The Turn of the Screw -- Henry James (Audiobook Review)

2013 Recorded Books, Inc.
Written by: Henry James; Read by: Bianca Amato and Jefferson Mays

A first-time experience with Henry James' classic ghost story, The Turn of the Screw, 122 years after it was written, yields expected and unexpected results. Expected: the kind of reserve and emotional minimalsim for which Victorian-era England is remembered.Unexpected: the kind of finely-mastered storytelling ambiguity that's still rare to find, even, or especially in 21st century work.
James' novella is told from the perspective of a young governess, who comes to stay at Bly Manor in the English countryside. She's been tasked to look after grade schooler, Miles, and his younger sister, Flora. The children's parents have died, and they've been placed under the care of their uncle, who lives in the city, and wants nothing to do with their upbringing.
Things start to go south rather quickly (this only being a novella, and all). Miles is expelled from school for unknown reasons; at about the same time, the governess starts to see the spectral figures of a man and woman around the house and property, sometimes interacting with the children. After the governess speaks to the elderly housekeeper, she becomes convinced these figures are the ghosts of two recently deceased Bly Manor employees. However, the governess' credibility immediately comes into question, as she seems to be the only one who can see these apparitions.
The ambiguity comes from what can be perceived as a dual-narrative from the same perspective. Either Bly Manor is haunted by ghosts who have ill-intentions toward the children, or the governess is certifiably insane, and bringing harm to the children herself because of her hallucinations. The genius of James here is that the option is up to the reader--there is quite enough evidence for both without cancelling either.
That ambiguity may be frustrating for some readers, as will the slightly stuffy, somewhat antiquated prose. The frights here are fairly subtle. There are a few spooky descriptions about the Manor and grounds, particularly a haunting one about fallen leaves, and if you're percieving that there are no ghosts, and that the governess is indeed insane, the conclusion is terrifying and highly disturbing. 

This particular audiobook edition is primarily read by Bianco Amato, with only the very beginning framing device (which strangely, and rather intentionally, does not return at the end) read by Jefferson Mays. Amato is quite engaging, doing a great job with both dialogue and exposition. There are a few moments where the governess' voice and the elderly housekeeper's seem to get a bit mixed up, but otherwise, it's a pretty flawless reading.
With the current release of Netflix's loose adaptation of this material, The Haunting of Bly Manor, now airing, The Turn of the Screw feels like a vital read. As stated, this type of prose is beginning to feel a bit outdated, but the short length, and this admirable reading should make it much easier to get through what has historically been the most dissected ghost story ever written.