Upon noticing that Superfastreader has Shirley Jackson listed as one of her favourite writers, I had to e-mail her and compliment her good taste. And that got me to thinking about Shirley Jackson.
Most people, if they know of Jackson’s work at all, know her through her infamous short story “The Lottery” or her novel The Haunting of Hill House, which has been adapted–rather poorly–to film. (I say that, and I love the movies, but on their own merits, not as representatives of the novel.)
But if that’s all you know about Shirley Jackson, you’re truly missing out. She was an extraordinary woman, and an even more extraordinary writer.
I first learned about her through her two books about her family life: Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons. I was a kid, perhaps 7 or 8, and was enchanted by the books and immediately wanted to go be a part of her family so I could have Sally for my sister and play with a srop, whatever a srop was.
When I read “The Lottery,” probably in junior high school, I did not realize the author of that haunting short story was the same Shirley Jackson that I had wanted for a mother. I’m not sure when I put the pieces together, but when I finally did, I had to read everything she ever wrote. I wanted to know her. So I read and read and read and read. I don’t even think I could pick a favourite among her books, as they each have a unique appeal for me.
I went to the Shirley Jackson website to get the following bibliography of her novels:
The Bird’s Nest. New York: Farrar, Straus, 1954.
The Hangsaman. New York: Farrar, Straus, 1950.
The Haunting of Hill House. New York: Viking,1959.
The Road Through the Wall. New York: Farrar, Straus, 1948.
The Sundial. New York: Farrar, Straus, 1958.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle. New York: Viking, 1962.
She also wrote many more short stories. She was fascinated with the concept of the daemon lover, and wrote some brilliant stories with that theme. She wrote about the peculiarities of racism (“After You, My Dear Alphonse”).
Judy Oppenheimer wrote a marvelous biography of her, Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson. It’s a fantastic look at the life of this haunted woman. I highly recommend it.
Just writing and thinking about her makes me want to go dig out all my Shirley Jackson novels, and go find her collected short stories, and read the biography again. I encourage you to go and do likewise. You will not regret it.
you’ve out phil-ed dr. phil? wow, you are the highest supreme saint of emotional intelligence. are you sure you’re human?
hmm, now you’ve got me intrigued about ms. jackson. because you’re right. all i remember is the lottery. and that was quite disturbing. indeed.
[…] 2007 · No Comments defending genre On Reading shirley jackson I got a lovely email from Chauceriangirl telling me she loved my blog & expressing her shared admiration for my dear beloved Shirley […]
[…] I was inspired to read this thanks to an email I got from Chaucerian Girl. She expressed an appreciation for Private Demons, Judy Oppenheimer’s biography of the woman […]