That the Blackwood family is (mostly) dead is established in the first paragraph of We Have Always Lived in the Castle. How that happened is the mystery at the center of a novel that finds plenty to fear—not only in the possibility of murder, but also in the way the Blackwoods’ gossiping neighbors react to the surviving sisters, Mary Katherine and Constance. TIME named Castle one of the top 10 works of fiction in 1962, praising it for “the ironic miracle of convincing the reader that a house inhabited by a lunatic, a poisoner, and a pyromaniac is a world more rich in sympathy, love, and subtlety than the real world outside.” Thanks to “The Lottery” and The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson’s genius was already recognized by the time this concise tale—narrated in the distinctive, eerie voice of “Merricat”—confirmed her particular talent for sprinkling a dose of the gothic occult on top of what lurks inside ordinary hearts. For its portrait of the latter, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is an enduring classic that transcends its genre. —Lily Rothman
More from TIME
Buy Now: We Have Always Lived in the Castle on Bookshop | Amazon
- Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men
- What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
- Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
