The Turn of the Screw

Historical Context and Significance

Published in 1898, Henry James's «The Turn of the Screw» is one of the most renowned works in the genre of gothic literature and psychological horror. This novella explores themes of psychology, perception, and morality through the lens of the supernatural. The story of a governess encountering ghosts in an old English manor has become a classic example of uncertainty and ambiguity, leaving readers questioning the reality of the events. The book's influence on culture is evident in its numerous adaptations in film, theater, and television, as well as in how it inspired subsequent generations of writers to explore the boundaries between reality and imagination. James masterfully employs the unreliable narrator, a significant literary device in the 20th century, and his work continues to be studied as an example of complex psychological prose.