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Title: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, Rosemary Davis, Colin Forbes, Sean Barrett ISBN: 1-85089-557-0 Publisher: Isis Audio Pub. Date: March, 1994 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 8 List Price(USD): $69.95

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Average Customer Rating: 3.68 (68 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: It keeps turning & turning
Comment: Having been a student of literature in college, this is a title that surfaced ever so often when discussions turned to "pivotal" literary works. After finally reading it, it appears that reason for its considerable attention lies in the fact that it's likely the first ghost story NOT to be taken @ face value.

Instead of a straightforward story, the reader is introduced to a plot-line as seen thru the eyes of an ostensibly unstable persona. Whether the ghosts are real or just figments of her mis-guided imagination are topics left open to interpretation. Unexpectedly, the story casually alludes to elements of eroticism, paranoia and severe anxiety.

The story itself is beautifully written. That James was a master of elegant prose is without question. The style of his prose may seem a bit odd (and perhaps "thick") to the modern reader, but one has to admire his manipulation of the language.

For those who enjoy a good ghost story where everything may not be as it seems, this book is highly recommended.

Rating: 5
Summary: A Delicious and Deceptive Little Tale
Comment: Henry James is one of my favorite authors and this novella is one of my favorite books. It's a ghost story, it's horror, it's suspense, but what set it head and shoulders above most ghost/horror/suspense stories is the fact that it's strictly psychological.

A young governess secures a position at what appears to be a lovely English manor house and she soon discovers that nothing is what is seems and things are definitely not as they should be.

James has a highly stylized way of writing and he loved using long, convoluted sentences, even when saying something quite simple. Some readers might find this a litle jarring, but for me it only adds to the atmosphere of the book.

Over the years there has been much speculation about the meaning of this story, especially the enigmatic ending. I know what I think, but I won't give anything away here. Read The Turn of the Screw yourself and be prepared for a scary evening of surprises and perhaps even a sleepless night.

Rating: 3
Summary: A Teenage Perspective
Comment: Well-- I read this small story over Christmas Break for a Research and Comprehension class, and all I can say is... INNATE! Innate and extremely deep!

After all, the book's main focus is undoubtedly aimed at sex and class status. Although this book was written in the Victorian Era where discussion of sexual connotations, especially children's, are strictly forbidden, this book strangely relates to the modern world of sex and status. There are so many interpretations you can conceive from the odd chaos happening at the Bly Estate; and I think that's exactly what Henry James was trying to infer. Everything is so confusing and you don't know who is to blame, what they are to blame for, and WHAT exactly is going wrong anyway... and isn't that EXACTLY what is happening today? SEX IS NOTHING BUT CONFUSION! No matter your age, your class rank or status, OR sexual orientation.

I'm not saying that Henry James was a head of his time or anything, he was just in a position and time where he couldn't express his thoughts or beliefs regarding the issue without draping a vail over it. Which, in my opinion, he did a pretty good job of doing. He also did a good job of demonstrating the Victorian Era's household of rank: the mother (governess'), father (Peter Quint or insufficient headmaster), the children (Miles and Flora), and the housekeeper (Mrs. Grose). He also demonstrates the consequences of either not having, or having a corrupt working member of the household. I believe this goes as far as the modern-day household does. The children desperately need acceptable parents, and the parent figures need each other (children:mother, children:father, mother:father, father: mother, BOTH PARENTS:housekeeper, children:housekeeper) And so on...

So, in conclusion- this was a sick, corrupt, dishonest, sinister, grave story with unclear, bizarre motives... but it obviously got me thinking!

I hope you don't enjoy it, for morality's sake!