Book: The Little Stranger

"The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters is a chilling and atmospheric gothic novel set in post-World War II England. The story unfolds in the dilapidated grandeur of Hundreds Hall, once a splendid Georgian mansion now crumbling under the weight of its history. The Ayres family, who have resided there for over two centuries, struggles to maintain the estate amid financial decline and social change.

The narrative is driven by the perspective of Dr. Faraday, a local physician with humble beginnings, who becomes inexorably drawn into the mysterious happenings at the Hall after he comes to treat a servant. As the family grapples with unsettling occurrences, the lines between psychological and supernatural blur, revealing deep-rooted secrets and fears. Waters masterfully intertwines themes of class, family legacy, and the haunting nature of the past in a story that is as much about the decline of an era as it is about ghostly presences. The novel expertly evokes a sense of dread and suspense, making "The Little Stranger" a compelling exploration of memory, haunting, and the inexorable passage of time.