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Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) Paperback – Deckle Edge, October 31, 2006

by Shirley Jackson (Author), Thomas Ott (Illustrator), Jonathan Lethem (Afterword)

3,858 ratings

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Shirley Jackson's beloved gothic tale of a peculiar girl named Merricat and her family's dark secret

Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate. This edition features a new introduction by Jonathan Lethem.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Print length

146 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Classics
Publication date

October 31, 2006
Dimensions

5.69 x 0.5 x 8.45 inches
ISBN-10

9780143039976
ISBN-13

978-0143039976
Lexile measure

920L
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A marvelous elucidation of life…a story full of craft and full of mystery” —The New York Times Book Review

“A witch’s brew of eerie power and startling novelty” —The New York Times

“I was thrilled by the genuine but meaningful strangeness of Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle.” —George Saunders

“Jackson’s novel is so wonderfully creepy that students usually feel subversive just for reading it. Add to that one of the most brilliantly realized unreliable narrators in fiction and the book becomes irresistible.” —Marlon James

About the Author

Shirley Jackson (1919–1965), a celebrated writer of horror, wrote many stories as well as six novels and two works of nonfiction.

Jonathan Lethem is the author of numerous acclaimed novels, including Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude.

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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0143039970
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Deluxe ed. edition (October 31, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 146 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780143039976
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143039976
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 920L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.69 x 0.5 x 8.45 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #29 in Ghost Thrillers
- #46 in Gothic Fiction
- #104 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction

Customer Reviews:
3,858 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		63%
4 star		20%
3 star		12%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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B

Don't read the introduction

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2018

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DO NOT READ THE INTRODUCTION!!
I would give this story 5 stars, but the introduction ruined the story by spoiling every secret on the first page, so I have to rate this book a 4 star.
The story was gripping, unique, and quite dreamy. I had to know what would happen on each page. I will admit that I was rather upset with having read part of the introduction, because unfortunately, everything the author intended to be a twist had already been revealed to me.

410 people found this helpful

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Little Miss Fun

Overrated

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2018

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Oh my! I would give less than one star if I could. I was looking forward to reading this book. I mean, it’s October. I don’t usually do Halloween reads, and wow, just look at that cover! It turns out that the only scary thing about this book is the cover. There was a complete lack of plot. This book is not a horror novel. It’s not a thriller. It is 146 pages of silly and pointless descriptions of what everyone’s going to eat and clean. What I couldn’t believe was that it was only 146 pages, yet I got to a point where I honestly thought that the book would never end. It was the oddest thing. I’m usually a fast reader, but this started to feel like drudgery. I kept waiting for something to happen. It was not only boring, but also left the reader hanging with many unanswered questions. It’s definitely overrated and I cannot for the life of me understand why it has such glowing reviews. I’m starting to believe that Shirley Jackson stories fall into the category of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

82 people found this helpful

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fra7299

Brilliantly creepy

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017

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It’s amazing how Shirley Jackson can take the everyday and twist it somehow into a subtle and creepy tale. There’s an element of Gothic in her last book, We Have Always Lived in the Castle. What I also believe Jackson can accomplish so impeccably in her writing---and through her characters and their situations—is leaving an element of subjectivity and the “unknown” within. The reader is often left seeing various pieces of characters and context, but often must make their own conclusions and put some pieces together. To me, that makes for a remarkable reading experience.

The basis for this novel is a family, the Blackwoods, whose remaining family members have been ostracized by a small community. We learn why: a terrible tragedy years before—poisoning, it seems—took the lives of everyone of the Blackwood clan excerpt three, Uncle Julian, Constance, and the narrator, Mary Katherine(aka “Merricat”). Constance was suspected, but ultimately acquitted of the poisoning. Living a life mainly of alienation away from the whispers of this town, the Blackwoods are able to manage. Merricat believes in such things as omens, and is vastly different compared to her sister, Constance. Uncle Julian is an invalid because he did have a bit of the poison that claimed the other Blackwoods’ lives, but not enough to kill him. This is a book that is difficult to reveal too much about plot without spoiling, but, when a certain cousin Charles suddenly arrives to the Blackwood home, the plot thickens.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is very reminiscent of Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” in its themes of mob mentality. As the remaining family members by to go about their lives, they are often the subject of subtle and not so subtle taunts and threats.

There is a brilliantly atmospheric vibe to this novel. My feeling is that Shirley Jackson is incredibly underrated as an author, not being given quite the accolades she deserves. This book is one such example of her genius, an expertly crafted eerie tale with brilliant prose. It is a perfect book for a Halloween night.

108 people found this helpful

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Abeer Y. Hoque

dark and cool and beautifully written mystery!

