The Turn of the Screw

"Another Turn of the Screw" remains for me THE quintessential ghost novel, as the cover of my edition of the book states. And I believe that beyond other works within the Gothic genre that marked the beginning of these tales, such as "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (mentioned in this novel) and "The Castle of Otranto", it is this book by Henry James that definitively installs the concept of the spectral, the ominous, and the oppressive in a traditional novel.

Surely there are many more examples in this vast universe of literature, but when a reader desires to venture into these stories, it is very likely that the first title that comes to mind is the title of this book, written by this great novelist, famous for having divided his narrative between England and the United States.
This is one of his most resounding successes, along with other works such as "The Portrait of a Lady", "The Bostonians", "The Aspern Papers", and "The Ambassadors". His work is vast and unforgettable, and is still read worldwide today.
This novel also installs another crucial question in the narrative, which refers to the different points of view of the characters, since each one has its own vision of what it sees or believes to see.
First, we have the main character, the unnamed governess (we never know her name) who arrives at a huge mansion in Bly to care for and educate two supposedly charming children, named Miles and Flora. There she will meet the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose, a character who is not so secondary and who will have a lot to do with what happens from the first "encounters" of the governess with strange presences.
The novel has had multiple interpretations, and all of them always fall on the governess, since as the chapters progress, the reader begins to ask certain questions: Are the ghosts of the previous governess, who return to the mansion to "stay" with the children and terrorize her? When reading the novel, we learn the story of Miss Jessel, who was young and beautiful like her and who died under strange circumstances, and also of the servant, Mr. Quint, supposedly violent, cruel, and promiscuous, who was found dead some time ago and who, apparently, both do not rest in peace.
Does the governess suffer from hallucinations? Is she mentally unbalanced? Is she going crazy? Is she paranoid? All these questions begin to be installed in our heads, but the answers clash with each other since all of them acquire a very certain probability. One of the most significant passages related to these questions occurs when the governess and Flora meet on the shores of the Sea of Azov lake, and I believe that it is the best scene in this novel.
There she is, Flora, and Miss Jessel. Is Miss Jessel there? The governess is seeing her, and Jessel looks at her with a demonic and truly spectral gaze, but Flora... Does she see her? Or does she see her and tell the governess that she doesn't?
This is how the encounters with the ghosts are set up, which at the beginning are between the governess and them through windows in the case of Mr. Quint and on the stairs and in the rooms when it happens with Miss Jessel, until the children and also Mrs. Grose begin to participate in them.
Everything seems so clear to the governess, but so confusing to the reader, and this is the game that Henry James leads us to with such mastery and genius. Because we will never know if the children know and don't want to say it or if the governess's mind is on the way to an inevitable mental collapse. This is how things are set up already from the third chapter, and the story will end with some points not closed, but keeping us, the readers, really expectant of what might happen.
"Another Turn of the Screw" makes allusions to terms such as terror, fear, hallucination, suggestion, ghosts, ambiguity, death, and to literary genres such as the Gothic, classic terror, mystery, psychological terror, or thriller.
This is so well told by Henry James that he himself felt a little afraid when he delivered the proofs to the editor, saying, "At the end, I was so scared that I was afraid to go to bed."
I can imagine what it caused in 1891 and beyond, that today's terror, starting from geniuses like Stephen King, can be considered much superior to the terror told by Henry James, but this novel never lost its relevance.
I read this book for the first time and was fascinated. I read it a second time when I studied Literature and it enchanted me again.
And even today, I'm still trying to give it another turn of the screw...

-Don't you see her as we see her? Can't you see her now..., right now? She's as big as a bonfire! Just look, good woman! Look!

Read this because of the new movie coming out soon. I always read the book before seeing the movie, even if it's going to be modern. And I have to say it was pretty good for an old horror story.

I really liked the setting. I mean, who doesn't love an old spooky mansion? It added a lot of atmosphere to the story. The characters were also quite enjoyable. They had their own unique personalities and quirks.

However, to be honest, I've had scarier nightmares. At times, I was just wondering when it would end more than what was happening to the characters. And at times, it was hard to understand what was happening. This is something I haven't had happen with Austen, Dickens, Hardy, or Twain.

Overall, it was an okay read. But it's not a reread for sure. Maybe the movie will be better and will bring more life to the story. I'm looking forward to seeing it and comparing it to the book.

Romanul horror și realismul psihologic sunt combinate cu succes în această opera a lui Henry James. Stilul său este tipic, cu o frazeologie complexă și o abundență de descrieri și metafore care contribuie la menținerea suspansului. Cititorul va fi permanent cuprins de un sentiment de neliniște și va avea mereu senzația că ceva malefic și violent pandă în spatele fiecărui cotlon.

