Summary of the novel

The novel starts out telling a brief background introduction. Then it goes to talking about Dr. John Monatgue and how his true passion is in the study of supernatural phenomena. Dr. Montague wants to get a couple assistants to go live in Hill House for the summer to research the hauntings that go on there. So he finds a list of people that have had experience in the paranormal events. He finds two assistants named Eleanor and Theodora. There is then another person named Luke that goes to stay at the house with them to keep an eye on them, because his family owns the house.

The novel talks about how Eleanor had taken care of her sick mother untill her death. Eleanor lived with her sister and was very unhappy there. Eleanor wants to feel loved and have a home of her own. Eleanor takes her and her sister's car and drives to Hill House hoping for a little adventure. Eleanor arrives first at Hill House, and is greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Dudley, the care takers of the house. They warn her to be careful and they also scare her.

Next to arrive is Theodora, Theo, who becomes friends with Eleanor right off the bat. They explore the old house and its grounds until they get scared and run back to the house. When they get back they meet Luke and Dr. Montague. They all get along quite well.

The fisrt day nothing really that scary happens every thing is normal until the second night, they start to hear scary sounds. So it goes on so that at night there seems to be ghost and hauntings, but during the day it is very peaceful.

As time goes on a love triangle starts to form between Eleanor, Theo, and Luke. Eleanor and Theo both like Luke, and Luke keeps leading both them on. Then in little time, Eleanor and Theo start to feel a connection between eachother. But when Eleanor tells Theo of how she is planning on moving back with her and living with her, Theo decides she doesnt want that so she makes Eleanor mad but flirting with Luke alot more and showing him attention.

The messages about Eleanor start appearing on walls and windows. The hauntings beging to turn physical and the group start to begin conserned for their safety. Everyone starts to blame Eleanor for the events taking place because all the events are connected with her. Eleanor then begin to fight whcih causes more hauntings. They later find out that there was a fued between two sisters long ago over a boy, and find out about that story.

Eleanor is then kicked out of the house because Dr. Montague is scared for the safety of Eleanor. So Eleanor leaves, but as she is leaving she is forced to speed her car and turn into a tree causing her own death, but before she hits the tree she is confused that she is trying to kill herself and tries to stop it but it is too late. Eleanor dies.