The genre-defining classic that ushered in the era of modern horror
One of the best-selling books of all time, Rosemary’s Baby is a foundational work of suspense and psychological horror which remains as powerful and chilling as the day it was written. Hailed by Truman Capote as a “darkly brilliant tale” and adapted with near-total fidelity into the monumental film starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes, Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby ushered in the era of contemporary horror as we know it, opening the floodgates to later works such as The Exorcist and The Omen. Levin ingeniously fused gothic literary tradition with modern-day New York, creating an enduring classic which the New York Times placed on its recent list of “The 25 Most Significant New York City Novels From the Last 100 Years.”
Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling-actor husband Guy are thrilled to move into the Bramford, a sought-after Manhattan apartment building prized for its Victorian details and gargoyled facade. Yet as they learn of a darker side to the building’s history—and become acquainted with their overly attentive neighbors, the Castevets—unspoken tensions enter into the young couples’ relationship. Matters improve when Guy lands a major role, and Rosemary at last becomes pregnant. But as her pregnancy takes frightening turns, Rosemary begins to question if her neighbors’ heightened interest is strictly innocent, or if their motivations—and those of Guy himself—portend terrifying consequences for her, and her unborn child. Is Rosemary “…going mad, or going sane”?
Foreword by Chuck Palahniuk. Afterword by R. L. Stine.
The genre-defining works of novelist-playwright Ira Levin (1929–2007) include such indelible titles as Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil, and Deathtrap—the fifth longest-running play in Broadway history. At home in nearly every genre—horror (Rosemary’s Baby), crime (Edgar-winning A Kiss Before Dying), science fiction (This Perfect Day), comedy (No Time For Sergeants), even a Broadway musical (Drat! The Cat!)—Levin’s enduring works continue to resonate with readers and audiences, serving as iconic cultural and creative touchstones. Learn more at Levin’s official website, IraLevin.org.
Chuck Palahniuk is the author of the bestselling Fight Club, which was made into a film by director David Fincher. His nonfiction work has been published by Gear, Black Book, The Stranger, and the Los Angeles Times. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
"Suspense is beautifully intertwined with everyday incidents; the delicate line between belief and disbelief is faultlessly drawn." —New York Times
"A darkly brilliant tale of modern deviltry that induces the reader to believe the unbelievable. I believed it and was altogether enthralled." —Truman Capote
"Impossible to put down. . . . Ever so subtly Levin has stripped his audience of their rational defenses and holds them in his clutches . . . the climax is an icy shock which no one will ever forget." —Providence Journal
Truman Capote
A darkly brilliant tale of modern devilry that induces the reader to believe the unbelievable. I believed it and was altogether enthralled.
There’s nothing better than browsing our shelves and walking out with arms full of new books, and there are some we really don’t want you to miss. This August is jam-packed with amazing new titles — from moving family sagas and new novels from some of our favorite authors to explorations of our world (and beyond) […]
