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Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life

By Ruth Franklin
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin is an insightful biography exploring the life of one of America's most significant and mysterious writers, Shirley Jackson. The book delves into her complex persona, blending her personal struggles with her literary creations, and examines how her experiences and societal challenges influenced her hauntingly memorable work. Franklin carefully uncovers Jackson's world, revealing the person behind the tales of horror and the macabre.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're captivated by the intriguing life of Shirley Jackson, a master of suspense and psychological horror. This biography offers a deep dive into her creative process and personal struggles, painting an intimate portrait of a complex writer whose work has left an enduring legacy.

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Reviving the life and work of a neglected master, this biography establishes Shirley Jackson as a towering figure in American literature.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Instantly heralded for its masterful and thrilling portrayal (Boston Globe), Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life reveals the tumultuous life and inner darkness of the literary genius behind such classics as "The Lottery" and The Haunting of Hill House. In this "remarkable act of reclamation" (Neil Gaiman), Ruth Franklin envisions Jackson as "belonging to the great tradition of Hawthorne, Poe, and James" (New York Times Book Review) and demonstrates how her unique contribution to the canon "so uncannily channeled women's nightmares and contradictions that it is nothing less than the secret history of American women of her era" (Washington Post).

Franklin investigates the "interplay 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 women's history" (Chicago Tribune). "Wisely rescu[ing] Shirley Jackson from any semblance of obscurity" (Lena Dunham), Franklin's invigorating portrait stands as the definitive biography of a generational avatar and an American literary genius.

60 illustrations

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Ruth Franklin's biography of Shirley Jackson has been lauded as a deeply researched and sympathetic portrayal of the writer's life. Reviewers have praised it for its vivid narrative and thorough examination of Jackson's work and personal life, highlighting Franklin's ability to combine the different aspects of Jackson's personality. The book has been described as authoritative, insightful, and a comprehensive exploration of Jackson's legacy, offering new material and a fresh perspective on the acclaimed author.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781631493416

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 November 2017

Country: United States

Imprint: Liveright Publishing Corporation

Illustration: 60 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 211.0mm

Weight: 466g

Pages: 624

Collections

Biography & Memoir Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction Ruth Franklin

About the Author

Ruth FranklinΒ is a book critic and frequent contributor to The New Yorker, Harper’s, and many other publications. A recipient of a New York Public Library Cullman Fellowship and a Guggenheim Fellowship, she lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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