In 1908, James published his complete works under the title "The Turn of the Screw: The New York Edition."

The Turn of the Screw was published at a time during which the interest in Psychical Research and supernatural phenomena was very predominant. The Society for Psychical Research had been founded in 1882 of which James´ brother and father where both members of. Thus, James was not only familiar with the cases of ghost apparitions but used these informations for his ghost stories among which The Turn of the Screw surely became the most important to date.

In the preface of his 1908 edition he stressed however the fact that Peter Quint and Miss Jessel were not ghosts in the traditional sense as the Society of Psychical Research where observing. He pointed out that

“(...) Peter Quint and Miss Jessel are

“(…)Only make the reader’s general vision of evil intense enough, I said to myself – and that already is a charming job – and his own experience, his own imagination, his own sympathy (with the children) and horror (with their false friends) will supply him quite sufficiently with all the particulars. Make him think the evil, make it think it for himself, and you are released from weak specifications.”

3. The governess: a psychotic personality?

not “ghosts” at all, as we know the ghost, but goblins, elves, imps, demons as loosely constructed as those of the old trials of witchcraft; if not, more pleasingly, fairies of the legendary order, wooing their victims forth to see them dance under the moon.”

Some topics in this essay:
Miss Jessel, Peter Quint, Henry James, Henry James´, Miles Flora, Flora Grose, Flora Miles, Quint Renner, Henry Fielding, According Renner, miss jessel, peter quint, society psychical, psychical research, henry james, society psychical research, lower class, sexual hysteria, miles´ dismissal, james familiar, governess able describe, miss jessel`s, quint miss jessel, peter quint miss, governess suspects flora,