurately to comprehend the problem. - Preface.

“Jackson at her best: plumbing the extraordinary from the depths of mid-twentieth-century common. [Just an Ordinary Day] is a gift to a new generation.”—San Francisco Chronicle Acclaimed in her own time for her short story “The Lottery” and her novel The Haunting of Hill House—classics ranking with the work of Edgar Allan Poe—Shirley Jackson blazed a path for contemporary writers with her explorations of evil, madness, and cruelty. Soon after her untimely death in 1965, Jackson’s children discovered a treasure trove of previously unpublished and uncollected stories, many of which are brought together in this remarkable collection. Here are tales of torment, psychological aberration, and the macabre, as well as those that display her lighter touch with humorous scenes of domestic life. Reflecting the range and complexity of Jackson’s talent, Just an Ordinary Day reaffirms her enduring influence and celebrates her singular voice, rich with magic and resonance. Praise for Shirley Jackson “[Jackson’s] work exerts an enduring spell.”—Joyce Carol Oates “Shirley Jackson’s stories are among the most terrifying ever written.”—Donna Tartt “An amazing writer . . . If you haven’t read [Jackson] you have missed out on something marvelous.”—Neil Gaiman “Shirley Jackson is unparalleled as a leader in the field of beautifully written, quiet, cumulative shudders.”—Dorothy Parker “An author who not only writes beautifully but who knows what there is, in this world, to be scared of.”—Francine Prose “The world of Shirley Jackson is eerie and unforgettable.”—A. M. Homes “Jackson enjoyed notoriety and commercial success within her lifetime, and yet it still hardly seems like enough for a writer so singular. When I meet readers and other writers of my generation, I find that mentioning her is like uttering a holy name.”—Victor LaValle

Vier Menschen betreten die alte Villa, die als Hill House bekannt ist. Sie wollen die übernatürlichen Phänomene, die sich angeblich darin ereignen, untersuchen. Die vier werden etwas Böses erleben, das sich ihrer Kontrolle und ihrem Verstand entzieht. Sie können unmöglich wissen, dass sie von dem Haus selbst angelockt wurden und welche bösen Pläne es verfolgt ... Das Meisterwerk der ''Queen of Horror'', der wichtigsten Autorin unheimlicher Literatur und Vorbild für Stephen King und viele andere Autoren. Neil Gaiman: ''Was das wirklich Unheimliche betrifft, überragt Shirley Jacksons SPUK IN HILL HOUSE alle anderen Romane. Eine erstaunliche Autorin. Wenn du sie nicht gelesen hast, hast du etwas Wunderbares verpasst.'' Donna Tartt: ''Shirley Jacksons Geschichten gehören zu den schauerlichsten, die je geschrieben wurden.'' Joyce Carol Oates: ''Shirley Jackson ist eine dieser höchst eigenwilligen, unnachahmlichen Schriftstellerinnen, deren Werke einen bleibenden Zauber ausüben.'' Stephen King: ''Einer der wirklich großen unheimlichen Romane der vergangenen hundert Jahre.'' FESTA MUST READ: Große Erzähler ohne Tabus. Muss man gelesen haben. Shirley Jackson ist die ''Queen of Horror'', die wichtigste Autorin unheimlicher Literatur und literarisches Vorbild für Stephen King, Neil Gaiman und viele andere Autoren. Shirley Jackson wurde 1916 in Kalifornien geboren. Als der New Yorker 1948 ihre Kurzgeschichte ?The Lottery? veröffentlichte, waren viele Leser so entsetzt, dass sie ihre Abonnements kündigten und Hassbriefe sendeten. The Union of South Africa verbot die Veröffentlichung dieser Geschichte sogar. Inzwischen gilt sie als eine der berühmtesten Erzählungen Amerikas. Ihre dunklen, brillanten Romane haben viele Autoren beeinflusst. The Haunting of Hill House und We Have Always Lived in the Castle sind ihre Meisterwerke. Shirley Jackson starb 1965. Stephen King: ''The Haunting of Hill House ist einer der wirklich großen, unheimlichen Romane der vergangenen hundert Jahre.''

