Book Description
Argues that Jackson anticipated the transition from modernism to postmodernism and should be ranked among the most significant writers of her time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Insightful Analysis
Hattenhauer's reading of Jackson's work is illuminating and persuasive.As a high school English teacher, I have used Hattenhauer's analysis of The Haunting of Hill House to help students identify and understand Jackson's use of unreliable narration. This survey is highly recommended for anyone interested in Jackson's body of work, which never ceases to surprise and challenge.

Shirley Jackson's Greatness
The author of this somewhat academic book feels as if Shirley Jackson's body of work have been underrated.He explains how she wrote, and that her work was more electic than most people think.Shirley Jackson is my favorite author, and WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE is my favorite book.Read this book and you will learn more about her humor, her characters, and her place in the future. ... Read more

Book Description

Term paper due tomorrow? Need to cram for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?

Turn to "Short Stories for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by Thomson Gale--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: plot summary; character analysis; author biography; an overview of the story's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.

Why choose "Short Stories for Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: Thomson Gale--and "Short Stories for Students."Download Description

Term paper due tomorrow? Need to bone up for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?

Turn to "Short Stories for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by the Gale Group--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: plot summary; character analysis; author biography; an overview of the story's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.

Why choose "Short Stories for Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: The Gale Group--and "Short Stories for Students." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Informative, but not a true study guide
This download is more of a resource guide and background information guide to Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery" than actual "study guide." However, I found the information about Jackson as well as the reviews about the story refreshing. I purchased this because I wanted to get more background information for the story. What this guide does it really gets into the characters of this story, an gives a larger analysis in a few essays as well as detailing some of the reactions readers and reviewers had when the story was first published. Overall, not bad for the price, but it is a "study guide" as much as it is an information guide into the story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

"Charles" Review
I think that Shirley Jackson's "Charles" deserves four stars because it is a really chilling story, but funny at the same time.The only reaon I didn't give it the full five stars was because of the way it's written.There are a lot of repeated words and phrases.
Shirley Jackson really captures your attention with her unique writing style.She has you thinking one thing the whole time, but everything turns around in the last sentence.Even this short story reflects Jackson's incredible, chilling style, which you can also find in "We Have Aways Lived in the Castle" and "The Haunting of Hill House."
This story really surprised me.I would recommend "Charles" to anyone who likes funny, surprising, and mysterious stories.

funnyCharles
I gave Charles 5 stars becuase I thoughtit was really funny.It was funny becuase the way he talks to his dad. Another reason is when he comes home and starts talking about how bad Charles was behaving.Those were the reasons I like Charles the book.

Excellent
I gave Charles 4stars because I thought the characterswere good. Parents and kids should read this book because it is a great book. I reallyenjoyd this book and I think you will too. If you read this book you will probably think it is funny. In this book there will be a suprise ending. If you read this book you will know. I hope you enjoy reading this book.

A hilarious book
I gave Charles 5 stars because I enjoyed the story and the things Charles pulled off were very funny and they were bad
just to mention it. He would pull off some things you know and some things you don't. If you're really bored and you need a good story to read, you should get the story Charles by
Shirley Jackson. The main characters just to tell you is Laurie, Charles, and Laurie's parents. Charles is really bad or funny character.

What I wrote about the story Charles
I gave this story 3 stars because of the funny characters and the funny ending. But most of all this is the best story I read in literature class. The thing I didn't like about the story is the
things the secret character did, but find out yourself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Eleven of Her Short Stories + Three of Her Novels
Many people are familiar with Shirley Jackson because of one of her bizarre short stories, 'The Lottery'. This one has often been included in literature textbooks and general short story collections and serves as a powerful, intriguing example of her literary style. 'The Lottery' is set in a small town which holds an annual drawing...which, at first, seems quite harmless. As the story progresses, however, the tension of the townspeople increases and the reader comes to realize that quite a lot must be at stake here! There are comments that some towns have stopped holding these lotteries, but Old Man Warner, who oversees the proceedings of the lottery, thinks that the town should hold true to tradition and continue them...When a certain family has been chosen (as indicated by a black dot on a slip of paper they receive), the family is narrowed down to a single person. This person is singled out to be stoned to death by all those who are around them! This story stirred up a lot of controversy for Shirley Jackson when it was published; she received quite a lot of letters that expressed the shock of the public over the strange, dark story which she had written. Many of those who wrote letters wondered whether 'The Lottery' was based on actual events that occurred somewhere!

