The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - Lettered Edition

Since its original publication in 1959, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson has become the quintessential benchmark in American gothic horror. This classic novel has not only engrossed and enthralled millions of readers, but continues to serve as a source of inspiration for countless authors who hope to live up to even a fraction of its prose.

“I think there are few, if any descriptive passages in the English language any finer than this,” Stephen King once wrote, referring to the opening paragraph of The Haunting of Hill House. “It is the sort of quiet epiphany every writer hopes for: Words that somehow transcend the sum of the parts. Shirley Jackson’s Hill House is as nearly perfect a haunted-house tale as I have ever read. One of the only great novels of the supernatural in the last hundred years.”

Hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror, The Haunting of Hill House chronicles the story of four strangers who agree to stay at the notoriously unfriendly Hill House: Dr. Montague, a scholar of the supernatural and the occult; Theodora, a flamboyant artist; Eleanor, a fragile recluse who claims past experience with poltergeists; and Luke, the young heir to the 80-year old mansion. Inexplicable events occur as the guests struggle to disguise their mounting fears that Hill House too is more than the sum of its parts; more than mere brick, wood, and stone. As the hours turn to days, Hill House seems to be a kind of live, breathing organism. Having disturbed the house’s long hibernation of isolation, the guests begin to dread the inevitable – that Hill House will take one of them as its own.

LETTERED EDITION

• 6” x 9” trim size.
• Limited to 26 copies for sale, lettered A-Z.
• Six new black & white pencil illustrations by Stephen Gervais as well as one full-color fold-out illustration.
• New introduction by Ruth Franklin, author of A Rather Haunted Life, the award-winning biography of Shirley Jackson.
• Signed by Stephen Gervais and Ruth Franklin.
• Includes reproductions of sketches by Shirley Jackson, entertaining and enlightening readers as to how she saw Hill House as she was writing it.
• Printed letterpress Cranes Lettra Pearl White cotton paper.
• Handbound Bradel binding with a genuine leather spine.
• Front and back boards are covered with black Canson papers that are hand stamped with ferns in multiple iridescent and pearlescent colors, then marbled using a traditional small stone pattern, and are exclusive to this edition.
• Housed in a custom handmade clamshell box, with wood grain paper and a brass key escutcheon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shirley Hardie Jackson (December 14, 1916 – August 8, 1965) was an American writer, known for outstanding literary achievement in her works of gothic horror and mystery. In a career which spanned over two decades, Jackson composed six novels, two memoirs, and over 200 short stories. After publishing her debut novel in 1948, a semi-autobiographical account of her childhood, The Road Through the Wall, Jackson would garner public acclaim upon publication of her short story “The Lottery,” which details a secret, sinister underside to a bucolic American village. She would continue to publish numerous short stories in literary journals and magazines throughout the 1950s, some of which were assembled and reissued in her 1953 memoir, Life Among the Savages. In 1959, Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House was published, widely considered to be one of the greatest ghost stories ever written. Jackson has been cited as an influence on a diverse set of authors, including Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Sarah Water, Nigel Kneale, Joanne Harris, and Richard Matheson.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Stephen Gervais attended the Art Institute of Boston, majoring in Fine Arts. While attending school he worked as a stage hand for the Boston Opera Company, which was staging Don Giovanni. After returning to Providence, Stephen began to build up a body of art, often choosing sights on Providence’s East Side as subject matter. A friend had learned of a local small press publisher by the name of Donald Grant, and suggested that Stephen bring his portfolio, and come with him as he was delivering art for a book project. Grant immediately set Stephen to work on his first assignment, a young adult adventure book project The Wonderful Lips of Thibong Linhby Theodore Roscoe. Soon thereafter, Stephen was asked by the same publisher to illustrate the Special Limited Edition of Christine by Stephen King. That following fall, Stephen received the Best Artist of the Year Award (1983) at the World Fantasy Convention held in Ottawa, Canada.  Other titles quickly followed. Authors like Stephen King, Peter Straub, F. Paul Wilson, David Morrell, Clive Barker and Dean Koontz were being offered by various publishers.

Stephen has dreamed of illustrating The Haunting of Hill House for years as it is one of his favorite novels.

LIMITED EDITION PLANCHETTE

When Mrs. Montague arrives at Hill House, she brings her Planchette with her. We have created a custom designed, laser-engraved wooden Planchette. All Lettered Edition orders will ship with this unique promotional item.

Please note that published editions may differ slightly from mockups and prototype designs.