The Woman in Black is a 1983 horror novella written in the style of a traditional Gothic novel by Susan Hill. The story begins with Arthur Kipps surrounded by his stepchildren at Christmas, each telling ghost stories. When Kipps is asked to talk about the topic, he becomes agitated and leaves the room, only to write a letter communicating the haunting incidents he experienced while he was a junior solicitor for Bentley and was sent to Crythin Gifford, a small town on the north east coast of England, to sort out the papers of a dead client, Mrs. Alice Drablow.
This well-written novella describes the horrors that Arthur Kipps faced while staying at Crythin Grifford. The vivid description, gothic style and elements of mystery keep the readers hooked on till the very end. The influence of this novella resulted in a television film based on the story, called The Woman in Black, which was produced in 1989, with a screenplay by Nigel Kneale. A movie adaptation of the story was released in 2012, directed by James Watkins, starring Daniel Radcliffe. The book has also been adapted into a stage play by Stephen Mallatratt.