While Jackson may be known best for this short story and others, it is her novels that I found truly enjoyable. 'The Bird's Nest' is an intriguing, and sometimes disturbing, tale of Elizabeth Richmond, a young employee at a museum who begins to receive threatening messages at her desk. Elizabeth begins to have headaches and memory lapses. Her Aunt Morgen grows worried, and Elizabeth goes to see a doctor. Doctor Wright uses hypnotism to uncover Elizabeth's true problems...only to find out she has multiple personalities! At first, there appears to be only one 'alternate' version of Elizabeth, but eventually other personalities reveal themselves. 'Betsy' is controlling and mean-spirited, 'Beth' appears more innocent and reserved, and 'Bess' is obsessed with money. Shirley Jackson's way of presenting this tale gives a haunting realism to all of the seemingly outrageous events that take place.

The other two novels, 'Life Among the Savages' and 'Raising Demons', seem like a stark contrast to the darkness of 'The Bird's Nest'! Both are interrelated tales of the action-packed, everyday life of a family told from the perspective of the mother. In the narration, Shirley Jackson takes especial notice of the smallest details, which makes both novels seem as if they were the direct accounts by a mother of her daily observations of her husband, children, and the trials and joys experienced in her life.

Though there are various newer releases of Shirley Jackson's works, you are more likely to find a cheap copy of this one at a used bookstore or online so...go for it!

The contents are as follows:
Preface by Stanley Edgar Hyman (husband of Shirley Jackson and literary critic)
Part One, Short Stories: 'The Daemon Lover', 'My Life with R. H. Macy', 'Colloquy', 'Pillar of Salt', 'The Renegade', 'Flower Garden', 'Elizabeth', 'Come Dance with Me in Ireland', 'Of Course', 'The Tooth', and 'The Lottery'
Part Two: 'The Bird's Nest'
Part Three: 'Life Among the Savages' and 'Raising Demons' ... Read more

Book Description
Series Editors: Gary Scharnhorst, University of New Mexico and Eric Haralson, State University of New York, Stony Brook

This is the only series to provide in-depth critical introductions to major modern and contemporary short story writers worldwide. Each volume offers:

• A comprehensive overview of the artist's short fiction-including detailed analyses of every significant story
• Interviews, essays, memoirs and other biographical materials -- oftenpreviously unpublished
• A representative selection of critical responses
• Acomprehensive primary bibliography, a selected bibliography of important criticism, a chronology of the artist's life and works and an index

Customer Reviews (1)

WONDERFUL!!!
When I was writing my dissertation on Jackson and another author I found this book absolutely indispensible.I was completely inspired by Hall's work; the book gave me strength to finish my own study.Thank YOU!! ... Read more

Product Description
Shirley Jackson was one of America’s most prominent female writers of the 1950s. Between 1948 and 1965 she published six novels, one best-selling story collection, two popular volumes of her family chronicles and many stories, which ranged from fairly conventional tales for the women’s magazine market to the ambiguous, allusive, delicately sinister and more obviously literary stories that were closest to Jackson’s heart and destined to end up in the more highbrow end of the market. Most critical discussions of Jackson tend to focus on “The Lottery” and The Haunting of Hill House. An author of such accomplishment—and one so fully engaged with the pressures and preoccupations of postwar America—merits fuller discussion. To that end, this collection of essays widens the scope of Jackson scholarship with new writing on such works as The Road through the Wall and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and topics ranging from Jackson’s domestic fiction to ethics, cosmology, and eschatology. The book also makes newly available some of the most significant Jackson scholarship published in the last two decades. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Error noted; worthwhile collection.
Be advised that the Amazon review is in error. The three stories included are: "Haunting of Hill House," "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" and The Lottery." On the other hand, "The Turn of the Screw" is a Henry James classic.

