Shirley Jackson’s first novel

Shirley Jackson’s The Road Through the Wall, published in 1948, is a sharp and unsettling exploration of the dark undercurrents that lie beneath the veneer of suburban life. As her debut novel, it marked the beginning of a career that would establish Jackson as one of the most incisive and compelling chroniclers of human nature in American literature. Though it lacks the overt supernatural elements of her later works, such as The Haunting of Hill House or We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Road Through the Wall is no less haunting in its portrayal of societal cruelty, moral hypocrisy, and the latent violence within ordinary communities.

Set in the fictional town of Pepper Street, the novel examines the lives of its middle-class residents, who outwardly embody the ideals of postwar American suburbia. Beneath the polished exteriors of their homes and carefully maintained social hierarchies, however, lies a festering world of prejudice, petty rivalries, and emotional isolation. The novel’s title refers to a literal wall that separates Pepper Street from a less affluent neighborhood, a physical and symbolic barrier that underscores the characters’ obsession with boundaries—be they social, racial, or economic.

Shirley Jackson (1916–1965) was an American writer whose work spans gothic fiction, psychological horror, and social satire. Her major works, including The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, cemented her reputation as one of the most influential American authors of the 20th century. Known for her sharp wit, piercing social commentary, and masterful use of ambiguity, Jackson remains a literary icon whose work continues to captivate and challenge readers. The Road Through the Wall stands as a testament to her unique ability to illuminate the darkness within the everyday.

Il Disoriente

A paperback and e-book series published by Intra.

Global readability, Italian charm.

• Date: Nov. 25, 2024
  
• Language: English
• Paperback: 225 pages
• ISBN-13: 979-1259916761
• Dimensions: 12.7 x 1.93 x 20.32 cm
• Price: $can 20,00 (paperback)

AVAILABLE ONLY ON AMAZON .CA (paperback)