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The Turn of the Screw and Other Ghost Stories
A chilling collection of Henry James's finest ghost stories, now in a wonderful Clothbound Classics edition
In 'The Turn of the Screw', one of the most famous ghost stories of all time, a governess becomes obsessed with the belief that malevolent forces are stalking the children in her care. But are the children really in danger - and if so, from whom? The novella is accompanied here by several more of the very best of Henry James' short stories, including 'The Jolly Corner' and 'The Third Person', all of which explore human psychology through ghostly visitations and the uncanny.
In 'The Turn of the Screw', one of the most famous ghost stories of all time, a governess becomes obsessed with the belief that malevolent forces are stalking the children in her care. But are the children really in danger - and if so, from whom? The novella is accompanied here by several more of the very best of Henry James' short stories, including 'The Jolly Corner' and 'The Third Person', all of which explore human psychology through ghostly visitations and the uncanny.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1898
224 people are currently reading
1317 people want to read
About the author
Henry James
4,555 books3,938 followersHenry 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."
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."
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December 27, 2023i don't like the turn of the screw. but i do like other ghost stories
February 10, 2023
When I allow myself to relax and appreciate the language, rather than be daunted by it, I find Henry James to be exquisitely beautiful to read. Occasionally here I would get caught out by the often very long sentences, losing track of what was happening. But once I'd fallen back into the rhythm of the story, I was completely enamored with it. This a short book but not exactly a quick read. The story builds and wraps around you. I couldn't go to sleep leaving it half read, which is why I'm quickly writing this review at 2:30 am!
November 28, 2022
Even though after reading Henry James in school several times and then declaring him my nemesis, for he is the master triumphant of the never-ending sentence, and saying I would never read from him again, I could not then resist the pull of an audiobook narrated by Emma Thompson, and indeed I am glad I did not do so.
Phewf, done with that nonsense. That is what it is like to read Henry James. The first paragraph in The Wings of the Dove nearly killed me. But that is the magic of Emma Thompson. Maybe The Turn of the Screw is just more readable than his other books, but I think most of my enjoyment of it is due to her performance. She brings the story to life, and she brings clarity to James's words. I downloaded this book for free ages ago from Audible, and I am only now getting around to listen to it because I pulled it out of my TBR Jar. That thing does have its uses.
All that said, I'm only giving this three stars because I don't know what to make of the story. I can't make it make full sense in my head, even after reading lots of other people's analysis, and several detailed summaries. It is ambiguous, and I do not do well with ambiguity. The longer it sits with me, the more infuriating the ending is. I know I am in the minority on this one, because even people who don't read classics all that much like this one. I do want to watch the movie adaptation, The Innocents, and maybe The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix, and then we'll see.
Phewf, done with that nonsense. That is what it is like to read Henry James. The first paragraph in The Wings of the Dove nearly killed me. But that is the magic of Emma Thompson. Maybe The Turn of the Screw is just more readable than his other books, but I think most of my enjoyment of it is due to her performance. She brings the story to life, and she brings clarity to James's words. I downloaded this book for free ages ago from Audible, and I am only now getting around to listen to it because I pulled it out of my TBR Jar. That thing does have its uses.
All that said, I'm only giving this three stars because I don't know what to make of the story. I can't make it make full sense in my head, even after reading lots of other people's analysis, and several detailed summaries. It is ambiguous, and I do not do well with ambiguity. The longer it sits with me, the more infuriating the ending is. I know I am in the minority on this one, because even people who don't read classics all that much like this one. I do want to watch the movie adaptation, The Innocents, and maybe The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix, and then we'll see.
