The Letters of Shirley Jackson

The Letters of Shirley Jackson is a compelling and enchanting collection of never-before-published letters from one of the most influential American authors of the twentieth century. Shirley Jackson, renowned for her works such as The Lottery and The Haunting of Hill House, left an indelible mark on the literary world. This compilation offers an intimate glimpse into the life and mind of this incredible writer, as told through her personal correspondence.

Recognised as one of the best books of the year by Kirkus Reviews, this biography-through-letters paints a vivid picture of Shirley Jackson's world. Joyce Carol Oates lauds the collection, noting that it gives "an intimate and warm voice to the imagination behind the treasury of uncanny tales that is Shirley Jackson's legacy."

Spanning nearly three decades, from Jackson's college years to just six days before her untimely death at the age of forty-eight, these letters serve as the autobiography she never penned. They offer an extraordinary glimpse into her dual identity as a bestselling author and a mother of four living in Vermont. Readers will discover the melding of the mundane and the magical, from recounting raucous holidays and dentist visits to handling overdue taxes, frayed Christmas lights, new pets, and new babies. In her letters to family, friends, and colleagues, Jackson transforms everyday occurrences into captivating stories filled with humour, horror, and keen insight.

One of Jackson's letters captures her multifaceted life beautifully: “I am having a fine time doing a novel with my left hand and a long story—with as many levels as Grand Central Station—with my right hand, stirring chocolate pudding with a spoon held in my teeth, and tuning the television with both feet.” Her witty line drawings, interspersed throughout the collection, add an additional layer of charm and personality.

Compiled and edited by her elder son, Laurence Jackson Hyman, in consultation with Jackson scholar Bernice M. Murphy, this collection offers fresh insight into the genesis and development of Jackson's writing. The reader is invited to see through the beguiling prism that holds Shirley Jackson’s multifaceted identity: writer and reader, mother and daughter, neighbour and wife. The letters also reveal the emotional landscape behind her novels, including moments of profound sadness and the eerie premonitions embedded in her fiction: “The novel is getting sadder. It's always such a strange feeling—I know something's going to happen, and those poor people in the book don't; they just go blithely on their ways.”

The Letters of Shirley Jackson is not just a collection of letters; it is an exploration of the extraordinary within the ordinary. It is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the life and works of Shirley Jackson, providing a rare, candid look at the woman behind some of the most memorable literature of our time.