The Haunting of Hill House image number 0

The greatest haunted house story ever written, the inspiration for a 10-part Netflix series directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, and Timothy Hutton

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers--and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Item Information Item Information

Format: TradePaperback
Author: Jackson, Shirley
ISBN: 9780143039983
Condition: Used
Dimensions: 7.70 x 0.70
Number Of Pages: 208
Publication Year: 2006

Customer Reviews

Rating Snapshot

5 ★ 78%

4 ★ 11%

3 ★ 0%

2 ★ 11%

1 ★ 0%

4.6

9 Ratings

0 Recommendations

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Loved it.

Would Recommend

April A. - 3 months ago

Very different than Netflix series but I still enjoyed it. It's crazy how different books are than movies. The original movie was a lot closer which I can see why it was so good for the time. I liked how we were in the head of the main character... love a good downward spiral. Shirley Jackson is amazing. I've only read a couple, now to locate the rest. I would highly recommend.
A wonderfully chilling read

Natalie S. - 2 years 8 months ago

The Haunting of Hill House is a horror classic. I first read about it in Stephen King's Danse Macabre, found a copy at my local bookstore, and fell in love with it almost immediately. Although I found Shirley Jackson's writing style somewhat dry at first, I was soon immersed in a fantastically creepy story. The main plot centers on Eleanor Vance, who, along with two other guests, is invited to stay in a haunted house by a scientist, Dr. John Montague, who has an interest in the supernatural. During their stay, many strange things happen including randomly slamming doors, cold spots, aural hallucinations, and a growing feeling of malevolence. These devices are brought into the story subtly, so rather than throwing the book across the room and vowing never to touch it again, I found myself trapped, wondering what would happen next, with slow chills rising up my spine. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy horror novels, or are just plain looking for a good, interesting, short read.
HPB Staff Review
Beautifully written and terribly unsettling

Ryan W. - 3 years 4 months ago

The Haunting of Hill house is about a group of people investigating a haunted house. It is unsettling in all the right ways with a psychological theme. Shirley Jackson's prose is so wonderful to read. It really elevates this story to a whole new level. If you're looking for the best haunted house story that truly transcends the genre, then you've found it.
HPB Staff Review
Unsettling

McKenzie R. - 5 years ago

If you're going into this novel expecting it to be like the recent Netflix series, you will most likely be disappointed. While the series is based on the house featured in the book, it is a very different story. However, I absolutely loved it. By today's standards, this book isn't scary. It is creepy and unsettling, which is what I love most about Jackson's writing. Even when nothing is blatantly jumping out at you, her descriptions make you feel ill at ease and instantly understand how creepy it is to be inside Hill House. Her writing on the off angles that make of the house were so vivid and convincing that the narrative is very unsettling and there is such a creepy tone to the whole thing. In terms of action, not a lot happens. The book is more focused on the characters, their various interactions, and their conflicts within themselves. This is what makes the novel so superb. It is so amazingly written and thought out. I was instantly pulled in by Eleanor's character and the oddity of the house. While the Netflix series is very different, I did really enjoy all of the little nods to the book like character names and the memorable cup of stars. A fantastic read for those looking for a dark, unsettling, odd, weird, creepy tale. #SpringPicks
Nell is haunted by more than just ghosts

Dana E. - 5 years 1 month ago

Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone. The Haunting of Hill House is a story of personal ghosts as well as, possibly, literal ones. The ambiguity of the series of events is one of the things that makes this novel so, well, haunting. Eleanor "Nell" Vance is a troubled young woman participating in a psychological study after taking care of her invalid mother for years. She's bereft and friendless and we can't help but feel for her, especially when things start to happen in Hill House. Part of what makes horror effective is leaving the monster unseen. The terror is in the implications, that we (the reader) will infer. Your mind will fill in the blanks with what scares you the most. Jackson knew this and used it fully to her advantage. This book inspired so many authors over the years, and it's easy to see why. It's wonderful, and terrifying, and interesting all at once.
HPB Staff Review

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Loved it.

A wonderfully chilling read

Beautifully written and terribly unsettling

Unsettling

Nell is haunted by more than just ghosts