March 19, 2025
I really struggled to connect with James' writing style, which is the most dense and flowery prose I've encountered in a long time. While I did enjoy The Turn of the Screw - the novella-length story in this collection - the rest of the short stories didn't do much for me. Turn of the Screw 4/5 This Collection 2.5/5
April 6, 2023
girl wtf
October 14, 2018
True rating: 2.5/5
Ended up feeling a bit disappointed by this, but there were still a few stories I liked. Reading this also kind of clarified again for me why I prefer to read gothic fiction/horror by women authors. Women authors tended to use ghosts/hauntings to subvert traditional gender norms of the time, whereas men seemed to use them to maintain those norms. Almost as "warnings" on how women should/shouldn't act. Imo, a lot of the ghosts in James' stories have more to do with his anxieties about women/feminism. Or at least he imagines a lot of the ghosts haunting his women characters as the result of those women having too much "pride", "obsessing" over men, and toxic relationships of jealousy between women.
Romance of Certain Old Clothes - 2/5 - It was alright but didn't do much for me, story ultimately about jealousy between sisters, of course over a man
The Last of the Valerii - 2.5/5 - The reason I liked this one a little more was because there were moments where Conte Valerio's descriptions of paganism were just really beautiful and enjoyed them a lot, despite that the story at its core seemed pretty xenophobic to me (which is generally another common theme in British and Anglo-American early gothic/horror, particularly by men).
Sir Edmund Orme - 3/5 - This was probably my favourite story in the first half of the book. It was the first story that actually was really spooky in any way. That sort of hovering ghostly apparition creeps the shit out of me. I also found the relationship between the main character and Mrs. Marden hilarious. There were a few times when I wasn't sure if they were intentionally meant to come off as flirting, but the fact that the main character and the mother of his "love interest" had conversations like:
"She's a bit of a coquette, you know"
"Don't say that - don't say that!" Mrs. Marden murmured
"The nicest girls always are - just a little," I was magnanimous enough to plead
"Then why are they always punished?"
"What do you know of their punishment?"
"Well - I was a bad girl myself."
"And were you punished?"
Oh my, Mrs. Marden! lmao I couldn't help but cackle my ass off at that and similar dialogue between the two characters. Sometimes it seemed like the main character was more into Mrs. Marden than her daughter, lol. Simultaneously creepy and funny story.
Owen Wingrave - 2.5/5 - Can't say this one did much for me but liked the theme of it
Friends of Friends - 2/5 - Also didn't do too much for me and kind of felt anti-climactic
Turn of the Screw - 3/5 - I originally bought this book specifically for this story. It was definitely really creepy and a good October/Halloween read for intense build-up, but I feel like the ending ruined it a bit for me and missed the mark/wasn't really what I was hoping for, I guess you could say. Also reading the "analysis" in the intro afterwards also kind of ruined it. Honestly I don't see anything wrong with the way the governess herself acted, but if the analysis of it is true then just seems like another anti-woman type story. Also as I started reading this I suddenly got the impression that it was familiar and realised that the movie "The Others" is based on it. Will have to re-watch it.
Third Person - 3/5 - This one was also really creepy (may or may not have scared myself lol), but again quickly focused itself around "jealousy over a man" and the relationship between women becoming toxic because of it
Jolly Corner - 3.5/5 - This was my favourite story in the whole book. It kind of came out of nowhere for me, I hadn't expected to like it much going into it. The whole concept was really cool actually, rather than the traditional kind of haunting with the "haunting" becoming the "haunted" and just...yeah. Very cool. The build-up was awesomely intense, not to mention that I feel like James' actual writing was at its best in this one.
Ended up feeling a bit disappointed by this, but there were still a few stories I liked. Reading this also kind of clarified again for me why I prefer to read gothic fiction/horror by women authors. Women authors tended to use ghosts/hauntings to subvert traditional gender norms of the time, whereas men seemed to use them to maintain those norms. Almost as "warnings" on how women should/shouldn't act. Imo, a lot of the ghosts in James' stories have more to do with his anxieties about women/feminism. Or at least he imagines a lot of the ghosts haunting his women characters as the result of those women having too much "pride", "obsessing" over men, and toxic relationships of jealousy between women.
