Date of Birth: December 14, 1916
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: August 8, 1965
Biography
Shirley Jackson was a renowned American novelist and short story writer, best known for her works of horror and psychological suspense. She was born on December 14, 1916, in San Francisco, California. Jackson’s writing career began in the 1940s, and she quickly gained fame for her unique and unsettling stories. Her notable works include “The Lottery,” a short story that caused a significant stir when it was published in The New Yorker in 1948, and her 1959 novel “The Haunting of Hill House,” which is widely regarded as one of the best ghost stories ever written. Jackson’s work often explored themes of isolation, mental illness, and the darker aspects of human nature. She passed away on August 8, 1965, in North Bennington, Vermont, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence writers and readers to this day.
5 Interesting Facts about Shirley Jackson
1. Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” led to hundreds of subscription cancellations and hate mail when it was published in The New Yorker.
2. She was a prolific writer, producing six novels, over 200 short stories, and two memoirs during her career.
3. Jackson’s novel “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” has been adapted into a stage play and a feature film.
4. Despite her success as a writer, Jackson struggled with anxiety and agoraphobia throughout her life.
5. She was married to literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, who was a significant influence on her career.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Shirley Jackson
1. “No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream.”
2. “I delight in what I fear.”
3. “Life among the savages is a life no less savage than the life among others.”
4. “I have always loved to write, and I have always known that I was going to be a writer.”
5. “The Haunting of Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of her career, Shirley Jackson’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, adjusted for inflation.
Children
Shirley Jackson had four children with her husband Stanley Edgar Hyman: Laurence, Joanne, Sarah, and Barry Hyman.
Relevant Links
1. [Shirley Jackson on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Jackson
2. [The Shirley Jackson Awards](http://www.shirleyjacksonawards.org/
4. [Biography on Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/writer/shirley-jackson
