Why people recommend it
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a seminal Gothic novella that has terrified and fascinated readers for generations with its chilling ambiguity surrounding ghosts, psychological torment, and unreliable narration. The classic work received notable attention on The Book Review podcast. Sati Stein recommended the novella during a Halloween episode, praising James as a master craftsman and noting that the story essentially birthed the modern psychosexual thriller. Pamela Paul also highlighted the book's enduring cultural footprint, discussing a review by Gillian Flynn of Emma Thompson narrating the story, and sharing her own experience rereading the novella as part of a Penguin Classics ghost stories collection during quarantine. Sarah Lyall discussed the book on the podcast as well, categorizing it alongside other timeless thrillers like Rebecca and noting how James's narrative style continues to inspire modern adaptations and reimaginings, such as the film version titled The Turning and Ruth Ware's novels. Across these discussions, critics and hosts underscored the novella's unique ability to blur the lines between supernatural horror and psychological distress. James's masterful pacing and unsettling atmosphere ensure that The Turn of the Screw remains a gold standard for suspense literature, inviting endless interpretation from readers and contemporary thriller writers alike.
Who recommended it
- Pamela Paul Recommended
- Sarah Lyall Discussed
- Sati Stein Recommended
Pamela Paul — 6 mentions
“and it's funny because I'm actually among other things reading a book of Henry James right now and one of the stories in the book it's really a Nolla that I'm reading right now is the turn of the screw which I hadn't read since I originally read it”
“it's a penguin Classics Collection and I I started reading it around Halloween because like many people in quarantine there's a certain sameness to the days”
“the only ghost story I'd ever read by Henry James was the turn of the screw”
“and I read Henry James's the turn of the screw and other ghost stories”
“and actually I think in this week's issue we have a review by Gillian Flynn of Emma Thompson reading Henry James's turn of the scri right which sounds fabulous”
“this week's issue we have a review by Gillian Flynn of Emma Thompson reading Henry James's turn of the school”
Sarah Lyall — 2 mentions
“So other things were like Rebecca, amazing thriller, The Turn of the Screw, and you know, you read those not knowing what genre they are, but oh my god, there are thrillers.”
“it's an interpretation of you know another reimagining of Henry James's the turn of the screw and and last night I happened to go to a screening of a new film version called the turning which is yet another movie version of the Henry James”
Sati Stein — 1 mention
“but I think we could not end this conversation without mentioning a turn at the screw just because it started it all and it in if you want psychosexual Thrills if you want to be really scared if you want a great writer seeing what can be done with this media you just can't beat Henry James Henry James and”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
- Everything you know
- Grimm's fairy tales
- Notes on a Scandal
- Presumed Innocent
- Rebecca
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Alongside Henry James' The Turn of the Screw and Stephen King's The Shining, The Haunting of Hill House, published in 1959, is one of the seminal haunted house stories of the 20th century.”
“that book is The Haunting of Hill housee by Shirley Jackson alongside Henry James's the turn of the screw and Stephen King's The Shining”