I'm not familiar with this particular edition but the content is absolutely first-rate, especially for those new to Ms. Jackson.
... Read more

Book Description
Stories of magic, superstition, and witchcraft were strictly forbidden in the little town of Salem Village. But a group of young girls ignored those rules, spellbound by the tales told by a woman named Tituba.  When questioned about their activities, the terrified girls set off a whirlwind of controversy as they accused townsperson after townsperson of being witches. Author Shirley Jackson examines in careful detail this horrifying true story of accusations, trials, and executions that shook a community to its foundations.   ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A very good preface to the subject of the Salem witchcraft trials
There were two reasons for my interest in this book; one is the fascinating issue of the Salem Witchcraft trials, a subject that has intrigued me for years (I first encountered this topic while reading articles dealing with matters of child testimony in court and children eyewitness in general) and the second is the writer, Shirley Jackson, whose work I try to read in full.
It is no wonder Shirley Jackson has chosen to write about this chapter in American history. Shirley Jackson, as her biography notes, was interested not only in witchcraft and the supernatural, but more in the power of the community, especially a small one, on an individual person. Jackson experienced this power as an evil force and she describes it as such in her work (a good example would be the book "We have always lived in the castle"). Several efforts were made to link Jackson's personal life with her work. After reading much of her work and biography one realizes how she must have sympathized with the accused in the Salem Witchcraft Trials, as a person who was also an outcast or a "strange" member of the community. It seems that the issue of the Salem Witchcraft Trials was more then just an historical chapter for Shirley Jackson.
But beyond the author herself, this is a description of a dead end situation for those wrongly accused of witchcraft and nothing they may possibly do could prove them innocent. Jackson does well in her effort to describe the political and religious atmosphere of the time before getting to the story itself.This is the horrible tale of a group of girls, who in their fear for themselves wrongly accuse other people in witchcraft. One event leads to another and pretty soon they are many steps beyond return. The atmosphere of the time enabled such misdeeds to happen.
As the book is intended for kids, the language and terminology are rather simple, yet Jackson manages to be clear and precise and does not let her thoughts and feelings (which we can only imagine) evade the writing. Even though Jackson describes the wrongdoings she does not dwell on the suffering of the accused when blamed, in prison, or the after come of the hanging itself. Jackson tries to stick to the historical details and facts and gives an objective description of the events themselves. However, Jackson does not wish to leave her historical story to mere facts, as facts are rather scarce in this case. The author tries to supply reasons and semi-explanations as to how something as terrible as this could have happened. Besides the court summaries, names and details of living people there are no real facts to hang on to, and what could be the facts in this case? The mere facts were only the tales and actions of the "Afflicted children" and the atmosphere in the country during the time of the Salem trials.
I found the book very clear and interesting although as an adult I feel I would like to further dwell into this issue. This is a good job of describing the episode to children ( I believe the readers age should be above the age of 10-11 and definitely not ages 4-8 as recommended in the product description!) with an effort to remain as neutral as possible, as much as can be done in such a story.

Witchcraft Truth
Jackson shows me what it is like to live in 1692 and have magic on your hands! I definitly recomend this book for 12- adult!Jackson ROCKS!

Excellent History Lesson for Children
This book was an excellent educational book and an easy read for children to understand and learn from.It is clear that this Martha Nassaer has an egotistic issue (arrogance) and has filled her review with what she believes to be impressive words; however, all were meaningless and unimpressive to this reader.It is unfortunate that people would use such a forum to dissuade others from reading such a wonderful book.Obviously, she is not an educator.I highly recommend it for children 8 and up.

