We Have Always Lived in the Castle
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We Have Always Lived in the Castle
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Narrated by:
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Bernadette Dunne
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By:
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Shirley Jackson
About this listen
Shirley Jackson’s deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family takes readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, macabre humor, and gothic atmosphere.
Six years after four family members died suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, the three remaining Blackwoods—elder, agoraphobic sister Constance; wheelchair-bound Uncle Julian; and eighteen-year-old Mary Katherine, or, Merricat—live together in pleasant isolation. Merricat has developed an idiosyncratic system of rules and protective magic to guard the estate against intrusions from hostile villagers. But one day a stranger arrives—cousin Charles, with his eye on the Blackwood fortune—and manages to penetrate into their carefully shielded lives. Unable to drive him away by either polite or occult means, Merricat adopts more desperate methods, resulting in crisis, tragedy, and the revelation of a terrible secret.
Jackson’s novel emerges less as a study in eccentricity and more—like some of her other fictions—as a powerful critique of the anxious, ruthless processes involved in the maintenance of normalcy itself.
©1962 Shirley Jackson (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
What listeners say about We Have Always Lived in the Castle
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rob Crosbie
- 03-09-19
Masterful
Haunting and Brilliant storytelling. Hooked after the first chapter. Listened to the whole thing without stop and loved it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ragsnot
- 05-12-15
Eerie and gripping
Would you consider the audio edition of We Have Always Lived in the Castle to be better than the print version?
I haven't read the print version, but I have read other Shirley Jackson books and I enjoyed hearing her words read aloud
What was one of the most memorable moments of We Have Always Lived in the Castle?
After the fire, when the townspeople surround the two sisters
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me feel quite tense and uncomfortable
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sue
- 03-08-17
A cautionary tale of mob mentality
This is absolutely tragic. The last few scenes remind me of Frankenstein. This mystery novel surrounds a quirky young woman, her older agoraphobic sister Constance, their disabled uncle and an enigmatic cousin. They have a rather hideous family secret that is revealed midway but the reasoning behind it remains unknown. It is a fascinating story, engaging, and straightforward.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Emma Lucy
- 13-10-21
Waiting feeling.
I enjoyed the story but always felt like I was waiting for some twist to be revealed. There is beauty in its subtleties, though.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carla B.
- 17-10-18
really enjoy this on a long work drive
I love the writing style of Shirley Jackson, it was a great companion on a long drive.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Barbara Murray
- 28-05-18
something a bit different
this is something completely different from what I would normally listen to but I'd have to say that I did enjoy it. It moved at a nice pace and the narration was quite good
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 07-02-18
Beautiful, unusual book
A beautifully written, strange little book. I love Jackson’s lyricism. Will be reading more of her work after this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heisenberg
- 25-01-20
Surreal, dark and wonderful.
This was a real surprise. I download this knowing very little about it from a list of recommendations, but wow what a treat. A dark gothic fairytale, like nothing I have read before. Quite surreal at times, but I couldn't stop listening.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Southport psychobilly
- 17-11-16
Beautifully creepy
Wonderful gothic story full of magic. Written beautifully and read in a attractive, sing song voice
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- marie
- 24-12-12
Dreadful- in a good way
So well done listening to it made me feel close to a panic attack. A brillantly realised portrait of a paranoid state.
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8 people found this helpful