The publication of "The Lottery" in 1948 introduced a sinister vision of American small-town life that established Shirley Jackson as a significant voice in twentieth-century literature. Over a career spanning two decades, she produced six novels, two memoirs, and more than 200 short stories, effectively navigating genres ranging from Gothic psychological horror to domestic non-fiction.
Early Life and Education
Born on December 14, 1916, in San Francisco, Jackson was the daughter of Leslie and Geraldine Jackson. Her upbringing in the affluent suburb of Burlingame was marked by a difficult relationship with her mother, who favored her son, Barry. Jackson attended Burlingame High School and Brighton High School before enrolling at the University of Rochester. She eventually transferred to Syracuse University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and contributed to the campus literary magazine.
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In 1940, she married Stanley Edgar Hyman, a literary critic she met while at Syracuse. Following brief residencies in New York City and Westport, Connecticut, the couple settled in North Bennington, Vermont, in 1945 after Hyman joined the faculty of Bennington College. They raised four children—Laurence, Joanne, Sarah, and Barry—while managing a personal library of approximately 25,000 books. Despite Jackson serving as the primary breadwinner, financial control remained with her husband, and their marriage was strained by his admitted infidelities.
Literary Contributions
Jackson's bibliography includes her debut novel, The Road Through the Wall (1948), and her highly acclaimed ghost story, The Haunting of Hill House (1959). Her final published work, the 1962 novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle, cemented her reputation in Gothic fiction. Beyond her fiction, she authored memoirs such as Life Among the Savages (1953), which chronicled her family experiences. Her work earned her an Edgar Award in 1961, and posthumously, a Bram Stoker Award for Best Anthology in 2021.
Fast facts
- Born: 1916, San Francisco
- Died: 1965, North Bennington
- Education: Syracuse University
- Major Work: The Haunting of Hill House
- Genre: Horror and mystery
- Awards: Edgar Award (1961)
- Children: Laurence, Joanne, Sarah, Barry
- Language: English
Questions readers ask
What subjects influenced Shirley Jackson's writing?
Her writing was influenced by childhood exposure to mysticism, mental power, and themes of witchcraft, alongside the domestic dynamics of her own family life.
Did Shirley Jackson receive any literary awards?
Yes, she received an Edgar Award in 1961, and her work was recognized with a Bram Stoker Award for Best Anthology in 2021.
Achievements
- Genres: horror literature, detective fiction and memoir
