The Lottery and Other Stories

by Shirley Jackson

English language

Published March 17, 2005

ISBN:: 978-0-374-52953-6

(27 reviews)

The Lottery and Other Stories is a 1949 short story collection by American author Shirley Jackson. Published by Farrar, Straus, it includes "The Lottery" and 24 other stories. This was the only collection of her stories to appear during her lifetime. Her later posthumous collections were Come Along with Me (Viking, 1968), edited by Stanley Edgar Hyman, and Just an Ordinary Day (Bantam, 1995) and Let Me Tell You (Random House, 2015), edited by her children Laurence Jackson Hyman and Sarah Hyman Stewart. Jackson's original title for this collection was The Lottery or, The Adventures of James Harris. Characters named James Harris appear in the stories "The Daemon Lover," "Like Mother Used to Make," "Elizabeth" and "Of Course." Other characters with the surname Harris appear or are referenced in "The Villager," "The Renegade," "Flower Garden," "A Fine Old Firm" and "Seven Types of Ambiguity." The collection also contains a short …

1 edition

Geoff reviewed The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

Review of 'The Lottery and Other Stories' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

My daughter’s girlfriend told me she read Shirley Jackson as a young teen, and Jackson instantly became her favorite author. I had never read any Jackson at all, so I bought this collection and read them all. Folks, I have questions. No, just kidding. These stories are superb. So very cynical. But superb. I am a little surprised a teenage girl would consider these her favorite stories. But that’s a good surprise.

Shauny (inactive) reviewed The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

Review of 'The Lottery and Other Stories' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

Honestly, I didn’t get it.

Jamie reviewed The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

Review of 'The Lottery and Other Stories' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

So much more versatile and observant than I expected; I love that I picked this up for some Halloween chills and got some good doses of actual life along with it.

govmarley reviewed The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

Review of 'The Lottery and Other Stories' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This is a collection of short stories that run the spectrum of emotions for me, but this review is about "The Lottery". I have read this 3 different times in my life, and knowing the ending doesn't make it any easier to read. This story is about tradition, and what can happen when people blindly follow what has been done in the past without stopping to question why we do the things we do. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I feel this story is an absolute "must read" for everyone. It will spark deep discussion, and it will change your perspective.

I need to go cry in a corner now and be depressed for the remainder of the day. Well played, Ms. Jackson, well played. This story left an imprint on my psyche and I will be thinking about it for days.

periwinkleReads reviewed The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

Review of 'The Lottery and Other Stories' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

These creepy, fascinating stories are almost all little gems, leading up to the most famous, title story. Some verge on supernatural, others just hover around the seriously uncomfortable, shaking up society and its norms. Highly recommended read.