''Julia'' is a 1975 novel by American writer

Peter Straub Peter Francis Straub (; March 2, 1943 – September 4, 2022) was an American novelist and poet. He had success with several horror and supernatural fiction novels, among them ''Julia'' (1975), ''Ghost Story'' (1979) and ''The Talisman'' (198 ...

. The work is Straub's first novel to deal with the supernatural and was published through

Coward, McCann & Geoghegan G. P. Putnam's Sons is an American book publisher based in New York City, New York. Since 1996, it has been an imprint of the Penguin Group. History The company began as Wiley & Putnam with the 1838 partnership between George Palmer Putnam an ...

. ''Julia'' was later adapted into the 1977 film '' Full Circle'' (released in the USA as ''The Haunting of Julia''), starring

Mia Farrow Maria de Lourdes Villiers "Mia" Farrow ( ; born February 9, 1945) is an American actress. She first gained notice for her role as Allison MacKenzie in the television soap opera ''Peyton Place (TV series), Peyton Place'' and gained further recogn ...

. The work is Straub's third novel and his second published novel, as ''Under Venus'' was not officially published until 1984. Straub began writing ''Julia'' at the advice of his literary agent after ''Under Venus'' was rejected by his publishers, as his agent recommended that he try writing a

gothic novel Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror (primarily in the 20th century), is a literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name of the genre is derived from the Renaissance era use of the word "gothic", as a pejorative to mean ...

Synopsis

Julia Lofting has just purchased a large house in London as a means of escaping her overbearing husband, Magnus, and to start her life over following the death of her nine-year-old daughter, Kate. But she begins to suspect that she is not alone, and after a seance is held at her home she comes to fear that a malevolent supernatural presence is stalking her.

References

1975 American novels 1970s horror novels American horror novels American gothic novels Supernatural novels Novels set in London American novels adapted into films Horror novels adapted into films Novels by Peter Straub Coward-McCann books Jonathan Cape books {{1970s-gothic-novel-stub