Henry James was arguably the greatest practitioner of what has been called the psychological ghost story. His stories explore the region which lies between the supernatural or straightforwardly marvellous and the darker areas of the human psyche. This edition includes all ten of his ghost stories, and as such is the fullest collection currently available. The stories range widely in tone and type. They include 'The Jolly Corner', a compelling story of psychological doubling; 'Owen Wingrave', which is also a subtle parable of military tradition; 'The Friends of the Friends', a strange story of uncanny love; and 'The Private Life', which finds a shrewd, high comedy in its ghostly theme. The volume also includes James's great novella The Turn of the Screw , perhaps the most ambiguous and disturbing ghost story ever written.

    The narrator, a young governess, arrives at a remote English country estate to care for Miles and Flora, her at once angelic and mischievous charges. Two apparitions --a former valet and a former governess, both dead - soon make themselves manifest to the governess. Are the ghosts nothing more than figments of an overactive imagination? Or are they something far more palpable and malevolent that has corrupted the children?Washington Square (1881) is a subtle exploration of the thoughts and feelings of its central female character. Catherine Sloper is the plain, sheltered daughter of a wealthy New York widower. Catherine's only suitor - an idle, handsome man-about-town named Morris Townsend - proposes marriage, but Catherine's farther forbids the union, convinced the young man is only interested in his daughter's future inheritance. The muted conflict between father and daughter will forever change Catherine's life.