The Woman in Black
In this gothic ghost story, a young solicitor encounters a malevolent spirit in a secluded mansion, leading to haunting consequences.
Susan Hill
1983
Main Characters
Arthur Kipps
A diligent and pragmatic young solicitor whose encounter with the supernatural challenges his rational worldview. His journey from scepticism to terror forms the crux of the narrative.
Jennet Humfrye (The Woman in Black)
A tormented spirit driven by grief and vengeance. Her tragic past and relentless haunting make her a formidable and haunting presence throughout the story.
Samuel Daily
A local landowner who befriends Arthur. Beneath his gruff exterior lies a compassionate heart, and he provides crucial support as Arthur confronts the malevolent forces at play.
Synopsis
Arthur Kipps, an ambitious young solicitor from London, is dispatched to the secluded village of Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow and settle her affairs at the enigmatic Eel Marsh House. The mansion, isolated by treacherous marshlands and accessible only via a narrow causeway, exudes an aura of mystery and foreboding.
Upon his arrival, Arthur notices the villagers' palpable unease whenever Eel Marsh House or its late inhabitant is mentioned. At Mrs Drablow's funeral, he glimpses a gaunt woman dressed entirely in black, her presence evoking a deep sense of dread. When he inquires about her, the locals react with fear and refuse to discuss her identity or significance.
Determined to complete his task, Arthur ventures to Eel Marsh House, where he is confronted by a series of inexplicable and terrifying occurrences. The sound of a child’s scream echoing across the fog-laden marshes, the eerie rocking of an empty chair in a deserted nursery, and the fleeting appearances of the woman in black herself all contribute to an escalating sense of horror.
As Arthur delves deeper into the house's history, he uncovers the tragic story of Jennet Humfrye, the woman in black. Jennet, once a resident of Eel Marsh House, bore a child out of wedlock—a scandalous circumstance in her time. Pressured by her family, she was forced to give up her son to her sister, Alice Drablow, who raised him as her own. Jennet's anguish intensified when her son died in a tragic accident on the marshes, an event she witnessed helplessly. Consumed by grief and rage, Jennet's spirit lingers, seeking vengeance by causing the deaths of children in the village whenever she is seen.
Arthur's rational mind grapples with the supernatural events unfolding around him. His initial scepticism gives way to fear as he realises the malevolent force he is up against. The haunting becomes personal, threatening not only his sanity but also the safety of those he holds dear.
'The Woman in Black' is a masterful exploration of isolation, loss, and the lingering impact of unresolved grief. Susan Hill's atmospheric prose and meticulous attention to gothic detail create a narrative that is both compelling and unsettling, ensuring readers are gripped from beginning to end.
Quotes
"For I see that then I was still all in a state of innocence, but that innocence, once lost, is lost forever."
"A man may be accused of cowardice for fleeing away from all manner of physical dangers but when things supernatural, insubstantial and inexplicable threaten not only his safety and well-being but his sanity, his innermost soul, then retreat is not a sign of weakness but the most prudent course."
"I have sat here at my desk, day after day, night after night, a blank sheet of paper before me, unable to lift my pen, trembling and weeping too."
Fun Fact
The Woman in Black' has been adapted into a highly successful stage play, becoming the second-longest-running play in the history of London's West End, surpassed only by 'The Mousetrap'.