Private Demons

Book excerpt: She wrote one of the most memorable American short stories of the century, "The Lottery", a chilling tale that shocked the world when it was first published in 1948. To many, this haunting allegory epitomizes the short story form. A deceptively simple, but ultimately tragic tale, the life of its author, Shirley Jackson, echoes in every phrase. A brilliant writer, she was a woman of extreme contradictions. Her extraordinarily complex life is revealed in this compelling biography of a creative genius who left her indelible mark on the literature of our time. -- From publisher's description.