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2017

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I now want to read everything Shirley Jackson has ever written. Her last novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle (published in 1962), is a dark and cool period mystery, following the wealthy Blackwood family in what seems like a century old New England. It’s hard to tell how old the narrator, Merricat Blackwood, is, or what her mental state reveals. She’s odd for sure, mad maybe, with a sharp eye for detail, and a shocking family tragedy in her past. The other main characters are her beautiful and mild elder sister, Constance, an elderly ill uncle Julian, and a motley cast of villagers and other high born. I was surprised and disturbed by each turn of events, and so I won’t say much more except that WHALitC is a short thrilling read and well worth your time. Ms. Jackson’s short story, The Lottery, garnered bags and bags of hate mail, when it came out in the New Yorker in 1948. You can bet that’s next on my list.

56 people found this helpful

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Steven Ramirez

A Masterwork of Madness, Deception, and Envy

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2019

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Like many school children, I read Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” when I was too young to understand it. Later in my twenties, I read The Haunting of Hill House, a mesmerizing experience. Of course, I was well acquainted with the outstanding Robert Wise film adaptation starring Julie Harris as the pitch-perfect Eleanor Vance. What I learned best from that story is that hauntings are best when the victim cooperates.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is Jackson’s last novel, and it is a masterwork of madness, deception, and envy. In words that are simple and well chosen, the author allows us to follow Mary Katherine Blackwood—also known as Merricat as she goes about her day in the house, the woods, and sometimes, the village. We come to learn early on that the other family members are long dead—poisoned. And we also discover the village’s hatred of the Blackwood family which, towards the end of the book, comes to a head in a way reminiscent of “The Lottery.”

Things are orderly and cloistered in the Blackwood house until Cousin Charles appears. It’s immediately apparent that he is hoping to cash in on the supposed hidden wealth of the sisters. And, being the imperious lout that he is, he underestimates the strength and protectiveness of Merricat as he bumbles his way through vague overtures toward Constance and threatening promises of things changing for the better.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a story that will chill you with characters who are sympathetic in their trapped existence. It is a brilliant novel that makes me wish Jackson were still alive to write more. After all, there are so many other castles yet to explore.

14 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Louise Marley

Subtle psychological suspense

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2016

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I originally downloaded this book because the title caught my eye (I love castles!) along with the cover - and the fact that it was written by Shirley Jackson. I love her style of writing - she is one of the few authors I'm prepared to forgive for not always settling for a traditional happy/satisfying ending.

The story is told by Mary Katherine Blackwood (also known as Merricat, sometimes affectionately, but often as an insult by the people who live in the village). The Blackwoods are a wealthy family who have lived for generations in a large house surrounded by a large estate. "As soon as a new Blackwood wife moved in, a place was found for her belongings, and so our house was built up with layers of Blackwood property weighting it, and keeping it steady against the world."

Six years ago Merricat's father, mother, aunt and brother all died when arsenic was put into a sugar bowl. Merricat's elder sister Constance was arrested for the murders, but acquitted due to lack of evidence. Their Uncle Julian was the only other survivor. Everyone in the village hates the Blackwoods, although it is unclear whether this is due to their wealth, because they are 'different' or because one of them is believed to be a murderer. Merricat refuses to be intimidated and visits the village every Tuesday to buy groceries. Constance is agoraphobic and does not like to leave the house; Uncle Julian's mind is going and he is confined to a wheelchair.

At the start the story reads like a mystery. Why do the villagers hate the family so much? What did happen six years ago? Who was the murderer? The answers are dripped in very, very slowly. The writing style is deceptively simple and yet the tension curls tighter and tighter. It is closer to psychological suspense than horror. Is Merricat an 'unreliable' narrator? Every word she speaks is the truth - but it's the truth as she sees it. She casts spells, buries objects or nails them to the trees in the wood. Is she a witch or just completely bonkers?

When their estranged cousin turns up, hoping to divide and conquer, and make off with the family fortune, you just know it won't end well. But don't under-estimate the Blackwoods. They have always lived in the castle - and they always will.

Recommended if you love claustrophobic psychological suspense in the style of The Turn of the Screw. Avoid if you're a fan of fast-paced jump shocks and gore.

68 people found this helpful

smallamazonian

Does ostracism hurt?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2017

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There is nothing more disturbing and scary than a human being that is truly dysfunctional, but with a semblance of being normal, indeed boring to the point of banality. We are reeled into the twisted mind of the anti-heroine as if against our will, feeling sorry for her yet appalled at the same time. But at one point in the book we are confronted by equally horrifying behaviour, a kind of localised mass hysteria, a manifestation of the viciousness with which society can react to otherness. Masterfully spun out tale without a conventional plot, though we are compelled to keep on turning that page... Am now looking forwards (?!) to reading more of Jackson's works. When I have recovered from this one.

29 people found this helpful

D Frances

Merricat would you like a cup of tea?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2019

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This story is of 3 members of the Blackwood family & their life after the murders of their Father, Mother, Brother & their uncle’s wife.