Romance of Certain Old Clothes - 2/5 - It was alright but didn't do much for me, story ultimately about jealousy between sisters, of course over a man
The Last of the Valerii - 2.5/5 - The reason I liked this one a little more was because there were moments where Conte Valerio's descriptions of paganism were just really beautiful and enjoyed them a lot, despite that the story at its core seemed pretty xenophobic to me (which is generally another common theme in British and Anglo-American early gothic/horror, particularly by men).
Sir Edmund Orme - 3/5 - This was probably my favourite story in the first half of the book. It was the first story that actually was really spooky in any way. That sort of hovering ghostly apparition creeps the shit out of me. I also found the relationship between the main character and Mrs. Marden hilarious. There were a few times when I wasn't sure if they were intentionally meant to come off as flirting, but the fact that the main character and the mother of his "love interest" had conversations like:
"She's a bit of a coquette, you know"
"Don't say that - don't say that!" Mrs. Marden murmured
"The nicest girls always are - just a little," I was magnanimous enough to plead
"Then why are they always punished?"
"What do you know of their punishment?"
"Well - I was a bad girl myself."
"And were you punished?"
Oh my, Mrs. Marden! lmao I couldn't help but cackle my ass off at that and similar dialogue between the two characters. Sometimes it seemed like the main character was more into Mrs. Marden than her daughter, lol. Simultaneously creepy and funny story.
Owen Wingrave - 2.5/5 - Can't say this one did much for me but liked the theme of it
Friends of Friends - 2/5 - Also didn't do too much for me and kind of felt anti-climactic
Turn of the Screw - 3/5 - I originally bought this book specifically for this story. It was definitely really creepy and a good October/Halloween read for intense build-up, but I feel like the ending ruined it a bit for me and missed the mark/wasn't really what I was hoping for, I guess you could say. Also reading the "analysis" in the intro afterwards also kind of ruined it. Honestly I don't see anything wrong with the way the governess herself acted, but if the analysis of it is true then just seems like another anti-woman type story. Also as I started reading this I suddenly got the impression that it was familiar and realised that the movie "The Others" is based on it. Will have to re-watch it.
Third Person - 3/5 - This one was also really creepy (may or may not have scared myself lol), but again quickly focused itself around "jealousy over a man" and the relationship between women becoming toxic because of it
Jolly Corner - 3.5/5 - This was my favourite story in the whole book. It kind of came out of nowhere for me, I hadn't expected to like it much going into it. The whole concept was really cool actually, rather than the traditional kind of haunting with the "haunting" becoming the "haunted" and just...yeah. Very cool. The build-up was awesomely intense, not to mention that I feel like James' actual writing was at its best in this one.
November 22, 2021
I'd read The Turn of the Screw before, and listened to it this time through as I read; the other stories in the collection were unfamiliar to me, and I liked some more than others. James tackles the paranormal as an expression of human ambiguity and ambivalence; his ghosts are alter egos, other selves that we may (but in most cases do not) wish to explore. Of the ones in this collection, I especially appreciated The Last of the Valerii, The Friends of the Friends, and The Turn of the Screw. The version I listened to was narrated by Vanessa Benjamin and Simon Vance, but I've since discovered that there is a version featuring Emma Thompson and Richard Armitage, which I can only imagine to be just as compelling and well-performed.
August 16, 2022
Wow, so this was an experience... and not a good one. I would read a story, not like it, go to the next story hoping for a better experience, not like it, continue with the next story, etc etc etc. And I didn't like ANY of them. Yikes... I had really high hopes at least for The Turn of the Screw. But it was just too messed up for me and the ending left me sooo angry. The other stories were pretty bad... The run on sentences hurt my brain, the lack of atmosphere in these "ghost stories" is sad... So yea this was just not it. I should have just DNFd...
January 2, 2023
The stories start out so promising but I often find myself bored by the end of them... Soz!
July 14, 2025
2.5⭐️
This book has beautifully crafted, atmospheric writing that shows the writer’s skill with language and tension.
However, I didn’t connect with the story itself, it felt too ambiguous and the plot didn’t fully engage me. Worth reading for the prose, but not my favorite in terms of storyline at all
This book has beautifully crafted, atmospheric writing that shows the writer’s skill with language and tension.
