The Turn of the Screw

Widely recognized as one of literature’s most gripping horror stories, The Turn of the Screw is a classic tale of moral degradation.

Henry James’s ‘masterpiece of the supernational,’ in this beautifully designed classic edition

Widely recognized as one of literature’s most gripping horror stories, The Turn of the Screw is a classic tale of moral degradation. It’s been described by critics as the most sophisticated and terrifying ghost story in the English language.

Written by Henry James in 1898, the novella tells the tale of a naive young governess who is hired to take care of two children in a large mansion in the English countryside. Everything is fine, until she discovers that the children are not as innocent as they seem and she becomes convinced that the grounds are haunted.

Without resorting to the usual clattering chains, demonic noises, and melodramatic techniques, this elegantly told tale creates an atmosphere of chilling suspense and unspoken horror unmatched by other books in the genre. It’s considered one of the great intellectual “spook tales” of all time.

Known for his probing psychological novels, James’s masterpiece of the supernatural has frightened and delighted readers for nearly a century.

HENRY JAMES (1843-1916) was an American-English author, considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. His other novels include The Portrait of a Lady, The Ambassadors and The Wings of the Dove. James’s experimental style explores his characters’ psyches in unique ways. Born in the United States, James relocated to Europe