Is The Turn of the Screw a true story?

The Haunting of Bly Manor premiered on Netflix on October 9 and viewers are loving it. Like its predecessor, the series spins an enchanting tale of ghosts, tragedy, and the power of love. I think that’s what I love most about Mike Flanagan’s storytelling; ultimately, both seasons have been about family, whether it’s biological or chosen.

What is The Haunting of Bly Manor based on?

In case you weren’t aware, both seasons are loosely based on books. The Haunting of Hill House was inspired by Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name and The Haunting of Bly Manor was influenced by Henry James’s novella The Turn of the Screw. If you recognize that phrase, it’s because Older Jamie / The Storyteller (Carla Gugino) uses those exact words as she’s introducing the tale to the wedding guests in the season’s first episode.

If you’re wondering whether or not The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is based on real events, then we have the answer for you.

Is The Turn of the Screw based on a true story?

As reported by Popbuzz, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is entirely fictional. While there are several differences between the novella and the show, the basic story is very similar.

Here’s a fun fact about The Haunting of Bly Manor that I was unaware of: Each episode of this season is named after one of Henry James’ other works.

The Great Good Place, The Pupil, The Two Faces, The Way It Came, The Altar of the Dead, The Jolly Corner, The Romance of Certain Old Clothes, and The Beast in the Jungle are all titles of short stories written by the author. That’s a really cool way to honor the source material!