However, I didn’t connect with the story itself, it felt too ambiguous and the plot didn’t fully engage me. Worth reading for the prose, but not my favorite in terms of storyline at all
October 30, 2024
“It’s beyond everything. Nothing at all that I know touches it.”
“For sheer terror?” I remember asking. He seemed to say it wasn’t so simple as that; to be really at a loss now to quantify it. He passed his hand over his eyes, made a little wincing grimace. “For dreadful - dreadfulness!”
Another collection done and dusted and it’s like…yes, I am very happy these were capital G Ghost stories. Obviously the title “track” here has a lot of that and some more but every other story too we’ve got dead ghostly soldiers, spectral bootleggers, ancestral hauntings, omens in the form of dead parents. A++ spooky vibes, I super appreciated that.
I think though, I might have made this list a bit more “homeworky” than I meant to have. Like, I’m happy I’m finally getting around to all this stuff but it’s starting to drag on me just a bit and that’s a bit of a bummer. I should have programmed a few more crowd-pleasers here but hey! I’m now way more up on Henry James, so eat that, former college literature teachers!
“For sheer terror?” I remember asking. He seemed to say it wasn’t so simple as that; to be really at a loss now to quantify it. He passed his hand over his eyes, made a little wincing grimace. “For dreadful - dreadfulness!”
Another collection done and dusted and it’s like…yes, I am very happy these were capital G Ghost stories. Obviously the title “track” here has a lot of that and some more but every other story too we’ve got dead ghostly soldiers, spectral bootleggers, ancestral hauntings, omens in the form of dead parents. A++ spooky vibes, I super appreciated that.
I think though, I might have made this list a bit more “homeworky” than I meant to have. Like, I’m happy I’m finally getting around to all this stuff but it’s starting to drag on me just a bit and that’s a bit of a bummer. I should have programmed a few more crowd-pleasers here but hey! I’m now way more up on Henry James, so eat that, former college literature teachers!
December 18, 2024
She went up and looked at the chest in which they lay imprisoned. There was a sullen defiance in its three great padlocks and its iron bands, which only quickened her desires. There was something exasperating in its incorruptible immobility. It was like a grim and grizzled old household servant, who locks his jaws over a family secret.
(Excerpt from: The Romance of Certain Old Clothes)
(Excerpt from: The Romance of Certain Old Clothes)
December 31, 2019
I wanted to enjoy these stories more but they were so dense and hard to get through. I just finished a semester of a “ghost stories” class and the classic stories we read for it were overall better than any story in this collection in my opinion.
December 3, 2018
The Turn of the Screw
“This moon made the night extraordinary penetrable and showed me on the lawn a person, diminished by distance, who stood there motionless and as if fascinated, looking up to where I had appeared looking, that is, not so much straight at me as at something that was apparently above me.” (Citation pos. 1100)
A wealthy Gentleman from London, guardian for his nephew and niece, looks for a governess and hires a young woman. The two children live in his country home in Essex. Flora, the little girl, is beautiful, well educated and just loveable and after just one hour, she and her new governess have become friends. Her elder brother, Miles, too is a beautiful child, gentle, with good manners. Everything seems to be absolutely perfect – but things are not always, as they seem to be.
A famous, celebrated and well-known Gothic novella.
The Romance of Certain Old Cloths
“One of these days my daughter shall wear them – my rings and my laces and silks.” (Citation pos. 2364)
Two sisters, Rosalind and Perdita, fall in love with the same man, Mr. Arthur Lloyd, who marries Perdita. Perdita dies in childbed. Arthur has to promise her to keep her chest with all her belongings and beautiful dresses for their daughter. After some time, Arthur marries Rosalind and she is very curious about the chest.
An American Gothic tale.
