In a decaying mansion shrouded by mystery, Mary Katherine "Merricat" Blackwood lives with her sister Constance and Uncle Julian, shunned by the villagers due to a dark family secret. As the bizarre dynamics of their isolated life unfold, Merricat's protective spells and rituals provide a fragile sense of security. When a stranger intrudes, their world is inevitably threatened, leading to a chilling confrontation. Shirley Jackson masterfully weaves themes of isolation, paranoia, and the supernatural, drawing readers into a haunting tale. Discover the eerie allure of the Blackwood sisters and the chilling questions that linger in their haunted existence.
By Shirley Jackson
Published: 2006
"We are a line of black cats, a family of misfits shining in the dark, knowing the world has always misunderstood us."
Shirley Jackson's beloved gothic tale of a peculiar girl named Merricat and her family's dark secret Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate. This edition features a new introduction by Jonathan Lethem. 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.
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“We are a line of black cats, a family of misfits shining in the dark, knowing the world has always misunderstood us.”
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
By Shirley Jackson
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Shirley Jackson (1916–1965) was an acclaimed American author known for her profound psychological horror and chilling explorations of the human experience. Best known for her novel 'The Haunting of Hill House' and the short story 'The Lottery,' Jackson's works often delve into themes of isolation, societal norms, and the macabre hidden beneath the surface of everyday life. With a distinctive writing style that combines suspense, wit, and rich character development, she has left an indelible mark on the genre of horror and is celebrated as an influence on contemporary writers.
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