Shirley Jackson: life and work of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ writer as Elisabeth Moss biographical drama hits cinemas

Shirley Jackson was one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century, known for her work within the gothic horror genre.

The writer penned numerous works, including The Haunting of Hill House, which has now been adapted for both film and TV.

But what else did Jackson write, and how did she become so synonymous with spooky stories?

Who was Shirley Jackson?

Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco in 1916 and became known primarily for her literary works of horror and mystery.

Despite writing some of the 20th century’s scariest stories, Jackson’s work was overlooked for decades. However, Jackson is now highly regarded within the gothic horror world and many view her as the greatest horror writer of the 20th century.

What did she write?

Jackson penned six novels, alongside a range of short stories and lightly fictionalised magazine pieces about life with her four children and her husband, the well known literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman.

Her horror novel, The Haunting of Hill House, is now studied widely around the globe, telling the ghoulish story of a group of people who spend the summer in the formidable Hill House in order to determine whether supernatural activity lingers within its walls.

Since its publication, The Haunting of Hill House has been adapted for both television and film, including the 1963 and 1999 films which both take the title of The Haunting.

A TV series named The Haunting of Hill House hit streaming service Netflix in 2018, but the series is only loosely based on the original novel, changing numerous elements from the book, but keeping its setting of the house.

Jackson’s short story, The Lottery, was originally published in New Yorker magazine in 1948, and has since influenced writers such as Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. The story is set in a small village in New England and tells the tale of ritual human sacrifice.

When it was first published, readers were so horrified by the tale that they sent the writer hate mail, but it has since become an iconic horror story.

The Road Through the Wall, which was Jackson’s first novel, was published in the same year, and was then followed by Hangsaman, The Bird's Nest, The Sundial, The Haunting of Hill House, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

What is the new film Shirley?

A new drama starring Elisabeth Moss - known for her roles in Mad Men and The Handmaid’s Tale - is based on the life of Shirley Jackson.

The film, simply named Shirley, is based on Shirley: A Novel, which is an acclaimed book from Susan Scarf Merrell.

It tells the fictionalised tale of an imagined period where a younger couple move in with Jackson and her husband, who then begin to drive the young couple apart, weaving in known details about the horror writer’s personality and life.

The film hits UK cinemas on Friday 30 October, and also stars Logan Lerman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Victoria Pedretti.