The Turn of the Screw A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism

This volume presents the text of the New York Edition of James's classic 1898 short novel, along with documents that place the work in historical context and critical essays that readThe Turn of the Screwfrom several contemporary critical perspectives. The text and essays are complemented by biographical and critical introductions, bibliographies, and a glossary of critical and theoretical terms.In this third edition, a new section details in unique depth the revisions James made from the serializedColliers Weeklyedition to the New York Edition. New documents and illustrations enhance the historical contexts section, and new psychoanalytic essay with a Lacanian perspective appears in the section of contemporary criticism.

Henry James (1843-1916) was an iconic figure of nineteenth century literature. Among his many masterpieces are The Portrait of a Lady, The Bostonians, The Europeans, The Golden Bowl, and Washington Square. As well as fiction, James produced several works of travel literature and biography, and was one of the great letter writers of any age. A contemporary and friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, Edith Wharton, and Joseph Conrad, James continues to exert a major influence on generations of novelists and writers.

PART ONE

The Turn of the Screw: The Complete Text and Revisions

Introduction: Biographical and Historical Contexts

Photograph of Henry James and William James (1900)

The Complete Text

Jamess Revisions to The Turn of the Screw

PART TWO

The Turn of the Screw in Cultural Context

THE VICTORIAN GOVERNESS IN FACT

GEORGE GOODWIN KILBURNE, The Introduction.

MARIA EDGEWORTH, It is the worst thing in the world to leave children with servants. (1798)

ANNA JAMESON, The occupation of governess is sought merely through necessity. (1846)

MARY MAURICE, Many were the daughters of clergymen. (1847)

MARIA ABDY, Our governess left us, dear brother. (1838)

ANONYMOUS, My first application was made at the Governesses Institution in Harley Street. (1858)

Illustration, Governesses Benevolent Institution in Harley Street

ANONYMOUS, The only profession open to an educated woman of average ability. (1858)

ANONYMOUS, An epidemic madness to make them governesses. (1859)

THE VICTORIAN GOVERNESS IN FICTION

Illustration, Title page for The Roving Bee (1855)

ELIZABETH POPE WHATELY, Her anxiety and her responsibility cannot well be shared by any one. (1855)

ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY, It was decided that I should come on trial as Sybils governess. (1888)

THE VICTORIAN GHOST IN FACT

JOHN LA FARGE, Illustration (1898)

ERIC PAPE, Five Illustrations (1898)

REV. B. F. WESTCOTT, A sufficient number of clear and well-attested cases. (1851)

EDMUND GURNEY, The testimony of trustworthy and intelligent witnesses. (1886)

WILLIAM T. STEAD, The absurd delusion that there is no such thing as ghosts. (1897)

MRS. VATAS-SIMPSON, There must be some foundation for the rumours. (1885)

MISS C., I plainly saw the figure of a female dressed in black. (1885)

MRS. G. What has happened to the children? (1889)

THE VICTORIAN GHOST IN FICTION

TOM GRIFFITHS, Illustration, The Haunted House. (1891)

EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, Really haunted? -- and by what? -- ghosts? (1859)

RHODA BROUGHTON, Him! but who is him? (1872)

HENRY JAMES, In Gods name who is he -- what is he? (1891)

REACTIONS, 1898

A horribly successful study of the magic of evil.

The deep mistake of writing the story.

The most monstrous and incredible ghost-story.

A tale of the Poe sort.

Lesbian love and pederastic passion.

HENRY JAMES RESPONDS, 1998

To Arthur C. Benson: The ghostly and ghastly.

To Louis Waldstein, M.D.: My bogey-tale dealt with things so hideous.

To H. G. Wells: I had to rule out subjective complications.

To Frederic W. H. Myers: The most infernal imaginable evil and danger.

HENRY JAMESS PREFACE TO THE 1908 EDITION

PART THREE

The Turn of the Screw: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism

A Critical History of The Turn of the Screw

Reader-Response Criticism and The Turn of the Screw

What Is Reader-Response Criticism?

Reader-Response Criticism: A Selected Bibliography

A Reader-Response Perspective

WAYNE C. BOOTH, He began to read to our hushed little circle: Are We Blessed or Cursed by Our Life with The Turn of the Screw?

Psychoanalytic Criticism and The Turn of the Screw

What Is Psychoanalytic Criticism?

Psychoanalytic Criticism: A Selected Bibliography

A Psychoanalytic Perspective:

GREG W. ZACHARIAS, The extraordinary flight of heroism the occasion demanded of me: Fantasy and Confession in The Turn of the Screw

Gender Criticism and The Turn of the Screw

What Is Gender Criticism?

Gender Criticism: A Selected Bibliography

A Gender Studies Perspective:

PRISCILLA L. WALTON, He took no notice of her; he looked at me: Subjectivities and Sexualities in The Turn of the Screw

Marxist Criticism and The Turn of the Screw

What Is Marxist Criticism?

Marxist Criticism: A Selected Bibliography

A Marxist Perspective:

BRUCE ROBBINS, The dont much count, do they?: The Unfinished History of The Turn of the Screw

Combining Perspectives on The Turn of the Screw

Combining Perspectives:

SHEILA TEAHAN, I caught him, yes, I held him: The Ghostly Effects of Reading (in) The Turn of the Screw

Glossary of Critical and Theoretical Terms

About the Contributors