The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a haunting psychological ghost story that blurs the line between reality and imagination. The novella centers on a young governess who is hired to care for two orphaned children at a remote English estate. As she begins to witness ghostly apparitions and strange behavior, she becomes convinced that the children are being haunted by the spirits of two former servants. But is what she sees real — or a projection of her own fears and desires?
Told through a chilling frame narrative, The Turn of the Screw is a masterpiece of ambiguity and suspense. James skillfully leaves readers questioning the narrator's reliability and the nature of evil itself. With its rich prose, atmospheric setting, and eerie tension, this novella has captivated and unsettled audiences for over a century, making it one of the most influential ghost stories in literature.