The Ghostly Rental
“The last red light of the sunset disengaged itself, as it was about to vanish, and rested faintly for a moment on the time-silvered front of the old house.” (Citation pos. 2540)
One grey December afternoon, the narrator, a young Cambridge student, takes an old road to shorten his way. He comes to a house in an orchard of old apple-trees and he is curious about the house. The house is haunted, he is told, but he feels that there must be more, some secret. So he returns to the place and one day he sees a mysterious old man enter the house. He has several more meetings with the old man, Captain Diamond. One day in September, the old man sends for the narrator, he is dying and has one favor to ask.
Sir Edmund Orme
“From the first time of her seeing me she had been sure there were things I should not escape knowing.” (Citation pos. 3224)
It is season in Brighton and the un-named narrator falls in love with charming Charlotte Marden. Her mother has a secret and one day something happens and the narrator shares the secret of Mrs. Marden.
A ghost story told by an outer narrator and based on a written report of the events by the inner narrator.
Owen Wingrave
“He talked about the ‘immeasurable misery’ of wars, and asked me why nations don’t tear to pieces the governments, the rulers that go in for them.” (Citation pos. 3881)
Young Owen Wingrave is prepared for a brilliant military career like all his ancestors, but he prefers Goethe and books to the military life of a soldier. Therefore, his coach Spencer Coyle, his best friend and family members come together at Paramore House, the home of the Wingraves, the house with a haunted room, where no one ever sleeps. Owen is against war, but not a coward as assumed by his family and is ready to proof it.
The Friends of the Friends
“Certainly they ought to meet, my friend and he; certainly they would have something in common.” (Citation pos. 4406)
Their friends think that they should meet: she had been abroad with her aunt when she sees her father waiting for her in a museum – it was the moment he had dies back at home in England. He had been a student in Oxford many years ago, when he saw his mother waiting in his room – it was the day when she had died in Wales. However, for years all appointments for some reasons failed.
The Real Right Thing
“The first night our young man was alone in the room it seemed to him that his master and he were really for the first time together.” (Citation pos. 4895)
Mrs. Doyne asks George Withermore, a writer and journalist, to write a biography about her husband Ashton Doyle, who had suddenly died some months ago. Doyne, a well-known writer and young Withermore had been very close friends. George is allowed to work in Ashton’s study, to go through his documents and papers to get information for the biography on his friend. After some time, George has a negative feeling while writing about Ashton.
The Third Person
“The person the elder of the pair had seen in her room was not – well, just simply was not any one in from outside.” (Citation pos. 5244)
Miss Susan and Miss Amy, second grade cousins, have inherited an old house in Marr and the will said it should be sold. But they both were so happy about the house; they liked it and decided to live there together, in the house of their anchestors. One day they find a small chest full of old papers and they ask the vicar to do some researches.
A humorous ghost story.
The Jolly Corner
“For me it is lived in, for me it is furnished.” (Citation pos. 5869)
Spencer Brydon left New York with twenty-three and returned thirty-three years later. Owner of several houses, family property, he had lived in Europe from the leases and has come back for some renovation and construction works. Just one of the houses remains as it is with its great, grey, empty rooms.
A story about alternative futures and possibilities.
Conclusion:
A selection of the famous Gothic ghost stories by Henry James. Family secrets and spooky tales about the unknown, the mysterious in life and occurrences that remain inexplicable. A perfect read for dark winter days.
“This moon made the night extraordinary penetrable and showed me on the lawn a person, diminished by distance, who stood there motionless and as if fascinated, looking up to where I had appeared looking, that is, not so much straight at me as at something that was apparently above me.” (Citation pos. 1100)
A wealthy Gentleman from London, guardian for his nephew and niece, looks for a governess and hires a young woman. The two children live in his country home in Essex. Flora, the little girl, is beautiful, well educated and just loveable and after just one hour, she and her new governess have become friends. Her elder brother, Miles, too is a beautiful child, gentle, with good manners. Everything seems to be absolutely perfect – but things are not always, as they seem to be.
A famous, celebrated and well-known Gothic novella.
The Romance of Certain Old Cloths
“One of these days my daughter shall wear them – my rings and my laces and silks.” (Citation pos. 2364)
Two sisters, Rosalind and Perdita, fall in love with the same man, Mr. Arthur Lloyd, who marries Perdita. Perdita dies in childbed. Arthur has to promise her to keep her chest with all her belongings and beautiful dresses for their daughter. After some time, Arthur marries Rosalind and she is very curious about the chest.