Cei care își așteaptă ca horrorul să se manifeste în mod evident și direct vor avea o dezamăgire. În carte nu există nici vampiri sau alte creaturi și nici așa-numitele "jump scare"-uri specifice filmelor de horror actuale. Groaza este construită atent, pas cu pas și acționează în mod psihologic asupra personajelor și cititorului.

Personal, am admirat și apreciat această subtilitate, această manipulare fină a elementelor de groază. Singurul lucru care mi-a displacut a fost că a durat prea puțin. De asemenea, mi-ar fi dorit un final mai puternic sau poate mai diferit. Cu toate acestea, această carte este o opera de artă și o lectură fascinantă pentru cei interesati în genul horrorului și al psihologiei.

Narrated by Emma Thompson, I had the pleasure of re-reading this classic, gothic novella for the third time. It's truly a captivating experience.

I'm aware that many readers may not be overly impressed by this book. However, for me, it holds a special charm that keeps drawing me back. Yes, I know it can be rather verbose, especially when considering its relatively short length. But within those words, I discovered more than a few sentences that sent shivers down my spine.

I've always had a penchant for psychological horror and ambiguous stories. This novella hits most of the marks for me, delving deep into the recesses of the human mind and leaving room for interpretation. My original rating of the book, a solid 4 stars, still stands. It's a testament to the enduring power of this classic work.

Nothing will ever beat pms' review of this book.

However, here's a haunted house list that I made, and it has its own merits.

The list can be found at http://www.rifflebooks.com/list/20794....

This list offers a curated selection of haunted houses that are sure to send shivers down your spine.

Each entry on the list provides detailed information about the haunted house, including its history, the reported paranormal activities, and any tips or warnings for those brave enough to visit.

Whether you're a die-hard horror fan or just looking for a thrilling adventure, this haunted house list is a great resource.

So, check it out and see if any of these spooky locations pique your interest.

Just remember, enter at your own risk!

Henry James is a renowned author, and his work titled "The Turn of the Screw" is classified within the realm of horror literature. It was first published in 1898. This classic ghost story was likely quite terrifying during the time of its release. The narrative unfolds as a chilling encounter between ghosts and a governess entrusted with the care of children in the eerie atmosphere of a rural estate. The story is set in a dark and mysterious rural environment, which adds to the overall sense of dread and unease. As the governess attempts to protect the children from the malevolent spirits, she finds herself in a battle of wits and courage. The vivid descriptions and psychological depth in the story make it a captivating and spine-tingling read.

Many aspects of this book are quite agreeable. The gothic horror element and the battle between evil and innocence rather than a straightforward good-versus-evil narrative add an interesting layer. However, 'The Turn of the Screw' is extremely ambiguous. It's so open to interpretation that one can easily conclude there's no single 'correct' way to read it. The truth is, I simply wasn't invested enough in the story and its characters to truly care.

The plot, on the surface, is simple. A governess takes on a new post at Bly to look after two orphaned children now in the care of their uncle. But with constant ghostly sightings, strange noises, and supernatural events, the safety of those living there is far from assured. The author really tightens the screws on everyone, making it incredibly difficult to determine who has a connection with the supernatural world and why.

The writing style was indeed very good and was perhaps the best part of the book. However, everything else seemed to be lacking in some regard. Even the writing had its frustrating moments for me. While I do appreciate extravagant and elegant prose at times, I don't like it when it's ostentatious just for the sake of trying to be 'clever' or overly convoluted. I'm certain there are less complicated ways to convey messages like this.

At times, the author managed to create the perfect haunting atmosphere, only to have it almost disappear. The characterisation started off well but then devolved into stereotypical horror book tropes - the seemingly innocent child, the apparently loving and caring governess, and the stern and secretive housekeeper.

Alternatively, some might argue that the governess' strange behavior is due to the sexual tensions and desires that have built up within her as she lusts after her elusive but dashing master and landowner. I need more convincing on that front, or perhaps I read a different book. Other critics believe the demonic connection lies with the children, and that's something I can agree with. This alone shows just how ambiguous the storyline and plot are, with such important aspects of the story being interpreted so differently.

Over the years, other authors have no doubt taken inspiration and elements from earlier stories like this and developed them into greater works of horror or gothic fiction. So, this book does have its place. However, although 'The Turn of the Screw' was very good in parts and well-written overall, there was nothing truly special or memorable about it.

As a literary piece and a gothic horror novella, I wanted to love this. Unfortunately, I didn't. For me, this book is no more than a 3-star read. But giving it a 2 seems a bit harsh because the writing is excellent in parts, and it has a safe yet intriguing storyline. I encourage you to read other reviews as some of my Goodreads friends have enjoyed this more than I did and rated it higher.

Este es un claro ejemplo de que cada libro tiene su lector y en este caso, "Otra vuelta de tuerca" no ha sido para mí