The Turn of the Screw

Written by Henry James

Narrated by Penelope Rawlins and Ben Elliot

Perhaps the most brilliantly successful ghost story ever written, The Turn of the Screw creates a terrifyingly believable impression of innocent children so corrupted by evil that they remain deceptive pictures of innocent beauty. Their governess must struggle alone to confront and exorcise the demons which she believes possess their souls...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
• Release date: Feb 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781843799399

Henry James

Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author of novels, short stories, plays, and non-fiction. He spent most of his life in Europe, and much of his work regards the interactions and complexities between American and European characters. Among his works in this vein are The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Bostonians (1886), and The Ambassadors (1903). Through his influence, James ushered in the era of American realism in literature. In his lifetime he wrote 12 plays, 112 short stories, 20 novels, and many travel and critical works. He was nominated three times for the Noble Prize in Literature.

Reviews for The Turn of the Screw

[Jeanna Paden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this, but ended up be enthralled with the story. Will be ready more Henry James!

[ricky martinez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Magnificent!

[Kris Boucher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Creepy and ambiguous. A really solid entry into the genre and a great choice for the inspiration of Haunting of Bly Manor

[Anna Puchar-Krause · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great ghost story.

Extremely entertaining . The narration was perfect. Hated the ending.

[Chris McGrail · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Much build-up for a lack luster end. It was like Herman Melville telling a horror sorry, prosing for it's own sake.

[Alicia Hopkins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enthralling from beginning to end. It will challenge your patience at times but reward it just enough to keep you locked in and demanding answers which it anticipates and plays on. Making you a character in the story itself. If you like “Bly Manor” and “The Others” movie, the eerie young Tom Riddle or any ghost horror or psyche thriller, you owe it to yourself to read the original.

[Thea Karan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think I respect this book more than I actually like it.

[Jennifer Smith · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love classics, but this one just did not work for me.

[Jenica Camden · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The suspense is well-written, the narration is very good, but it should be warned that unless you care a great deal for Victorian propriety, it's very hard to get invested.
As someone who came here off the back of Netflix's Bly Manor, I'd just stick with the show.
The Turn of the Screw is struggles to provide a reason to be scared other than our rather unreliable narrator is. If you fail to find 'rude and cavalier and doesn't care about social class' evil, then the ghosts have very little menace left. And the framing narrative is abandoned after the prologue which I personally, just find irritating.

[Michael Sarbone · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this a little difficult to digest due to the archaic language and 19th century sensibilities. However, the ending was wonderful, and made the read noteworthy.

[AC Morgavi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting characters’ analysis, and peculiar perspectives on the meaning of childhood plus the esoteric fashion of the times make it for an engaging book.

[Edo Haruma · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic reading of the story that was the foundation for "The Innocents", a great movie from 1961 that you may also enjoy.

[Amy Schultz Courchaine · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars Narrated beautifully, but too much ambiguity & interpretation by the reader necessary to thoroughly enjoy the book.