Shirley Jackson Books In Order

Publication Order of Life Among the Savages Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Shirley Jackson Chap Books

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Alfred Hitchcock Presents Books

Publication Order of Best American Short Stories Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Shirley Jackson (born: 1916- Died: 1965) was an American author of Short Stories, Horror, Biographies, and Memoirs. She was famous during her times, and her works have received literary critics in the recent years. She has been acknowledged as an inspiration to a set of authors including Sarah Waters, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Nigel Kneale, Joanne Harris, and Richard Matheson.

Jackson is famously known for her short story The Lottery (1948) and The Haunting of Hill House (1959), which is considered as one of her best ghost stories ever written. The author was born in San Francisco, California, even though she claimed that she was born in 1919, her birth record stated that she was born in 1916. Her family lived in Burlingame, California, a wealthy middle-class suburban that was featured in Shirley’s debut novel, The Road Through the Wall (1948). Her relationship with her mother was a strained, her parent had married young, and her mother was disappointed that she became pregnant with Shirley as she was looking forward to spending good times with her husband. Due to this reason, Shirley was unable to fit with other children and thus spent most of her time writing more so to her mother’s distress.

Shirley attended Brighton High School; she then attended the University of Rochester so that her parent could keep an eye on her. She transferred to Syracuse University where she flourished both creatively and socially unlike in her previous university. It is in Rochester where Shirley got met her future man, Stanley Edgar Hyman and also participated in the university literary magazine.

Shirley and Hayman were known for their generosity and often surrounded themselves with remarkable literary talents. They were both passionate readers, and their personal library contained over 100, 000 books. They were blessed with four children, Joanne (Jannie), Laurence (Laurie), Barry, and Sarah (Sally). Shirley died in 1965 from congestive heart failure in her sleep in North Bennington aged 48.

During her lifetime, Shirley novels were nominated and won various awards. For example, Come Dance with Me in Ireland was selected as the Best American Short Stories in 1944. The Haunting Hill House was nominated for National Book Award in 1960. Birthday Party was chosen as the Best American Short Stories of 1964. Come Along with me was featured in New York Times Book Reviews for Best Fiction of 1968 category. In 2007, Shirley Jackson Award was established- the award is often awarded to authors in the literature of horror, dark fantastic and psychological suspense.

In addition to television, theater and radio adaptations, The Lottery was filmed three times. Shirley’s novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle was made into a by Hugh Wheeler starring Shirley Knight. Come Along with me was adapted as an episode of American Playhouse which aired 1982-1993.

In 2010, “………..Live in the Castle” was adapted into a musical drama that aired at Yale Repertory Theater in 2010.

In 2016, We Have Always Lived in the Castle was optioned for mystery thriller film adaptation. The movie directed by Stacie Passon stars Alexandra Daddario, Sebastian Stan, Taisa Farmiga, and Crispin Glover.

The Haunting of Hill House

Published in 1959, The Haunting of Hill House is considered one of Shirley’s best works of unnerving terror. It is a tale of four seekers who make their way at a strange pile called Hill House.

Dr. Montague, an occult scholar, searching for a reliable evidence of a haunting, then there is Theodora, his assistant, Eleanor, the lonely and fragile young lady, Luke the heir of the Hill House. At first, their stay appears to be a merely mysterious encounter with inexplicable phenomena, but what they do not know is that the house is gradually uniting its powers and soon it will choose one of its visitors to make its own.

The main character in the story is Eleanor; she is such a fantastic character. She is not sure whether she believes haunting stories, but still, she agrees to spend summer at the house claimed to be haunted. She is somehow insecure, introverted and most cases find herself fantasizing about her present and future situations. Eleanor is both fascinated and also frightened by the idea of solitude. Being an introvert, some of her best fantasies involve being alone secluded in a place without the unwelcome intrusion of others. However, after spending nights at the haunted house, probably being alone isn’t the best idea. What induces fear in Eleanor and the other residents of the Hill House is the incapability to reconcile with the observed phenomena the moment it occurs. They encounter something which explanation cannot instantaneously be provided, and their minds are unable to cope.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Merricat Blackwood resides on the family home with her beautiful sister Constance and their uncle Julian. Few years ago, there were seven family members until a killer dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one night. Cleared of the murders, Constance is back home, and her sister, Merricat protects her from the hostility and the curiosity of the neighbors. Their days in isolation are happy until the day their cousin Charles shows up. Only Merricat can sense the danger, and she must act quickly if she needs to save her sister from the wrath of their cousin.

Hangsaman

Hangsaman is the second novel by Shirley Jackson. The narrative is simple but one that the overtones are immediately present.

A sophisticated young woman narrates her difficult path from being the daughter and the child to a college woman. Can something sophisticated and naïve both be present at once? The author has worked such kind of integrated 2nd person commentary, but often in the voicing of a detective, news reporter, and some other questioning person.

Hangsaman features a unique and comprehensive cast of characters. First, there is Natalie, a woman in pursuit of self-discovery, and she has to deal with the situation of being the odd one in the family. Then there is the insufferably Natalie’s father- his letters to his daughters while at college perfect masterpieces of blocked empathy and self-importance. If you are an avid reader of horror novels, then Shirley Jackson book are good match for you.