WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE

Mary Katherine Blackwood, Merricat as she’s known, recounts her life through a skewed and mentally disturbed perspective. This psychologically twisted story tells the tale of a young woman who has survived the (arsenic) poisoning death of her family at the hands of her older sister Constance, who was tried and acquitted of the crime. Constance, Merricat and Uncle Julian, all for one reason or another,  survive the poisoning. They live in quiet seclusion, apart from the townspeople they loathe and fear, until that is, cousin Charles decides to move into the castle with them. 

This is one disturbing little book, to say the least. But then, that’s what Shirley Jackson did best. She disturbed (disturbs).

First published in 1962 by The Viking Press, We Have Always Lived In The Castle is the last book Shirley Jackson ever wrote. It was republished in 2006 by Penguin Press with an Introduction by Jonathan Lethem, that should not be read until you‘ve finished the book as it is full of spoilers. Ms. Jackson (1916 – 1965) is best known for her short story, The Lottery, and for her novel, The Haunting of Hill House  ~

psychological suspense – horror, and the dark fantastic/146 pages

Cover art  ink drawing by Thomas Ott