MY REVIEW OF THE WITCHCRAFT OF SALEM VILLAGE
THE WITCHCRAFT OF SALEM VILLAGE WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK FOR CHILDREN FROM THE AGES 10-13 WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED IT BECAUSE IT WAS A QUICK AND EASY READ BUT IT KEPT ME INTERESTED THE WHOLE TIME.IT WAS VERY DESCRIPTIVE AND IT HAD TRUE FACTS ABOUT THE WITCH TRIALS.IT WAS A GREAT BOOK AND I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE!!!!

History through Rationalism - an occultic view
One must sometimes delve into the background of an author to acquire that person's worldview and how it molds their material, especially when the material being used for historical accounts for educational purposes."Private Demons" a biography of Shirley Jackson by Judy Oppenheimer, reveals a plethora of information about the author, including that fact that she was an occultist and active occult writer.This book is written with a religiously unilateral, occcult/rationalistic view.Despite intense political & religious controversy surrounding this story, there was an enormous amount of literature concerning broader aspects of the trials which held alternate viewsnot relayed in many of Ms. Jackson's often innaccurate and spiritually condescending renderings of the account.

Many believed the girls were commissioned by Satan to divide Christ's Kingdom through false accusations.Ms. Jackson mocks these Spiritual leaders by negating their position that the root of the dissention began with the afflicted girls and their occult involvement, and alludes that these leaders were vehicles of dissention in the community, by advocating that the colonists oppose Christian teachings.Spiritual leaders were trying to expose their belief that Satan's ploy was to sow seeds of division in the church.Ms. Jackson makes no tangential, historical reference to this fact, that spiritual leaders believed the root of the dissention began with occult involvement.

Ms. Jackson omits various aspects of the afflicted girl's involvement in occult practices, and substitutes a rationalistic world view to explain the occurences.Rationalism excludes Biblical interpretations and the value of conventions and dangers of popular superstitions.Ms. Jackson does not depict occult activities utilized by the afflicted women to avoid any inference as to the validity of an alternate power. Rather, she alleges that these girls merely "pretended" to be controlled by demons, ignoring the fact that many Christian leaders strongly believed in Satanic influence surrounding these issues.

You will notice that the bulk of the content provided by the author in the "afterword" section expresses her rationalistic viewpoint when she focuses heavily on demonology as a myth, and places blame for the witch trials on religious fervor and intolerance, boredom, psychological pressure, and possible physiological disorders.Ms. Jackson attempts to categorize spiritual leaders as zealots.

Ms. Jackson consistently negates to include accurate historical information throughout her book. Ms. Jackson could not include this information because it would not conform to her rationalistic view.It appears that Ms. Jackson selectively utilized facts she chose to paint the picture she wanted the reader to see by flavoring the historical rendering to that of her own world view.She does this by mocking the power of Satan, and accredits belief in his existence to ignorance.By enmeshing her view within her account of the actual events, Ms. Jackson emphatically and repeatedly negates the significance of a ubiquitous entity believed in by a multitude of religions still to this day.I would not recommend this material to be used in a primary or middle school setting as is has the potential to religiously sway an immature reader.It does not qualifies as a concise, historical rendering suitable to be contained as part of the curriculum in a public school setting based on the conjectural commentaries of religiously sensitive content espoused by Ms. Jackson.This material is more suitable to a mature reader who is readily equipped to separate true historical facts from biased conjecture.Please take notice as to the origin of where this book is listed in the Classified Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, under 100 PHILOSOPHY, PARAPSYCHOLOGY AND OCCULTISM, PSYCHOLOGY, 133.4 Demonology and witchcraft.The rendering is an edited account of history through a rationalistic world view, that is condescending and offensive to any aware Christian reader. ... Read more

Book Description
Word count: 2466. ... Read more