An American Gothic tale.
The Ghostly Rental
“The last red light of the sunset disengaged itself, as it was about to vanish, and rested faintly for a moment on the time-silvered front of the old house.” (Citation pos. 2540)
One grey December afternoon, the narrator, a young Cambridge student, takes an old road to shorten his way. He comes to a house in an orchard of old apple-trees and he is curious about the house. The house is haunted, he is told, but he feels that there must be more, some secret. So he returns to the place and one day he sees a mysterious old man enter the house. He has several more meetings with the old man, Captain Diamond. One day in September, the old man sends for the narrator, he is dying and has one favor to ask.
Sir Edmund Orme
“From the first time of her seeing me she had been sure there were things I should not escape knowing.” (Citation pos. 3224)
It is season in Brighton and the un-named narrator falls in love with charming Charlotte Marden. Her mother has a secret and one day something happens and the narrator shares the secret of Mrs. Marden.
A ghost story told by an outer narrator and based on a written report of the events by the inner narrator.
Owen Wingrave
“He talked about the ‘immeasurable misery’ of wars, and asked me why nations don’t tear to pieces the governments, the rulers that go in for them.” (Citation pos. 3881)
Young Owen Wingrave is prepared for a brilliant military career like all his ancestors, but he prefers Goethe and books to the military life of a soldier. Therefore, his coach Spencer Coyle, his best friend and family members come together at Paramore House, the home of the Wingraves, the house with a haunted room, where no one ever sleeps. Owen is against war, but not a coward as assumed by his family and is ready to proof it.
The Friends of the Friends
“Certainly they ought to meet, my friend and he; certainly they would have something in common.” (Citation pos. 4406)
Their friends think that they should meet: she had been abroad with her aunt when she sees her father waiting for her in a museum – it was the moment he had dies back at home in England. He had been a student in Oxford many years ago, when he saw his mother waiting in his room – it was the day when she had died in Wales. However, for years all appointments for some reasons failed.
The Real Right Thing
“The first night our young man was alone in the room it seemed to him that his master and he were really for the first time together.” (Citation pos. 4895)
Mrs. Doyne asks George Withermore, a writer and journalist, to write a biography about her husband Ashton Doyle, who had suddenly died some months ago. Doyne, a well-known writer and young Withermore had been very close friends. George is allowed to work in Ashton’s study, to go through his documents and papers to get information for the biography on his friend. After some time, George has a negative feeling while writing about Ashton.
The Third Person
“The person the elder of the pair had seen in her room was not – well, just simply was not any one in from outside.” (Citation pos. 5244)
Miss Susan and Miss Amy, second grade cousins, have inherited an old house in Marr and the will said it should be sold. But they both were so happy about the house; they liked it and decided to live there together, in the house of their anchestors. One day they find a small chest full of old papers and they ask the vicar to do some researches.
A humorous ghost story.
The Jolly Corner
“For me it is lived in, for me it is furnished.” (Citation pos. 5869)
Spencer Brydon left New York with twenty-three and returned thirty-three years later. Owner of several houses, family property, he had lived in Europe from the leases and has come back for some renovation and construction works. Just one of the houses remains as it is with its great, grey, empty rooms.
A story about alternative futures and possibilities.
Conclusion:
A selection of the famous Gothic ghost stories by Henry James. Family secrets and spooky tales about the unknown, the mysterious in life and occurrences that remain inexplicable. A perfect read for dark winter days.
October 15, 2022
“but if he isn’t a gentleman—’
‘what is he? he’s a horror.’
‘a horror?’
‘he’s – god help me if i know what he is!”
‘what is he? he’s a horror.’
‘a horror?’
‘he’s – god help me if i know what he is!”
November 25, 2023
this book made me wish i was Jared, 19
October 5, 2025
(3.5) rtcc
February 21, 2025
I didn't like 'The Turn of the Screw' nor the 'Other Ghost Stories'.
