Just an Ordinary Day
The magical spell woven in words by authoress Shirley Jackson has captivated, frightened, and awed readers for decades. Her rise to literary fame came in 1948 when The Lottery was published. Having left behind a legacy of hundreds of short stories, several novels, and even children's fare, Shirley Jackson's particular brand of horror lives on.
Shirley Hardie Jackson
Born in San Francisco to Leslie and Geraldine Jackson, Shirley Jackson grew up in the affluent middle-class suburb of Burlingame (which would later be featured in her first novel The Road Through the Hall.) In 1939 the family moved to Rochester, NY where Shirley attended the University of Rochester before being "asked to leave". She went on to graduate with a BA from Syracuse University in 1940.While still a student, Shirley became active in the campus literary magazine. It was there that she met her husband Stanley Edgar Hyman, who became a noted literary critic. The couple was married in 1940. The couple had four children; the adventures of raising her brood were later collected in the books Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons.
Books by Shirley Jackson
The Lottery
"There's always been a lottery."
Published on June 28, 1948 in The New Yorker magazine, 'The Lottery' introduced readers to Ms. Jackson's particular brand of Gothic horror.The story, set in rural small-town USA, delves into the seemingly unchanged ways and mindset of the townsfolk. Unable, or unwilling, to change that which has been set down for generations, the tradition carried out by the town shocked readers.
Hundreds of letters from readers slammed the mail room at The New Yorker. Sharp criticism and outrage at such a "violent" story being published filled the letters penned by readers. Phone calls poured and hundreds canceled subscriptions in disgust.
Shirley Jackson's reputation was set, made by one short story. The huge response to 'The Lottery' by readers has been matched since its publication. The story has since been banned by the Union of South Africa and is frequently on the list of banned books in American schools and libraries.
From Book to Film
Her Last Years
Shirley suffered throughout her life from various neuroses and psychosomatic illnesses. She also was overweight and a heavy smoker. Her health declined and in 1965, Shirley died of heart failure in her sleep.She was only 48.
For years, Shirley had claimed her birthday was in 1919, to appear younger than her husband. Biographer Judy Oppenheimer, who wrote Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson discovered that in fact Shirley was born in 1916.
Jackson's work continues to inspire readers and be adapted to the silver screen years after her untimely death.
Just An Ordinary Day
Just an Ordinary Day: The Uncollected Stories Of Shirley Jackson
A posthumous collection of 54 short stories (many that went unpublished during her life time) collected and edited by two of Shirley Jackson's children.
Amazon Price: $20.70 (as of 07/14/2009) 
Partial Bibliography
Novels
The Road Through the Wall (1948)
The Hangsman (1950)
The Bird's Nest (1954)
The Sundial (1958)
The Haunting of Hill House (1959)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962)
Non-Fiction/Memoirs
Life Among the Savages (1953)
Raising Demons (1957)
Children's Books
The Witchcraft of Salem Village (non-fiction, 1956)
The Bad Children: A Musical in One Act for Bad Children (1959)
9 Magic Wishes (1963)
Famous Sally (1966)
Collected Volumes
The Lottery and Other Stories (1949)
The Magic of Shirley Jackson (1966)
Come Along With Me (1968)
Just An Ordinary Day (1995)
The Road Through the Wall (1948)
The Hangsman (1950)
The Bird's Nest (1954)
The Sundial (1958)
The Haunting of Hill House (1959)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962)
Non-Fiction/Memoirs
Life Among the Savages (1953)
Raising Demons (1957)
Children's Books
The Witchcraft of Salem Village (non-fiction, 1956)
The Bad Children: A Musical in One Act for Bad Children (1959)
9 Magic Wishes (1963)
Famous Sally (1966)
Collected Volumes
The Lottery and Other Stories (1949)
The Magic of Shirley Jackson (1966)
Come Along With Me (1968)
Just An Ordinary Day (1995)
Man That You Fear
The video for Marilyn Manson's single Man That You Fear was based upon Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery". See if you can find the similarities!
Marilyn Manson - Man That You Fear
More About Shirley Jackson
- Wikipedia: Shirley Jackson
- Wikipedia's article about Shirley Jackson.
- Wikiquote: Shirley Jackson
- Quotes attributed to Shirley Jackson.
- Monstrous Acts & Little Murders
- An article by Salon magazine about Shirley Jackson and her stories.
- DarkEcho: Shirley Jackson
- DarkEcho.com's article on Shirley Jackson.
- Tabula Rasa #7: Shirley Jackson
- An article about Shirley Jackson from Tabula Rasa issue #7.
- The Works of Shirley Jackson
- Resources for critical study on Shirley Jackson.
- Wikipedia: The Lottery
- Wikipedia's entry about The Lottery.
Fans of Shirley Jackson
Life-long fans or newly introduced, tell us your favorite work of Ms Jackson!
Lensmaster
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Posted September 08, 2008
rms wrote...
Thank you for adding this great lens to the Gothic Temptations group.
Posted May 05, 2008
by missbat
I poke people with sporks. I've worked hard to attain the rank of Giant Squid with just over 60 lenses under my belt. I strive to make good lenses ful... (more)
