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Title: Subtle and thought-provoking
Review: Those looking for horror of the slasher sort will not find it here. "The Turn of the Screw" is a complex exploration of human psychology and the nature of perception. The central question is, are the heroine's perceptions "real" or the product of hysterical imagination? James does not tell us definitively, but leaves us to ponder which we believe to be true - and whether there's ever a clear difference. The Victorian language only adds to the atmosphere of a tale redolent with Freudian possibility. Those who enjoy this novel should also try two modern novels that explore similar territory, John Fowles' "The Magus" and Rand Johnson's "Arcadia Falls".
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