The Turn of the Screw PDF is a novel written by Henry James and originally published in 1898. The novel is told in the first person by an unnamed female narrator and revolves around a governess who is hired to take care of two children at an isolated estate called Bly. Soon after arriving, the governess realizes that the children are being haunted by ghosts, and she must find a way to protect them.
The Turn of the Screw was originally published in serial form in 1898 and was then published as a book in the same year. The novel was immediately popular and has been reprinted numerous times. It is considered to be one of James’ best works and is often studied in literature classes.
Themes in The Turn of the Screw include ghost stories, morality, and power dynamics. The novel has been praised for its psychological depth, and its ability to create an atmosphere of suspense.
The Turn of the Screw has sold millions of copies and has been translated into many languages. It is available in both paperback and hardcover editions.
Table of Contents
The Turn of the Screw Summary
The book starts with the introduction of the governess who is the narrator and heroine of the story. She is never named but she is a young woman in her twenties who has come from a lower-middle-class background and has been given the opportunity to governess two young children, Flora and Miles, at Bly, an estate in Essex, England. The children’s uncle, who is their only guardian, lives in London and has entrusted them to the care of his housekeeper, Mrs. Grose.
The governess arrives at Bly on a foggy evening and is met by Mrs. Grose, who shows her to her room. The next morning, the governess is awakened by the sound of Flora singing. She goes downstairs and finds Flora in the garden with Mrs. Grose. They have a brief conversation in which the governess expresses her surprise that such a young child should be left unsupervised.
The governess is then introduced to Miles, who has just been expelled from his boarding school. The reason for his expulsion is never made clear, but the governess suspects that it was because of some sort of mischief. Miles is sullen and uncooperative at first, but he eventually warms up to the governess and they become friends.
Soon after arriving, the governess realizes that the children are being haunted by ghosts, specifically the ghosts of a man and a woman. The governess is initially terrified by the apparitions, but she eventually comes to believe that they are harmless and that they are only trying to communicate something to the children.
Details of The Turn of the Screw Book
| Book | The Turn of the Screw |
| Author | Henry James |
| Original language | English |
| Originally published | April 16, 1898 |
| Category | Horror, gothic fiction |
| Publisher | The Macmillan Company |
| Total Pages | 174 |
| Format | PDF, ePub |
Multiple Languages Editions of The Turn of the Screw Book
There are many language editions of The Turn of the Screw book. They are all different and have their own unique way of telling the story.
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About the Author
Henry James was born in New York City on April 15, 1843, the son of Henry James, Sr., and the brother of William and Alice. He grew up in a wealthy and cultured household; his father was a minor intellectual figure in transatlantic circles, and the family traveled frequently between Europe and America.
James spent much of his childhood in England and attended school in Geneva, Switzerland. After graduation from Harvard University in 1864, he toured Europe with his father and spent several years living in Paris and Rome.
James began his literary career as a novelist with Watch and Ward (1871), a book that reflects his own youthful idealism. The characters in this work are based on people James knew in his social circle.
The author’s first serious attempt at psychological realism, Daisy Miller (1878), is the story of a naïve American girl who shocks European society with her frankness and lack of propriety. The novella The Aspern Papers (1888) is a macabre tale of literary obsession, in which a biographer’s search for information about a long-dead poet becomes an exercise in moral ambiguity.
The Turn of the Screw PDF Free Download
If you are looking for a pdf file of The Turn of the Screw book, it is available here for free to download.
Similar Books to The Turn of the Screw Book
- The Aspern Papers
- Daisy Miller
- The Shining
- Roderick Hudson
- Watch and Ward
FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions)
How many pages are in The Turn of the Screw pdf?
The Turn of the Screw is a novella, or short novel, consisting of just over 150 pages.
What is the theme of The Turn of the Screw?
The Turn of the Screw is a ghost story that centers around the theme of good vs. evil, and the age-old question of whether or not evil exists independently, or if it is merely a product of the human imagination.
Why is The Turn of the Screw so scary?
The Turn of the Screw is considered to be one of the most spine-chilling ghost stories ever written, in part. It is left up to the reader to determine whether or not the ghosts are real, or merely figments of the protagonist’s imagination.
Why is it called Turn of the Screw?
The Turn of the Screw gets its title from a nautical term that refers to the process of tightening a screw, or fastening, in order to make it more secure.
What do the ghosts symbolize in Turn of the Screw?
The ghosts in The Turn of the Screw have been interpreted to symbolize a variety of things, ranging from repressed sexual desire to unacknowledged guilt.
Who is the narrator in The Turn of the Screw?
The narrator of The Turn of the Screw is an anonymous, third-person narrator.
