The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

GENRE 

Ghost story. Gothic fiction. Novella.

FIRST PUBLISHED

1983, Hamish Hamilton. My copy, 1998, Vintage.

THEMES

Ghosts. Haunting. Graveyards. Houses. Weather. Death. Child loss. The past. Family tragedy. Fear. Food.

READING TIME 

Approx 4 hours 30 minutes

PLOT

Arthur Kipp, a young solicitor, is sent from London to the village of Crythin Gifford, to attend the funeral of the mysterious Mrs Drablow, and to attain relevant papers from her home at Eel Marsh House.There he encounters chilling supernatural experiences that will impact the rest of his life. 

MY REFLECTIONS

Although written in the 1980's, the style of writing echoes the classic Gothic, Victorian ghost story. I love to read some good old pathetic fallacy, and this novella is packed with it, setting and keeping up the foreboding, haunting tone and atmosphere consistently from beginning to end. It's the traditional, old fashioned ghost story that many of us know and love - haunted house, eerie location, paranormal activity, female spectre with a tragic past; because of this it is quite predictable in places, but that doesn't take away my appreciation for the well written, spine-tingling story. In parts I couldn't read it quickly enough, and I read it over the course of a day. I was immediately drawn in by the mood and setting (gothic. gothic, gothic) and continually interested by the spooky occurrences and mysterious past relating to Mrs Drablow and Eel Marsh House. If you're an avid reader of gothic literature, you'll see influences of well known nineteenth century writing, and even a nod of appreciation through references to the works.