October 15, 2025
not gonna be original but my fav short story was The a turn of the Screw
December 17, 2025
Sorry, I just don’t think Henry James is for me. How Mike Flanagan turned some of these stories into the amazing Haunting of Bly Manor tv series is beyond me.
November 22, 2024
i'm not even kidding henry james is my mortal enemy after this
did-not-finish
April 11, 2023Gave up at 43%.
The Turn of the Screw
3 ⭐
The Romance of Certain Old Clothes
4 ⭐
The Last of the Valerii
2 ⭐
The Turn of the Screw
3 ⭐
The Romance of Certain Old Clothes
4 ⭐
The Last of the Valerii
2 ⭐
October 26, 2024
The Romance of certain old clothes: Classic ghost story, loved it. Though for a 2024 reader the plot is obvious I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The last of the Valerii: I like the roman setting and the mystic of the story, but editing, editing, editing.
Owen Wingrave: I like the message of this one and that I didn't exactly see the ending coming, at least not which character it would happen too.
The friends of the friends: One of my favourites, though why do a lot of them have this long preamble that doesn't come back at the end.
The turn of the screw: it was not my favourite. I think it didn't age well. It builds up but lets you down at the end.
The third person: was ok, the idea is good but again, let down at the end. Not ghostly enough for me.
The Jolly Corner: my second favourite. Perfect length, loved the plot.
The last of the Valerii: I like the roman setting and the mystic of the story, but editing, editing, editing.
Owen Wingrave: I like the message of this one and that I didn't exactly see the ending coming, at least not which character it would happen too.
The friends of the friends: One of my favourites, though why do a lot of them have this long preamble that doesn't come back at the end.
The turn of the screw: it was not my favourite. I think it didn't age well. It builds up but lets you down at the end.
The third person: was ok, the idea is good but again, let down at the end. Not ghostly enough for me.
The Jolly Corner: my second favourite. Perfect length, loved the plot.
March 1, 2025
As I’ve seen it described elsewhere, Henry James’s writing is verbose beyond belief. Had to put down and pick up this book intermittently over the span of months because of the complexity of the language, although I found the writing overall quite beautiful and the ghost stories nuanced and interesting. A bit of a headache, essentially, but worth the hassle if you enjoy the gothic genre and the wildly flowery writing style like me.
August 16, 2021
I was suprised by how remarkably modern this story felt. Very little needed to be changed for the Netflix show The Haunting of Bly Manor. The dissonance created by children who look perfectly innocent but are hiding a dark secret is something I thought was more 20th century, the horror coming from within the family circle instead of an external threat. Good spooky season read 🎃👻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2022
I'm not a big fan of the way James writes (his stories feel overwritten, even if we take into account that they were written in a different time period than our own), but these stories were fun enough, and I'll always love The Turn of the Screw.
January 6, 2023
“Of course I was under the spell, and the wonderful part is that, even at the time, I perfectly knew I was. But I gave myself up to it; it was an antidote to any pain, and I had more pains than one.”
Read
February 20, 2022I think this book suffers from short stories that are too long
October 30, 2025
Marking this as unfinished and rating it solely based on The Turn of the Screw and not the other stories in this book. I might come back and read them at some point, although I didn't love Henry James' writing style - he uses a whole lot of words to say very little. The Turn of the Screw was an interesting ghost story, but I didn't love how it was actually written or told. This came across as rather lackluster, although there were portions I did enjoy.
March 29, 2025
I was expecting more ghosts?
I bought the book because I liked the haunting of bly manor and I was feeling like some gothic horror. Sadly most of the stories are not really scary and are rather random. However the social commentary and psychological interpretations are interesting. The language alternates between charming and very tedious to read.
I bought the book because I liked the haunting of bly manor and I was feeling like some gothic horror. Sadly most of the stories are not really scary and are rather random. However the social commentary and psychological interpretations are interesting. The language alternates between charming and very tedious to read.
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