The 3 remaining Blackwoods live in their house isolated from the village with fences & padlocks & no trespassing signs.

Uncle Julian is by far my favourite character. A man of gentrification, wit & jolly good humour.
His memory varies from day to day, unsure on one day if the murders took place, the next being sure he dreamt them. He has written vast notes on the subject when he is well enough, recording everything of that fateful day. What everyone had for breakfast, the weather outside, the plates dinner was served from & of course the silver sugar bowl which was pickled with arsenic. Constance not taking sugar, survives.
As the rest of her family tuck into blackberries heavily sprinkled with sugar their fate is sealed. Uncle Julian having very little sugar survives but finds himself in the most disagreeable situation of being wheelchair bound & not the strong man he used to be.
Mary Katherine, Merricat as is her nickname is sent to bed without supper, no dinner for her, no blackberries & ultimately no sugar. She survives.

Merricat’s twice weekly walk to the village to get groceries earns her ridicule from the villagers, torment from the children, she escapes into the comfort of her own head, more often than not pretending she is on the moon. As a now 18 year old her perspective is still very much childlike. She treats her shopping trips like a game. Do not pass go, take 1 step back & has check points when she gets to certain stores.
The villagers disliked the Blackwoods, even more so now that there are very few remaining. The taunts & teasing are cruel, the villagers believe Constance who was tried & cleared of her familie’s murders, for she was the one who did the cooking, killed them & got away with it. Constance has not left the house or the grounds in the six years since being cleared of murder.

In the village there is a sense of ignorance, people of grandeur that have worked her are down trodden by the simple minded, they do not like that they were not cut from the same cloth as the Blackwood’s.

Merricat likes to bury things. Money, talismans, marbles, she nails her father’s pocketbook to a tree, she believes this wards off any ill will towards her family, but if these items are moved there is a chance evil can get to them. As she passes that very tree the pocketbook now strewn on the floor, it’s rusty nail no longer able to hold it in place she knows that evil is coming for them. That evil comes in the form of Charles.

Cousin Charles, his father the brother of John, Constance & Merricat’s father. They offered no support during the trial & severed all family ties. However, Arthur is now dead, and Charles, a scoundrel is very keen to get his feet under the table in the Blackwood household.

This was a very good story which I read in one sitting, not my favourite of Shirley Jacksons tales but very enjoyable, Uncle Julian is a fantastic character in his speech & his highly quotable lines include:

‘I think if I had known it was her last breakfast I would have permitted her more sausage’. Referring to his wife &:
‘I have no jam’. ‘Would you like me to get you some?’, ‘No. Because I see I have somehow eaten all my toast’.

Highly Recommend.

9 people found this helpful

ShayneyH

Writing Style That Kept Me Reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2019

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I didn’t really know what to expect but I did know that I enjoyed The Haunting Of Hill House and this was meant to be better.

This book is told from the perspective of Mary Katherine (Merricat) and I found it quiet interesting with it being told this way. She is completely unreliable as a narrator, who is telling the story, her account of it, and it kept me guessing throughout. I couldn’t trust her as a character, I didn’t know what to believe and it made it interesting to read as I kept changing my mind on how I thought the storyline and plot was going to go.

This writing style was amazing as it did keep me intrigued with this story and did a good job building certain characters. You do fall into certain problems when writing from one perspective, especially a strong and unreliable one, and that is you see the character through their eyes and that’s how you take them. If they hate them, you’re going to hate them.

I did have questions left after I’d finished reading this book which is why I can’t give it five stars, but I liked the ending. I really liked the ending. Maybe every legend has a hint of truth behind it, but also how it spirals out of control.

7 people found this helpful

Char Louise

A strange but intriguing short novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2016

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A bizarre, creepy, otherworldly novel! The narrator, Merricat, is the youngest surviving descendent of an ancient family, most of whom were killed by poisoning several years before the novel is set. She now lives with her elder sister Constance and ill uncle Julian in the remains of the Blackwood family home. Both sisters appear to have some mental health problems: Constance is agoraphobic and doesn’t leave the boundaries of the property, and Merricat has OCD tendencies plus (as time goes on) you realise she also has psychopathic traits. Her narration is both innocent and childlike, and disturbing, packed with violent imagery. The sisters seem to have internalised the Blackwood family snobbery and disdain for other people, and take this to extremes, shutting themselves away from the world and resenting any intrusion. The irony of this is that Merricat herself is responsible for every bad or frightening thing that befalls the household. Despite all this, I did feel strangely sympathetic to the sisters’ attempts to rebuild their home from what they had left, and admired the way they managed to be happy in the face of having so little, even if that happiness came from madness. A fairly short novel which is a little repetitive, but psychologically intriguing. The Kindle version ends with an analysis of the novel written by Joyce Carol Oates, which was very interesting. This is the first book of Shirley Jackson's that I've read and I'd be interested in reading more.

17 people found this helpful