The Turn of the Screw (Thornes Classic Novels)

Pupils will gain a full appreciation of the text as all novels are reproduced in an unabridged format. Relevance to the National Curriculum and GCSE syllabuses is assured by including a range of pre-twentieth century literature. Understanding of the novels is aided by clean and comprehensive support material on every page. Pupils' enjoyment and interest in these "Classic Novels" will be enhanced by the accessible and reader-friendly layout, which encourages pupils of all abilities. Pupils can strengthen their understanding of the texts by completing the reinforcement exercises and activities included in every book.

The story starts conventionally enough with friends sharing ghost stories 'round the fire on Christmas Eve. One of the guests tells about a governess at a country house plagued by supernatural visitors. But in the hands of Henry James, the master of nuance, this little tale of terror is an exquisite gem of sexual and psychological ambiguity. Only the young governess can see the ghosts; only she suspects that the previous governess and her lover are controlling the two orphaned children (a girl and a boy) for some evil purpose. The household staff don't know what she's talking about, the children are evasive when questioned, and the master of the house (the children's uncle) is absent. Why does the young girl claim not to see a perfectly visible woman standing on the far side of the lake? Are the children being deceptive, or is the governess being paranoid? By leaving the questions unanswered, The Turn of Screw generates spine-tingling anxiety in its mesmerized readers.