A review by bkish
The Letters of Shirley Jackson by Shirley Jackson

5.0

Numerous times reading this i wanted to close it leave it and thankfully I continuedto read what is a memoir in the form of letters written by the known respected writer Shirley Jackson. The period of time is 1925-1963. She died young successful writer loving mother of 4 children a daughter a friend. Her private life was riddled w grave difficulties. Much has been written abt her marriage to Stanley Hyman also a writer a critic a professor himself a father son brother and a messed up man. He died a few yrs later and had remarried classmate of one of their daughters. Both were harmful to themselves and each other. To me the tragedy for Shirley was her inability to stand up to him and concurrently stand up for herself. She drank as did he smoked overate and in her last yrs had severe fear of leaving home. she was in analysis and doctors gave her many many pills. Her husband had many sexual affairs w female students womwn in nyc when he was teaching at Columbia U. He fed on her financial success and dominated her demanding her time b used to write only what she could sell.
Towards end of her youing life she wrote him letter to express the unexpressible and hid it.
As i read this her letters mostly to her parents her literary agents her children some friends i came to love and admire this woman who sooo loved her children .

Judy g