The Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a gothic horror novella published in 1898. It tells the story of a young governess who is hired to care for two seemingly angelic children, Flora and Miles, at a remote country estate called Bly. Soon after her arrival, she begins to perceive mysterious, spectral figures whom she believes are the ghosts of the former governess, Miss Jessel, and Peter Quint, a deceased valet. Convinced that these malevolent entities are corrupting the innocent children, the governess becomes increasingly distressed and determined to protect them. The novella is renowned for its deliberate ambiguity, leaving readers to question whether the supernatural events are real or merely products of the governess's increasingly fragile mental state. This psychological thriller masterfully blurs the lines between reality and imagination, making it a classic of the gothic and horror genres.

Reading ease score: 79.4 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.