Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life

Winner ¥ National Book Critics Circle Award (Biography)
Winner ¥ Edgar Award (Critical/Biographical)
Winner ¥ Bram Stoker Award (Nonfiction)

A New York Times Notable Book
A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Pick of the Year
Named one of the Best Books of the Year by Entertainment Weekly, NPR, TIME, Boston Globe, NYLON, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist

In this Òthoughtful and persuasiveÓ biography, award-winning biographer Ruth Franklin establishes Shirley Jackson as a Òserious and accomplished literary artistÓ (Charles McGrath, New York Times Book Review).

Instantly heralded for its ÒmasterfulÓ and ÒthrillingÓ portrayal (Boston Globe), Shirley Jackson reveals the tumultuous life and inner darkness of the literary genius behind such classics as ÒThe LotteryÓ and The Haunting of Hill House. In this Òremarkable act of reclamationÓ (Neil Gaiman), Ruth Franklin envisions Jackson as Òbelonging to the great tradition of Hawthorne, Poe and JamesÓ (New York Times Book Review) and demonstrates how her unique contribution to the canon Òso uncannily channeled womenÕs nightmares and contradictions that it is Ônothing less than the secret history of American women of her eraÕ Ó (Washington Post). Franklin investigates the Òinterplay between the life, the work, and the times with real skill and insight, making this fine book a real contribution not only to biography, but to mid-20th-century womenÕs historyÓ (Chicago Tribune). ÒWisely rescu[ing] Shirley Jackson from any semblance of obscurityÓ (Lena Dunham), FranklinÕs invigorating portrait stands as the definitive biography of a generational avatar and an American literary genius.

60 illustrations