The Haunting of Hill House

Dr. John Montague always held a curiosity for the supernatural. So much so that it would become the central focus of his profession. But without substantial evidence to back his claims, he would continue wallowing on the periphery of respectability. That is, until he discovers a peculiar house on the outskirts of Hillsdale plagued with an ill-suited past, one he surmises as the key to unlocking his scholarly success. But one cannot go it alone in search of the paranormal in a house big enough to swallow its denizens a hundred times over. Upon his invitation, two young women — Eleanor and Theodora — answered the call with a chance at temporary escape from their own constricting and volatile home lives. Joined by their host Luke Sanderson, the heir to the house, the group of four set up residence inside the capricious and menacing dwelling, tracking and noting every oddity they encounter. However, as the days pass, the house reveals its madness in subtle ways that not all experience in equal measure. Animosity and distrust creep in, causing tension that risks tearing apart the symbiotic bond they forged. When it begins to derail their sanity beyond repair, they must decide whether the research is worth more than their lives. But they soon learn that sheltering within the belly of the beast may in fact be the safest means of survival. Inspired by a real event and bolstered by Shirley Jackson’s own research of traditional ghost stories, The Haunting of Hill House is an amalgam of psychological horror and supernatural conjuring. It is not filled with overt depictions of ghosts, monsters, or the Devil’s acolytes. Rather, Jackson made the deliberate choice to focus on the mental anguish and servitude caused by the mere suggestion of paranormal activity. Dr. Montague's team may be skeptical at first, but with their imaginations left to run wild, it’s enough to fracture their perception of reality. Jackson never discloses the real monster, which is shrouded in secrecy.

Widely considered one of the scariest books ever written, <i>The Haunting of Hill House</i> is the terrifying grandmother of all modern haunted house tales; the ghostly disturbances in this novel have paved the way for countless supernatural menaces, from Stephen King’s <i>The Shining</i> to Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger. Yet Shirley Jackson’s most celebrated novel deals in the bone-deep terror of mental disintegration rather than gore – which is why once you have visited Hill House, you will not forget it. This Folio edition of the definitive work of American Gothic is illustrated by Angie Hoffmeister, who has provided seven exquisitely unnerving images as well as a wraparound binding featuring the house itself. Award-winning novelist Joyce Carol Oates has contributed an in-depth introduction exploring the compelling psychological undercurrents of Jackson’s writing, making this an irresistible addition to any haunted library.

synopsis Hostile mail? To the letters column of The New Yorker? The June 26, 1948 issue of The New Yorker was noteworthy for the volume of hostile mail that it generated. Since the early 1940s anyone who was paying attention could hardly be unaware that Shirley Jackson was a gifted writer, but that she had the sort of transgressive power evinced in “The Lottery” may have been a dark surprise that caught many readers totally unprepared. Eleven years later, Jackson would commit the sort of literary act of assault and battery that she was so, so good at. This time, she had an entire novel at her disposal for her brand of literary ferociousness. Viking Press published The Haunting of Hill House in 1959 and it was immediately hailed as one of the best novels of the year, and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Over the years the novel’s legacy has grown. Its influence has been huge on Caitlín R. Kiernan, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman (who called it the scariest novel he’d ever read) and Peter Straub, and it is now generally regarded as the greatest novel in the history of the horror genre. The Haunting of Hill House is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly place 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. Our forthcoming edition of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House will be an oversize (7¾ × 12¾ inches) edition with the following features: Six color interiors, endpapers, dustjacket, and numerous black & white spot illustrations by Matt Mahurin. New introduction by Caitlín R. Kiernan. Excerpt from Danse Macabre by Stephen King. Bonus essay, “Experience and Fiction”, by Shirley Jackson. New afterword by Laurence Hyman, Shirley Jackson’s son, talking about the novel and growing up in the Jackson household. A selection of drawings of the Hill House houseplans by Shirley Jackson. Printed endpapers, cloth slipcase, top-edge stain and ribbon marker, hand-tipped illustrations, heavy paper, and other extras. Each copy is signed by Caitlín R. Kiernan and Matt Mahurin. The publication date is set for end of January.

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House 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.

Since its original publication in 1959, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson has become the quintessential benchmark in American gothic horror. This classic novel has not only engrossed and enthralled millions of readers, but continues to serve as a source of inspiration for countless authors who hope to live up to even a fraction of its prose. Hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror, The Haunting of Hill House chronicles the story of four strangers who agree to stay at the notoriously unfriendly Hill House: Dr. Montague, a scholar of the supernatural and the occult; Theodora, a flamboyant artist; Eleanor, a fragile recluse who claims past experience with poltergeists; and Luke, the young heir to the 80-year old mansion. Inexplicable events occur as the guests struggle to disguise their mounting fears that Hill House too is more than the sum of its parts; more than mere brick, wood, and stone. As the hours turn to days, Hill House seems to be a kind of live, breathing organism. Having disturbed the house’s long hibernation of isolation, the guests begin to dread the inevitable – that Hill House will take one of them as its own.

Since its original publication in 1959, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson has become the quintessential benchmark in American gothic horror. This classic novel has not only engrossed and enthralled millions of readers, but continues to serve as a source of inspiration for countless authors who hope to live up to even a fraction of its prose. Hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror, The Haunting of Hill House chronicles the story of four strangers who agree to stay at the notoriously unfriendly Hill House: Dr. Montague, a scholar of the supernatural and the occult; Theodora, a flamboyant artist; Eleanor, a fragile recluse who claims past experience with poltergeists; and Luke, the young heir to the 80-year old mansion. Inexplicable events occur as the guests struggle to disguise their mounting fears that Hill House too is more than the sum of its parts; more than mere brick, wood, and stone. As the hours turn to days, Hill House seems to be a kind of live, breathing organism. Having disturbed the house’s long hibernation of isolation, the guests begin to dread the inevitable – that Hill House will take one of them as its own.

Unbound book block which can be used by bookbinders and collectors to create their own unique bindings. Listed below are details about the components of the block.Sewn: YesEndsheets: NoIllustrations: YesColophon: Yes

Widely considered one of the scariest books ever written, The Haunting of Hill House is the terrifying grandmother of all modern haunted house tales; the ghostly disturbances in this novel have paved the way for countless supernatural menaces, from Stephen King’s The Shining to Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger. Yet Shirley Jackson’s most celebrated novel deals in the bone-deep terror of mental disintegration rather than gore – which is why once you have visited Hill House, you will not forget it.