William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" (1930) is a Southern gothic short story with a horrific twist that's perfect for the spooky season.
I've always appreciated how the story builds suspense, starting with a benign narrative about Emily Grierson's life and how she became an obligation for the town to look after.
Then slipping in subtle hints of what's to come through stories of how Emily purchased arsenic without explaining what it was for, how Homer Barron presumably "ran off" because he was never seen again after entering Emily's home, and then the smell of something rotting that caused the townspeople to sprinkle lime around her property.
When Homer's body is found, it almost shouldn't be much of a surprise. But even if you suspected his fate, the discovery of the single strand of hair that indicates Emily was sleeping next to Homer's dead body is a twist that can turn the stomach with thoughts of necrophilia.
"A Rose for Emily" is a well-written horror story that's been studied by many an English class due to its themes, structure, and character development.
There's even a great 1983 short film, seen in the video above, starring Anjelica Huston in the title role. And the short film sticks very close to the original story, so if you're not much of a reader, the short film is a great substitute.
No matter how you choose to experience it, "A Rose for Emily" is a timeless classic that's perfect to enjoy this time of year.
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