by R. M. Ziegler

Created on: April 17, 2008

When someone mentions the genre, horror, it is likely that Shirley Jackson is not the first author to come to mind. In her day she was a masterful author of gothic horror stories. Though she was a prolific author right up until her death, most people only remember her best known short story, "The Lottery."

"The Lottery" was published in The New Yorker in 1948. That story generated more mail for the magazine then any other story they published. But long before she received notice for "The Lottery," Jackson had already published many stories, including a novel. Her mother Geraldine said, "Shirley began to compose verse almost as soon as she could write it." As a child Jackson preferred to write in her room instead of playing with other children. This tendency toward reclusiveness would continue throughout her life.

Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916. For unknown reasons, she often gave her birth year as 1919. She grew up in Burlingame, California and in high school began publishing short stories and poetry in the school literary magazine. Although she enjoyed sports, she often escaped to her room to write and read literature. Mother Geraldine, who was always concerned about appearances, pressured her to socialize more, but Shirley always felt like a social misfit and was self conscious of her looks.

In 1934 Jackson enrolled in the University of Rochester liberal arts program, but after a year she left, mainly due to periods of depression. Upon her return home, she began a disciplined schedule of writing day and night, a schedule she would continue for many years. After a year, she was ready to return to college and entered Syracuse University where she graduated with a degree in English and met future husband, Stanley Hyman. While at Syracuse she published fifteen stories and edited The Syracusan, the college humor magazine. In 1939 the magazine eliminated Jackson's editorial position. With the English Club's sponsorship, she and Hyman started a literary magazine, The Spectre. Shortly thereafter, the English department tried to have it shut down, because they did not approve of the magazine's content. However, a modern literature professor named Leonard Brown continued his support and encouraged the couple to keep the magazine going. Jackson would always refer to Brown as her mentor and later dedicated the novel, The Haunting of Hill House, to him. In 1940, the same year the couple graduated and married, The Spectre, ceased publication.

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