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Shirley Jackson’s last completed caller was published successful 1962. We Have Always Lived successful the Castle is simply a slim gothic caller astir Mary Katherine Blackwood, besides called Merricat, who lives with her sister Constance, their Uncle Julian, and her feline Jonas, aft the remainder of the household died by poisoning astatine dinner. Julian is sick with the lingering effects of the poison, Constance did not devour the affected nutrient (and was tried and acquitted for the murders), and Merricat had been punished by going to furniture without supper.
There person been many, galore editions of this, my favourite novel, and immoderate of the covers person been…choices. So I person gone done them each and selected the precise champion (and the precise worst) covers for We Have Always Lived successful the Castle, categorized by who — oregon what — the screen depicts.
Keep speechmaking to spot the champion and worst cats, castles, sisters, and more!
The Best and Worst Cats
Best: 1962 Hardcover (First Edition)
This is the GOAT, the OG, the publication whose steadfast was brave capable to accidental “The pistillate who wrote The Haunting of Hill House and ‘The Lottery’ tin get distant with a fearfulness caller with a feline connected the cover!” (Quote is paraphrased*, of course.) Jonas is the existent prima of the book, and helium deserves the attention.
*made up entirely
Also Best: 2020 Thai Edition
There are nary atrocious feline covers. I bash marque the rules! This 1 includes the sweetener bowl, which is wherever the poison was hidden, and what look to beryllium immoderate poisonous berries (which are not mentioned successful the publication — the sweetener was utilized connected blackberries — but I don’t care).
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The Best and Worst Castles
Best: 1962 Hardcover Edition
I americium not definite wherefore determination are 2 antithetic hardcover editions from 1962, but present we are! This iconic screen shows a castle-like location with gothic towers rising up. The location successful the publication is ne'er afloat described, and portion this is improbable to beryllium rather what Jackson had successful mind, it’s got the close vibe.
Worst: 2016 Kindle Edition
This variation cover, connected the different hand, seems to person conscionable slapped a banal representation of a mansion connected the beforehand and called it a day. There’s thing wrong with the house, it conscionable doesn’t look similar the Blackwoods would unrecorded there.
Actually, I’m beauteous definite this is the location from Jackson’s different isolated household novel, The Sundial.
The Best and Worst Merricats
Best: 1963 Mass Market Paperback
Someday I anticipation to person a transcript of this variation successful my collection. It is perfectly iconic, with Merricat down an oft-repaired fence, her oculus peering done a knothole. I genuinely emotion everything astir it.
Worst (Tie): 1984 Paperback
I don’t truly attraction for the mode Merricat looks present (among different things, she is intelligibly 35 alternatively of 18) but I bash similar the plan rather a bit. The gross to the Blackwood spot is iconic.
Worst (Tie): 1976 Paperback
Much similar the erstwhile cover, this 1 isn’t terrible but isn’t great. I bash similar that we spot Merricat and Jonas successful a breached window, and I admit the mode the solid makes it look similar she has feline ears.
If you enactment Stephen King’s sanction connected it, I’d astir apt judge it was an variation of Carrie — adjacent though I don’t retrieve her having a cat.
The Best and Worst Sisters
Best (Tie): 2018 Indonesian Paperback
Possibly a tie-in to Stacey Passon’s movie adaptation (which is excellent), perchance conscionable a random clapper board? I emotion the illustration, immoderate that portion is expected to mean. Constance looks contemplative and sad, Merricat looks furious, it’s perfect. I emotion the specter of the townspeople arsenic shadows down them.
Best (Tie): 2006 Paperback
This is the astir commonly seen cover, astatine slightest successful the U.S., and it’s terrific. It has everything the Indonesian screen supra has, but successful achromatic and achromatic and with a sadness successful Constance’s face. The townspeople are much wide here, a contiguous threat. Iconic.
Worst (Tie): 2010 Audiobook Edition
Oh dear. I conscionable hatred everything astir this illustration.
Worst (Tie): 1984 Paperback
This is the mentation I own, the precise archetypal Shirley Jackson I read.
It’s…not good.
How bash you marque 2 mysterious figures down the curtains look truthful drab? I don’t know, but they accomplished it.
The Best and Worst Penguins
Best: 2016 Paperback
I emotion this instrumentality connected the Penguin Classics orangish cover, with added illustrations nonstop from the book. LOVE!
Worst: 2010 Paperback
There is thing wrong with this cover. It’s simply boring compared to the different Penguin cover.
(Dis)Honorable Mentions
2009 Paperback
Why?
And determination you person it, the champion and worst covers for Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived successful the Castle. There person been truthful galore different covers — see them each for yourself!
English (US) ·