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Did a real poisoning inspire Shirley Jackson’s final novel?

In 1876, a British lawyer named Charles Bravo died of antimony poisoning in a case Agatha Christie dubbed “one of the most mysterious poisoning cases ever recorded.” It has been speculated that this case inspired Shirley Jackson’s 1962 novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, a story about Mary Katherine Blackwood (Fictogram answer #243) and her sister Constance, whose family is poisoned with arsenic before the events of the novel take place. 

Charles Bravo’s case is still unresolved, with many possible suspects named: his wife, their housekeeper, his wife’s former lover, a former stableman, and Charles himself. Two inquests were conducted, but no one was ever convicted. The mystery inspired many artistic works such as a BBC series called The Poisoning of Charles Bravo, a novel called Not Sufficient Evidence, and episodes of In Suspicious Circumstances and Julian Fellowes Investigates. Many theories surrounded the death, including one that hypothesized that Charles was slowly poisoning his wife with small, cumulative doses, only to accidentally take a dose himself, mistaking it for a different medication. 

It is no wonder then that Shirley Jackson might also have been inspired to write about a mysterious poisoning, in what ended up being her last and perhaps most well-known novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle. In it, Mary Katherine Blackwood (known as Merricat) and her sister live in a castle, isolated from their town for six years after the other members of their family were poisoned. An estranged cousin comes to the castle, and eventually another disaster strikes the family. Merricat narrates the novel, speaking matter-of-factly while recounting her story, leaving the reader with some information but even more questions. As in life’s unresolved mysteries, not all motivations are explained, nor are all judgments made as to who is right or wrong, innocent or guilty. It is ultimately up to the reader to decide whether good or evil has triumphed, and if the ending is happy after all. 

Answers to last week's games

Monday, July 15 to Sunday, July 21.

Linxicon

The following are the shortest paths from last week:

• #154 jury -> guilty -> affirmative -> yes

• #155 chocolate -> eating -> changing -> adjustment

• #156 accompany -> together -> separate -> difference

• #157 while -> during -> event -> occasion -> formal

• #158 often -> during -> after -> behind

• #159 recommend -> suggestion -> problem -> odd

• #160 poverty -> debt -> lateness -> late -> later

• #161 Play now!

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