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Nice post about an amazing woman and story. I teach this story every year at a Polish university and it's one of my favorite lectures.

You might appreciate this too - Sarah Palin writing an introduction to "The Lottery":

http://www.puffchrissy.com/headline/false-starts-3-sarah-palin-introduces-shirley-jacksons-the-lottery-and-other-stories/

Great article. Thank you!

I'll never forget reading this story when I was in High School. Shirley Jackson was one of a kind. Such a shame that she died so young.

Great story. I will have to go read it again now.

Also, to Christian...
That Intro "by" Sarah Palin was hilarious

I seem to recall a short story, in the spirit of this one, about a small 'perfect' village that kept a small child as a sort of keeper of misfortune. It was locked in a basement with no human interaction.

The similar short story you referred to is called, "The Ones Who Walked Away From Omelas", by Ursula K. Leguin

We performed this play when I was in Jr. High. I don't remember having much of an introduction to the story, or to Jackson. I do remember feeling weird about performing it for my parents though.

I was more touched by her story about mowing a field near the center of town. It's conclusion should be obvious, but her style precludes anticipation. In many ways, she forsaged modern television suspense.

I have often thought that Gaiman owes much of is "Lakeside" chapters to Jackson.

You forgot my favorite of her novels - We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It's great!

Shirley Jackson didn't "die young". She committed suicide.

A disturbing thought to add...don't remember where I heard this now, but a teacher who had been on the job for many years had been teaching The Lottery every year for a long time.
She mentioned that students in years past had always been horrified by the story, once they read it and had a little time to let it sink in.
Apparently, that's no longer so...the students these days can't see anything wrong with the premise of the story, it's just reflecting another 'lifestyle choice'.

(Yes, that anecdote creeps me out a little, everytime I think about it. Ugh.)