I have vague recollections of seeing one of the many dramatisations inspired by this novel. I think I found it quite dry and pointless, as well as far from the ‘Horror’ it poported to be. I thought I’d give the book a chance though as, with very few exceptions, ‘the book’ is generally better than ‘the film’.
Blimey.
It’s been a long time since I read any horror and I can’t remember any that I liked more than this novella. I found it captivating and forboding, with enough loose ends that almost any scenario can be contrived.
It revolves around a goveness taking care of two young charges. A number of strange occurances convinces her that they may not be quite as angelic as they appear. This would seem to be down a the unhallowed influence of their now deceased, but still very present, ex-goveness and her paramour. Chance encounters and odd situations build to a chilling climax whereupon the soul of the male child (Miles) is saved, but at the cost of his life.
Well… that’s the basic story.
The spirits that are said to haunt the house are seen only by the protagonist. Even when directly in their line of sight, other members of the household protest that they cannot see these spectres. Whether they truely cannot see them or, especially on the part of the children, deny that they can in order to continue some diabolical scheme is unknown.
So, there are ghosts are may or may not be real, our viewpoint is from behind the eyes of a woman that behaves very oddly and no corroboration of any facts can be made. This has lead to the text being examined from every viewpoint and many theories have been postulated as to the true story.
Personally, I believe that the goveness slowly goes insane and directly causes the death of her ward. There are parts that I am unsure of, and I may well need to read it again, but I am convinced of those facts.
All in all, I thought it a very enjoyable book. The language and intonation is odd to the point of near obfuscation, but well worth deciphering. It’s odd how much seems to be within the book, even though it lasts for merely 120 pages. A great deal is left unsaid and many passages and situations are ambiguous so the tale is altered by the reader depending on their perceptions. Well worth a look.
Rating: 
