Susan Hill, The Bird of Night

Gina Wisker (University of Brighton)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of York), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1972

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

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In the Gothic

The Bird of Night

the schizophrenic writer, Francis’ diaries, letters and life story are contained within the narrative voice and control of the academic, Harvey, who writes about him. The novel explores the childhood causes of Francis’ madness, guilt over his desire to kill his cruel brother, and his adult state of schizophrenia which leads to decisions about suicide. In its investigations of the journey through schizophrenia, Hill’s novel resembles others of the 1960s and 70s, including Sylvia Plath’s

The Bell Jar

, and Doris Lessing’s

Briefing for a Descent into Hell

. Creativity, and in Francis’ case the production of a long poem, seems to be close to instability if not madness, and to need nurturing. This is in accordance with RD Laing’s contemporary…

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316 words

Citation: Wisker, Gina. "The Bird of Night". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 March 2001 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1455, accessed 27 November 2024.]

Susan Hill, The Bird of Night

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