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The Sundial

By Shirley Jackson
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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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
In The Sundial by Shirley Jackson, an eccentric family, convinced that a prophetic vision forewarns an impending apocalypse, barricades themselves in their grand mansion. As they prepare for the end of the world, the members oscillate between paranoia and delusion, creating an atmosphere laced with dark humour and psychological tension. The story masterfully explores themes of isolation, belief, and control.
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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 appreciate suspenseful tales set in eerie, atmospheric settings with complex characters. The novel delves into themes of isolation and psychological tension, combining elements of dark humour and gothic fiction to create a gripping narrative that keeps you intrigued until the end. Fans of Shirley Jackson's unique storytelling style will find this work particularly compelling.

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The Sundial

Mrs Halloran has inherited the great Halloran house on the death of her son, much to the disgust of her daughter-in-law, the delight of her wicked granddaughter and the confusion of the rest of the household.

Shirley Jackson blends sinister family politics and apocalyptic terror in a masterpiece of the macabre.

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

Fans of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House will enjoy this disquieting tale of people awaiting the end of the world in a large, isolated house.

Mrs Halloran has inherited the great Halloran house on the death of her son, much to the disgust of her daughter-in-law, the delight of her wicked granddaughter, and the confusion of the rest of the household. But when the original owner—long dead—arrives to announce the world is ending and only the house and its occupants will be saved, they find themselves in a nightmare of strange marble statues, mysterious house guests, and the beautiful, unsettling Halloran sundial which seems to be at the centre of it all.

In this masterful work, Shirley Jackson blends family politics and apocalyptic terror to create a disturbing world of sinister relations and the macabre.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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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?

The Sundial by Shirley Jackson is lauded for its chilling narrative and eerie atmosphere. Critics praise Jackson's mastery in crafting supernatural elements and psychological depth, highlighting her as a pioneer of the horror genre. The book is described as cryptic and haunting, showcasing Jackson's exceptional storytelling prowess, as noted by esteemed authors and publications.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141391960

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 March 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 183g

Pages: 240

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics Shirley Jackson

About the Author

Shirley Jackson was born in California in 1916. When her short story, 'The Lottery', was first published in the New Yorker in 1948, readers were so horrified they sent her hate mail; it has since become one of the most iconic American stories of all time. Her first novel, The Road Through the Wall, was published in the same year and was followed by Hangsaman, The Bird's Nest, The Sundial, The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, widely seen as her masterpiece. In addition to her dark, brilliant novels, she wrote lightly fictionalized magazine pieces about family life with her four children and her husband, the critic Stanley Edgar Hyman. Shirley Jackson died in 1965.

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