Much like Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe before her, horror author Shirley Jackson lived a life that in many ways was as shocking and twisted as her stories. Always present in any discussion of the best horror writers in history, Jackson wrote one of the best ghost stories of all time: The Haunting of Hill House. But how did this formidable and inspiring writer get her start in such a male-dominated profession, especially at a time when most women were raised to be housewives? Who was the woman who created stories that still spawn movie adaptations and inspire others?

Jackson overcame a dysfunctional childhood to raise four children while still pursuing her passion for art and writing. Actress Elisabeth Moss will portray the famed author in a big-screen adaptation of the novel Shirley by Susan Scarf Merrell. Before Hollywood takes hold of this literary legend, familiarize yourself with a few Shirley Jackson facts to learn about the strange life she led.