The title of Henry James’ ‘The Turn of the Screw’ refers to the thumb screw as a means of torture, the events getting more and more unpleasant as the screw is turned, and though the novel is disconcerting at times I wouldn’t say it lives up to such title. It is the story of a governess who cares for two orphaned children, but becomes aware that they are being visited by a pair of ghosts each of whom were significant in the lives of the children before their death. 

James’ depiction of the ghosts to be a constant ominous presence was about all I found effective in his story. The figures of Jessel and Quint were certainly spine chilling in their appearances at times, but quickly became quite underwhelming antagonists, perhaps forcing the reader to place blame on the governess or the children Flora and Miles becoming the greater uncertain threat, because to James’ credit children behaving ominously is absolutely a staple of subtle uncomfortable horror. This speculation on the readers perspective however wasn’t enough to make the plot engaging, for the story was solely a sequence of non-consequential ghostly appearances and the twist I was expecting to throw the story askew and really make it something never came, leaving the ending events a bitter disappointment.  Whilst nothing happened there was also somehow still so many questions and plot lines left unanswered, too many to justify a mysterious ending that makes the reader think. 

Some more minor negatives were the lacking justification of the introductory section, including a collection of different characters who fetch the manuscript of the story of the governess and the children and begin to read It, but once the main story begins these readers are never returned to and their inclusion in the opening feels pointless. Further, I didn’t see any purpose in the decision to leave the governess, the protagonist character, without a name. She was left completely undeveloped other than a slightly mad, slightly possessive woman and James couldn’t even give her the credit of naming her. I didn’t have huge expectations for Henry James, but ultimately finished ‘The Turn of the Screw’ completely underwhelmed.