Chiunque abbia visto qualche film del terrore con al centro una costruzione abitata da sinistre presenze si sarà trovato a chiedersi almeno una volta perché le vittime di turno (giovani coppie, gruppi di studenti, scrittori alla vana ricerca di ispirazione) non optino, prima che sia troppo tardi, per la soluzione più semplice – e cioè non escano dalla stessa porta dalla quale sono entrati, allontanandosi senza voltarsi indietro. Bene, a tale domanda, meno oziosa di quanto potrebbe parere, questo romanzo di Shirley Jackson – il suo più noto – fornisce una risposta, forse la prima. Non è infatti la fragile, sola, indifesa Eleanor Vance a scegliere la Casa, dilatando l’esperimento paranormale in cui l’ha coinvolta l’inquietante professor Montague molto oltre i suoi presunti limiti. È piuttosto la Casa – con la sua torre buia, le porte che sembrano aprirsi da sole, le improvvise folate di gelo – a scegliere, per sempre, Eleanor Vance. E a imprigionare insieme a lei il lettore, che tenterà invano di fuggire da una costruzione romanzesca senza crepe, in cui – come ha scritto il più celebre discepolo della Jackson, Stephen King – «ogni svolta porta dritta in un vicolo buio». "L’incubo di Hill House" è apparso per la prima volta nel 1959.

Elizabeth Richmond ha ventitré anni, i tratti insieme eleganti e anonimi di una «vera gentildonna» della provincia americana, e non sembra avere altri progetti che quello di aspettare «la propria dipartita stando il meno male possibile». Sotto un’ingannevole tranquillità, infatti, si agita in lei un disagio allarmante che si traduce in ricorrenti emicranie, vertigini e strane amnesie. Un disagio a lungo senza nome, finché un medico geniale e ostinato, il dottor Wright, dopo aver sottoposto la giovane a lunghe sedute ipnotiche, rivelerà la presenza di tre personalità sovrapposte e conflittuali: oltre alla stessa Elizabeth, l’amabile e socievole Beth e il suo «negativo» fotografico Betsy, «maschera crudele e deforme» che vorrebbe fagocitare e distruggere – con il suo «sorriso laido e grossolano» e i suoi modi sadici, insolenti e volgari – le altre due. È solo l’inizio di un inabissamento che assomiglierà, più a che un percorso clinico coronato da un «successo» terapeutico, a una discesa amorale e spietata nelle battaglie angosciose di un Io diviso, apparentemente impossibile da ricomporre; tanto che dopo la comparsa di una quarta personalità, Bess, il dottor Wright sentirà scosse le fondamenta non solo della sua dottrina, ma della sua stessa visione del rapporto tra l’identità e la realtà.

The Christians'' Bible is rich in miracles. Supernaturalism runs like a scarlet thread through the whole book from Genesis to Revelation. For centuries this phenomenon was contemplated with entire satisfaction by both laity and clergy. But in modern times a different way of thinking has been gaining favor. Many a Christian today passes hastily over the miracle stories in the Scriptures and dwells with greater satisfaction on the less spectacular portrayal of men''s moral ideals and spiritual struggles abundantly recorded in his sacred book. One whose inclinations move in this direction may sometimes feel at a loss to account for the prominence of the miraculous in Hebrew religion, and more particularly in early Christianity. Why did the advocates of the new religion concern themselves so extensively with the imagery of supernaturalism? To answer this question is the purpose of the present volume. -- preface.

Último romance publicado pela autora, Sempre Vivemos no Castelo é considerado uma obra fundamental da literatura norte-americana. Considerado pela crítica uma das obras-primas da literatura norte-americana, Sempre Vivemos no Castelo narra a história da extravagante família Blackwood — ou do que dela restou, após a morte por envenenamento de quase todos os seus elementos à mesa de jantar. Constance, uma das filhas, é ilibada do crime, passando a viver isolada na grande casa da família, longe da hostilidade dos habitantes da cidade. Com ela vivem o seu tio inválido, o gato Jonas e a sua irmã, Merricat, uma adolescente ingénua e invulgar que acredita em lobisomens, no poder dos objectos e em palavras mágicas, e que tudo fará para preservar este pequeno e estranho mundo. Essa frágil harmonia, contudo, é subitamente rompida com a chegada do primo Charles. Na sua presença, os terríveis acontecimentos do passado voltarão para assombrar os Blackwood, revelando a sua verdadeira face. Tradução do inglês de Maria João Freire de Andrade Os elogios da crítica: « Sempre Vivemos no Castelo é uma memorável dramatização da agorafobia levada ao extremo.» Rogério Casanova, LER «Shirley Jackson foi das que melhor cultivaram este regresso a um terror que se serve de início tépido e que vai aquecendo muito lentamente.» Rui Lagartinho, Time Out «Os seus romances deixaram uma marca em como se lê e vê o terror e, sobretudo, na forma como se olha para a família norte-americana.» André Santos, Sábado «Personagens bem desenhadas e a escrita excelente, feita de palavras comuns e percepção afinada.» Luís M. Faria, Expresso «Uma mestre maior do terror e do suspense.» The New York Times Book Review «Shirley Jackson é uma escritora inimitável cujas palavras permanecem connosco durante muito tempo.» Joyce Carol Oates «Shirley Jackson era uma escritora incrível... Se nunca leram Sempre Vivemos no Castelo ou A Maldição de Hill House, estão a perder uma coisa maravilhosa.» Neil Gaiman «Shirley Jackson é ímpar na criação de tremores silenciosos, crescentes e excepcionalmente bem escritos.» Dorothy Parker

