Showing results by author "Shirley" in All Categories

Four seekers have come to the ugly, abandoned old mansion: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of the psychic phenomenon called haunting; Theodora, his lovely and lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a lonely, homeless girl well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the adventurous future heir of Hill House.

Six years after four family members died of arsenic poisoning, the three remaining Blackwoods—elder, agoraphobic sister Constance; wheelchair-bound Uncle Julian; and 18-year-old Mary Katherine, or, Merricat—live together in pleasant isolation. Merricat has developed an idiosyncratic system of rules and protective magic to guard the estate against intrusions from hostile villagers. But one day a stranger arrives—cousin Charles, with his eye on the Blackwood fortune.

Caro, gallant and adventurous, is one of two Australian sisters who have come to post-war England to seek their fortunes. Courted long and hopelessly by young scientist, Ted Tice, she is to find that love brings passion, sorrow, betrayal and finally hope. The milder Grace seeks fulfilment in an...

Brought to you by Penguin. This is the definitive collection of Shirley Jackson's short stories, including 'The Lottery' - one of the most terrifying and iconic stories of the twentieth century, and an influence on writers such as Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. 'Shirley Jackson's stories are...

Louise Towers, one of the most powerful and celebrated women in the world, is brutally attacked in her New York mansion. Founder of a mighty cosmetics empire, she is known as one of the most well-guarded, inaccessible people, so both the public and press alike believe that the attack could have only been planned by someone close to her. The investigation to find the perpetrator uncovers an intricate web of family, friends, business associates, and lovers—any one of whom could have been motivated to harm Louise.

Brought to you by Penguin. In The Sundial Shirley Jackson, author of We Have Always Lived in the Castle, blends family politics and apocalyptic terror to create a disturbing world of sinister relations and the macabre. 'An amazing writer' Neil Gaiman Mrs Halloran has inherited the great Halloran...

“Jackson at her best: plumbing the extraordinary from the depths of mid-twentieth-century common. [Just an Ordinary Day] is a gift to a new generation.”—San Francisco Chronicle Acclaimed in her own time for her short story “The Lottery” and her novel The Haunting of Hill...

Follow the life of a piece of driftwood as it experiences many adventures throughout its life cycle. See how driftwood transforms from a tall spruce to a sturdy mast on a sail boat. Experience its life as it travels the world and witnesses many glimpses of history. After disaster strikes along the way, the driftwood is not forgotten but is once again transformed!

Brought to you by Penguin. The unsettling story of a young woman's descent into mental illness, from the author of The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived at the Castle. 'An amazing writer' Neil Gaiman Elizabeth Richmond is almost too quiet to be believed, with no friends, no parents...

Meet Alfie and Annie Rose, Mum and Dad, Chessie the cat, the MacNallys down the road, and many many more, in this wonderful collection of 10 best-loved Alfie stories by Shirley Hughes. Read by Roger Allam and Roy Mcmillan. Includes: Alfie Gets in First, Alfie's Feet, An Evening at Alfie's, Alfie Gives a Hand, Alfie and the Big Boys, Alfie Wins a Prize, All About Alfie, Alfie's Christmas, Alfie Outdoors.

Brought to you by Penguin. Step into the unsettling world of Shirley Jackson this autumn with a collection of her finest, darkest short stories, revealing the queen of American gothic at her mesmerising best. There's something nasty in suburbia. In these deliciously dark tales, the daily commute...

The young Welshmen selected grew to become the closest of friends as they navigated their way through the difficult sniper cadre. After losing one of their own to the Taliban shortly after the course, Ted and the rest of the lads deployed to Helmand Province and the raging war for the second time. As the tour in Afghanistan came to an end, Ted began to feel the effects of what will later be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder, and it quickly took over his life, sending him on a downward spiral.

Brought to you by Penguin. A darkly funny account of family life from the author of The Haunting of Hill House and The Lottery 'Sometimes, in my capacity as a mother, I find myself sitting open-mouthed and terrified before my own children' As well as being a master of the macabre, Shirley...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In the days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, America was largely focused on the war in Europe, but when planes dropped out of a clear blue sky and bombed the American naval base and aerial targets in Hawaii, everything changed in an instant. December 1941 takes you...

We were sitting in a pool and said “you know what, we should start a poddy”, and that’s how we knew we were friends. Then we took it out the pool and the chat and into the living room. Take a break, grab your gardening tools, and join us weekly as we talk about living, laugh.

Do you want to write a novel readers can’t put down? Welcome to the Writing Compelling Fiction Podcast, hosted by New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Shirley Jump. With more than 8 million copies sold and 85+ published novels in 24 countries, Shirley shares the exact storytelling techniques that turn good books into unforgettable ones. This podcast is for aspiring authors, indie writers, traditionally published novelists, and anyone who wants to learn how to write fiction like a pro.

In her celebrated fiction, Shirley Jackson explored the darkness lurking beneath the surface of small-town America. But in Life Among the Savages, she takes on the lighter side of small-town life. In this witty and warm memoir of her family's life in rural Vermont, she delightfully exposes a domestic side in cheerful contrast to her quietly terrifying fiction. With a novelist's gift for character, an unfailing maternal instinct, and her signature humor, Jackson turns everyday family experiences into brilliant adventures.

Making memories and fostering relationships with our grandchildren in the midst of a fast-moving culture isn't easy, and a legacy that lasts isn't crafted overnight. So how do we as grandparents cultivate strong, meaningful relationships with the children we adore? Start with The Mindful Grandparent. Through inspired ideas teamed with simple practices and engaging stories, it covers wide-ranging topics such as cultivating curiosity, helping children explore difficult topics, honoring adult children's boundaries, and managing technology. Let it be your guide and refuge.

Stories of magic, superstition, and witchcraft were strictly forbidden in the little town of Salem Village. But a group of young girls ignored those rules, spellbound by the tales told by a woman named Tituba. When questioned about their activities, the terrified girls set off a whirlwind of controversy as they accused townsperson after townsperson of being witches.

Brought to you by Penguin. Shirley Jackson's Hangsaman is a story of lurking disquiet and haunting disorientation, inspired by the real-life, unsolved disappearance of a female college student. 'Shirley Jackson's stories are among the most terrifying ever written' Donna Tartt, author of The...