by Shirley Jackson
Published 2006
Shirley Jackson's beloved gothic tale of a peculiar girl named Merricat and her family's dark secret Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate. This edition features a new introduction by Jonathan Lethem. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Modulated
“This voice features a haunting and intense tone, perfectly suited for Merricat's eerie and mysterious worldview, drawing listeners into the story's dark, gothic atmosphere.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Whispery
“Clara's whispery and intimate quality resonates with Merricat's breathy, internal narration and her often unsettling, childlike yet unnervingly mature perspective.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Soft
“Capturing Merricat's subtle menace, Rosie offers a smoky, low resonance laced with a quiet mystery that complements the character's dark and peculiar nature.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Gentle
“Isla Sterling’s expressive range, moving from quiet vulnerability to emotional highs, can convey the narrator's unique blend of childlike innocence and underlying fierce loyalty.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Gentle
“An emotive voice with a mysterious tone, Arabella provides a good textural fit for Merricat’s distorted lens on the world, emphasizing her enigmatic character.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
Merricat's older sister, seemingly gentle and maternal, but with a quiet resignation and hidden strength. Her voice is soft, calm, and soothing, yet capable of conveying underlying sorrow.
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Gentle
“Mina's gentle, soft, and serene presence, coupled with measured pacing and subtle warmth, perfectly embodies Constance's outwardly calm and soothing demeanor, hinting at her hidden depths.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Soft
“This sweet, melodious, and calm delivery works wonderfully for Constance's gentle disposition, creating the soothing atmosphere she maintains around Merricat.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Liz’s soothing and comforting qualities directly align with Constance's maternal traits, offering a gentle vocal texture that is calming and soft.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Amelia’s gentle yet emotive tone is ideal for conveying Constance's quiet resignation and the underlying sorrow she carries, suggesting a strength beneath the surface.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“The natural empathy and thoughtful pauses in Kelly’s warm, mid-range voice could beautifully express Constance’s pleasant nature and her quiet, measured interactions with the world.”
The frail, elderly uncle, obsessed with recounting the family's tragic past. His voice is weak, reedy, and often rambling, with moments of surprising lucidity and bitterness.
Male · Old · Character-Voice · Conversational · Narration · Social-Media · +20 more
“Sirius, with his deep, raspy, and dramatic tone, is an excellent match for Uncle Julian’s serious recounts of the family’s tragic past, capturing his underlying bitterness and moments of theatrical lucidity.”
Male · Old · Character-Voice · Entertainment · Narration · Deep · +11 more
“This deep, dark, and raspy character voice is well-suited to Uncle Julian's low, weak, and often rambling speech, providing the necessary dramatic flair for his obsession.”
Male · Old · Conversational · Character-Voice · Advertisement · Narration · +58 more
“The measured, slow pacing and conversational raspy quality in Dafugboom's voice would portray Uncle Julian’s frail delivery, punctuated by the sharp observations of his deteriorating mind.”
The charming but manipulative cousin who disrupts the sisters' isolated life, seeking their family fortune. His voice is smooth, confident, and initially pleasant, revealing a calculating and intrusive nature.
Male · Middle-Aged · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · Social-Media · +57 more
“Matt Dillon's voice, described as smooth, conversational, and professional with a mysterious edge, is perfect for Charles's initially charming persona that conceals a calculating and intrusive nature.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Deep · Low · Medium · High · +58 more
“The sinister and dramatic flair of Sukuna’s deep, measured voice strongly aligns with Charles’s antagonist role, effectively revealing his manipulative intentions as the story progresses.”