Present''s Shirley Jackson''s classic short story about an altruistic man and his mean-spirited wife.

Denis De Beaulieu, a French soldier, is made a prisoner by the Sire of De Maletroit, who believes that the soldier has compromised the Maletroit family honor.

Hill House is a mansion in a location that is never specified but is between many hills. The story concerns four main characters: Dr. John Montague, an investigator of the supernatural; Eleanor Vance, a shy young woman who resents having lived as a recluse caring for her demanding disabled mother; Theodora, a bohemian artist implied to be a lesbian; and Luke Sanderson, the young heir to Hill House, who is host to the others. Dr. Montague hopes to find scientific evidence of the existence of the supernatural. He rents Hill House for a summer and invites as his guests several people whom he has chosen because of their experiences with paranormal events. Of these, only Eleanor and Theodora accept. Eleanor travels to the house, where she and Theodora will live in isolation with Montague and Luke. Hill House has two caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. Dudley, who refuse to stay near the house at night. The four overnight visitors begin to form friendships as Dr. Montague explains the building''s history, which encompasses suicide and other violent deaths. All four of the inhabitants begin to experience strange events while in the house, including unseen noises and ghosts roaming the halls at night, strange writing on the walls, and other unexplained events. Eleanor tends to experience phenomena to which the others are oblivious. At the same time, Eleanor may be losing touch with reality, and the narrative implies that at least some of what Eleanor witnesses may be products of her imagination. Another implied possibility is that Eleanor possesses a subconscious telekinetic ability that is itself the cause of many of the disturbances experienced by her and other members of the investigative team (which might indicate there is no ghost in the house at all). This possibility is suggested especially by references early in the novel to Eleanor''s childhood memories about episodes of a poltergeist-like entity that seemed to involve mainly her.

The Haunting of Hill House is a 1959 gothic horror novel by American author Shirley Jackson. A finalist for the National Book Award and considered one of the best literary ghost stories published during the 20th century, it has been made into two feature films and a play, and is the basis of a Netflix series. Jackson''s novel relies on terror rather than horror to elicit emotion in the reader, using complex relationships between the mysterious events in the house and the characters'' psyches. Hill House is a mansion in a location that is never specified but is between many hills. The story concerns four main characters: Dr. John Montague, an investigator of the supernatural; Eleanor Vance, a shy young woman who resents caring for her demanding, disabled mother;Theodora, a bohemian artist implied to be a lesbian; and Luke Sanderson, the young heir to Hill House, who is host to the others. Montague hopes to find scientific evidence of the existence of the supernatural. He rents Hill House for a summer and invites as his guests several people whom he has chosen because of their experiences with paranormal events. Of these, only Eleanor and Theodora accept. Eleanor travels to the house, where she and Theodora will live in isolation with Montague and Luke. Hill House has two caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. Dudley, who refuse to stay near the house at night. The four overnight visitors begin to form friendships as Montague explains the building''s history, which encompasses suicide and other violent deaths. All four of the inhabitants begin to experience strange events while in the house, including unseen noises and ghosts roaming the halls at night, strange writing on the walls, and other unexplained events. Eleanor tends to experience phenomena to which the others are oblivious. At the same time, Eleanor may be losing touch with reality, and the narrative implies that at least some of what Eleanor witnesses may be products of her imagination. Another implied possibility is that Eleanor possesses a subconscious telekinetic ability that is itself the cause of many of the disturbances experienced by her and other members of the investigative team (which might indicate there is no ghost in the house at all). This possibility is suggested especially by references early in the novel to Eleanor''s childhood memories about episodes of a poltergeist-like entity that seemed to involve mainly her.

Bossy sisters, noisy brothers and naughty pets - no wonder Mum is cross! * You can help your child to practise his reading by spending 10 minutes a day sharing short stories and simple rhymes. * Books 9-16 of Read with Ladybird are ideal for children who are in the early stages of learning to read. * You can be confident that practising at home with Read with Ladybird will support work done at school.