The Turn of the Screw

Henry James (1843-1916)

Original en 39442 words First published 1898 United States

Henry James's 1898 ghost story — the most celebrated ambiguity in English fiction. A young governess takes charge of two angelic children at a remote country house, and soon sees the figures of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, former servants, both dead, who seem to be corrupting the children. Are they real ghosts, or is the governess imagining it all and destroying the children herself? James supplies every evidence and withholds the answer. Written with unbroken formal elegance, it remains the finest ghost story ever written.

Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (public domain in the United States); the Project Gutenberg trademark and license text have been removed on import. Public-domain status determined by the author's death year + 50 years rule.

The Turn of the Screw

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