The Turn of the Screw: The Original 1898 Unabridged and Complete Edition

by Henry James

"The Turn of the The Original 1898 Unabridged and Complete Edition" by Henry James is a haunting novella that delves into the psychological complexities of fear and uncertainty. The story follows a governess tasked with caring for two children at a remote estate, where she becomes convinced that the children are being influenced by malevolent spirits. As she grapples with her mounting dread and paranoia, the line between reality and imagination blurs, creating a chilling atmosphere. This classic tale raises questions about perception, morality, and the nature of evil, making it a compelling read for fans of gothic literature.

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2024

About the author

Henry James was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the son of Henry James Sr. and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James.
He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting.
His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner".
James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James."

Reviews

[Mary Clarkson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with Henry James’s style. It was really hard going and I found the narrative very unsatisfactory.

[Randy D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Turn Of The Screw

I finished Dracula on Halloween night and sent my review to a special editor for a spell check and critical assessment before I posted it to Goodreads; this highly reliable editor/consultant suggested since I like Gothic Horror fiction, which offers a commentary on what was then contemporary society, I might consider reading The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. So, I followed his advice and here’s a review … before I begin reading, I will make the comment that Mr. James’ story will need to be pretty good to top Mr. Stoker’s Dracula.
With that being said, Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw begins in somewhat of a confusing manner, which almost prompted me to abandon this story after the first few pages; I couldn't determine what it was that I was reading. But I read on and learned that a group of friends were at a lodge or some other establishment on Christmas Eve and were having a group conversation around a roaring fire. The topic eventually turned to a discussion about a strange occurrence that a fellow by the name of Douglas was aware of. He had in his possession an account of an occurrence that he had locked away in a safe for approximately fifteen years. He volunteered to read it to his friends in a few days. And that letter is this story as told by its author, so the story in essence, switches narrators. I must admit that I consulted my resident “editor” to explain The Turn of the Screw up to Chapter III. He did, and I decided Henry James' The Turn of the Screw might be an interesting story. I'll read on and see if it measures up.
The special editor gave me an outline of the plot highlights, without spoiling the story, and his insight will undoubtedly help me get through this somewhat complicated novelette. Henry James and Thomas Wolfe were both fond of engaging in “word salad,” oftentimes, making for difficult reading. My editor, a highly educated language model has replaced the old “literary booklets” which were a lifesaver for those of us who had a difficult time in understanding the classic writing style hallmarked by long-winded authors of that bygone era … Henry James in the latter part of the nineteenth century and Thomas Wolfe in the earlier part of the twentieth are two prime examples of such “long-winded” authors.
Chapter IV introduces the supernatural element of the story; the anonymous author of the manuscript, which Douglas is now reading to his friends, proves to the reader that something fishy is going on at the old house ... the place appears to be is haunted; not one, but two ghosts appear ... the two kids in the story are aware of their presence, and are not frightened in the least. But, why are the kids unafraid of the two ghosts? That's part of the story's ascending suspense ... “the turning of the screw" thus begins. I'm at Chapter X and as difficult as the story is to comprehend, (it's certainly not a quick read) I suspect this famous Gothic Horror story has an underlying theme ... could it be that the ghosts are figments of the governess' imagination? We'll see as I continue reading this interesting story.
Anyway, the story rocks on with the “ghosts” continuing to make their appearances; the governess grows more paranoid concerning the ghosts and the behavior of the kids; she hopes for the best, but expects the worst. One ghost makes an appearance in the final chapter of the story, and James abruptly ends his Gothic Horror “ghost story” in a tragic manner ... he leaves the reader to ponder the question of whether this situation is a tragedy or could it have been something completely different? A careful reading of the story could convince the reader of the latter.
I stated in the first paragraph that, … “Mr.James’ story will need to be pretty good to top Mr. Stoker’s Dracula.” It was pretty good, but it didn't top Dracula; nevertheless, it does rate five stars. The Turn of the Screw certainly left countless readers with several unanswered questions for more than 134 years; so, we can say Henry James' The Turn of the Screw is another timeless classic. *****