Shirley Jackson

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Shirley Jackson

1Podras.
Feb 18, 2016, 4:47 pm

David, I note from LOA's Reader's Almanac that the 100th anniversary of Shirley Jackson's birth is coming up at the end of this year. That reminded me that there was once talk about the possibility of a second volume of her works from LOA. Is there any possibility of such a volume any time soon?

2DCloyceSmith
Feb 18, 2016, 6:15 pm

I'm afraid we've had to postpone publication of the second Jackson volume--precisely because of the centennial (as well as the publication of Ruth Franklin's biography later this year). To take advantage of the expected publicity windfall, her publisher has opted to reissue all five novels under the Penguin Classics imprint--and who can blame them, to be honest?

We still hope to publish the second volume in a couple of years.

--David

3Podras.
Feb 18, 2016, 7:32 pm

Thanks David. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it won't be too long.

4Podras.
Feb 19, 2016, 1:32 am

David, I just looked up Ruth Franklin's biography of Shirley Jackson and noted that it is currently scheduled to be published for the first time this coming September by Norton in their revived version of Liveright. Was LOA thinking of reprinting the entire book in a standalone volume or just excerpts, perhaps combined with some her fiction? Or am I thinking too narrowly by limiting myself to paper? In any case, if one can judge by this link, it looks like Liveright might become a competitor of LOA's.

5elenchus
Feb 19, 2016, 9:20 am

It's good to hear LOA have a long-term plan for a second Jackson volume, one which won't be derailed by her publisher. My hope would be that the interest generated by LOA editions will only supplement and complement any public interest in the larger publishing world. I'm looking forward to receiving the first LOA Jackson volume as part of my new subscription. Despite having an interest in Jackson's short fiction and at least one of her novels, I was never motivated to read let alone purchase her work until now.

6DCloyceSmith
Modificato: Feb 19, 2016, 12:33 pm

>4 Podras.:

I'm a little confused by your question, so I believe I just need to reword my response.

Norton is publishing a major new biography by Ruth Franklin, to coincide with the Jackson centennial. (The LOA has no involvement with the publication of this biography, and there is no plan to include any part of this biography in our future LOA volume, which is not the type of thing we would do in any case.)

To take advantage of all the publicity expected from both the centennial and this new biography, Penguin Random House has just reissued as Penguin Classics the four early novels that we were hoping to include in the LOA volume: The Road Through the Wall, Hangsaman, The Bird's Nest, and The Sundial. They also reissued as a Penguin Classics edition the posthumous collection that combined her unfinished novel Come Along with Me with sixteen stories--nearly all which were included in the first LOA volume.

Thus, to avoid competition with these new Penguin Classics editions, the LOA edition containing the four novels had to be postponed. (This is not unusual: publishers are often reluctant to permit a competing edition when they have their own books to promote for a special event or occasion.) But the Ruth Franklin biography will in no way be a competitor to the LOA edition; instead, it will undoubtedly enhance in the long term Jackson's stature among readers and critics.

--David

7Podras.
Feb 19, 2016, 3:05 pm

>6 DCloyceSmith:

Sorry about the confusion David. I managed to conflate two different things in my mind when I last posted. Thanks very much again for the information.

8Truett
Modificato: Ott 19, 2017, 7:36 am

I was thrilled to read that the next volume dedicated to Shirley Jackson will contain THE SUNDIAL (it's a fascinating novel, with all sorts of allegorical possibilities) ; and those first three novels -- THE ROAD THROUGH THE WALL, HANGSAMAN and THE BIRD'S NEST -- were of interest, as well.

But now that I've read Ruth Franklin's biography -- SHIRLEY JACKSON: A RATHER HAUNTED LIFE -- I'm even more anxious to see publication of that book. In truth -- and after reading/learning what Jackson was trying to do in her writing -- I'm also hoping that LOA sees fit to publish a third volume containing Jackson's nonfiction! I'd love to read LIFE AMONG THE SAVAGES, RAISING DEMONS, and even THE WITCHCRAFT OF SALEM VILLAGE.

Whatever transpires, looking forward to volume two of Shirley Jackson's fiction.

P.S. Was anyone else as blown away by the Ruth Franklin biography? Gaiman's blurb (on the hardcover, which I managed to get) wasn't hyperbole. The bio DOES make me want to go back and re-read all of her work.

9withawhy99
Nov 21, 2017, 10:17 am

>8 Truett:
I just read the biography and loved it. I ordered the LOA Jackson volume and am hoping the second won't take too long.

10CurrerBell
Mar 23, 2018, 6:21 pm

>8 Truett: i've already got The Bird's Nest and the "suburban housewife" stories in The Magic of Shirley Jackson (which includes an Introduction by Stanley Edgar Hyman). Unfortunately, though, my copies of The Road Through the Wall and Hangsaman are just Penguins and I'd like to have hardcovers. I've yet to read The Sundial.

That book Laurie and one of his sisters edited, Let Me Tell You, is a mixed bag but has one particularly great posthumous story, "Arabian Nights," which thematically resembles "Afternoon in Linen" (my all-time favorite short story).

11Truett
Mar 24, 2018, 5:47 pm

CurrerBell: If that intro by her husband is insightful, I hope it's included in volume two. Having had a chance to experience -- briefly -- what Jackson did (write those family-oriented articles, although they call them stories in the repackaging) while raising a kid or two, I'm impressed with what she accomplished. And she did while writing some of the USA's finest short fiction, as well as three or four classic novels!

12Pablum
Mag 8, 2021, 12:40 pm

Just ordered the second Jackson volume, very excited! I take it these two books contain all of her novels and most of the stories? Would there be enough for a third volume?

13Truett
Mag 9, 2021, 8:30 am

Pablum: I think the fiction (short stories, mostly with one unfinished novel) would be sparse. But if they reprinted her nonfiction (either all of it, or some of it combined with remaining ficiton), there's enough for at least one more volume, if not two (two if all the nonfiction were reprinted).

14Pablum
Modificato: Mag 9, 2021, 7:19 pm

That would be wonderful, a third volume with the rest of her writing! Those fictionalized memoirs sound fascinating.