Woman in Black by Susan Hill / Buy on Amazon / Buy on Bookshop.org

Though published in 1983, Hill’s writing convincingly mirrors the style of Victorian literature. The prose feels like it belongs to a much earlier time, with a rhythm and tone that transports readers back to the fog-drenched moors of 19th-century England. For someone like me, who hadn’t read older English fiction in a while, it was a refreshing reintroduction to that style.

One of the most striking things about Hill’s approach is her dedication to scene-setting. In contrast to many modern novels that prioritise pace and dialogue, The Woman in Black often lingers on its surroundings. The descriptions of the eerie Eel Marsh House never felt bloated. Instead, they build an oppressive atmosphere that slowly plants the seeds of uncanny in your mind. While the writing never actually made me feel terror, Hill did her job in setting the eerie atmosphere well.

The story unfolds through the perspective of Arthur Kipps, a solicitor and now a settled older man. During a family Christmas gathering, his children (through marriage) share ghost stories, triggering Arthur’s deep discomfort. It’s clear he has lived through a real supernatural ordeal and feels too uncomfortable to recount it orally. Instead, he chooses to write down his experience in hopes that someone, someday, might read and understand what he endured. From here, the novel dives into Arthur’s past, where his boss at his legal firm assigns him to handle the estate of a recently deceased woman in a remote village. This village is where he encounters the chilling presence of the titular woman in black.

Beyond the haunting, I was intrigued by the novel’s subtle commentary on class and the urban-rural divide in Britain. Arthur, a Londoner, openly admits to viewing country villagers as simple or superstitious, which is an attitude that still lingers today. We see this difference in lifestyle play out in the way that Arthur navigates his task. He stays headstrong and committed to the task at hand, despite his supernatural encounters. The people of the village allude to knowing things about Eel Marsh House, but they’re too reserved to speak of it out loud. It’s through an Inn owner named Mr. Daily that Arthur finds some help. And later in the book, Mr. Daily offers Arthur a female tarrier named Spider to accompany him for his return to Eel Marsh House.

There is a movie version of The Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe (2012), and the movie slightly deviates from the book, forming a tighter plot. The plot in the book version isn’t exactly engrossing, but curiosity will make you turn the page to find out where the hauntings of Eel Marsh House started.

While I wouldn’t call The Woman in Black terrifying, the strength of The Woman in Black lies in its mood and execution. It’s not a story that relies on jump scares or shocks, but rather builds unease through isolation, and the proximity to creepy occurrences. At around 200 pages, it’s an easy weekend read that serves as a great entry point into gothic fiction. You may not walk away trembling, but you’ll certainly remember the quiet dread that hangs over every page.

A Libraries Connected report reveals that nearly 60% of libraries are actively considering taking part in a “warm bank” scheme. Many of them plan to provide hot drinks and advice on managing bills. Almost 47% of them plan to work with local partners such as churches, charities, and community groups to support the vulnerable.

In a very telling statistic, only 4% of library leaders expect to receive any extra funding for this activity. That makes it uncertain how long they will be able to provide this level of support.

The Guardian has reached out to further library authorities and found that around 39 libraries (out of 79 contacted) are no longer charging adults late fees, in a bid to encourage people to use their services more and to help ease financial pressures.

The importance of libraries and why we should be supporting them

There was a time when I was suffering both mentally and physically. My health alienated me from my friends and family, who might not have understood the pressure I was feeling to perform at the same level as everyone else. During this time, visiting the library gave me an escape. Being surrounded by so many books—filled with wisdom, guiadance, and entertainment—provided a strong sense of nurture that allowed me to heal mentally. It gave me a new focus. Art and literature became the thing I could cling to and ignore my pain. The library is significant to so many people for this reason.

Libraries are important sources of learning materials, information, history, and truth. By providing free access to educational, news, and historical resources, libraries aim to keep the public informed with facts. The importance of this is plain to see as we live in the digital age of misinformation.

Furthermore, libraries offer a sense of community. Particularly for children and young adults. As technology continues to make our lives more convenient, lessening the need to step out and interact with people, it’s important that we still maintain a level of community and support. Especially when facing a crisis such as the looming cost of living spike.

The library is a resource that we have taken for granted. But now is the time to support them more than ever so that they can continue to offer warmth and shelter to the people that need it.

How can I support my local library?

Here are a few ways you can start helping your local library immediately:

• Sign up for a library card (this helps boost up their statistics and allows them to get more funding and resources)
• Donate books
• Attend their events
• Share the details of any events or courses that your library is promoting
• Keep an eye on any charity events or giveaways
• Support local author events
• Clean up after yourself (because cleaners cost money. And the staff is already overworked)
• Volunteer

These are just a few ways to help out your local library. Remember that although libraries are free to visit, every statistic is important for them when it comes to receiving more funding. So even small things like registering for a library card and following your local library on social media go a long way.

The more funding that libraries receive, the more they can help out the community during times of hardship.