What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a novel by author Henry Farrell published in 1960. Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe; title page of 1719 newspaper edition A novel (from French nouvelle, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ... An author is the person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article or the like. ... Henry Farrell (born ca. ... See also: 1959 in literature, other events of 1960, 1961 in literature, list of years in literature. ...

This gothic story of chilling suspense and psychological horror deals with two aging sisters, Jane and Blanche Hudson, who are living alone together in a Hollywood mansion. Jane, a former dark headed child star of early vaudeville known as "Baby Jane," was spoiled, pampered, and given all the attention of her father, while her younger sister, Blanche, was practically ignored as she lived in Jane's shadow. Their roles reversed, however, after the death of their parents, due to influenza, when both children moved to Los Angeles to live with an aunt. Blanche was favored for her blonde and blue eyed looks and was even encouraged to pursue a film career. Blanche became a star while Jane, who also worked in films, was not successful. Jane could only play small parts in her sister's films, as Blanche had a clause in her contract stipulating Jane be hired for such roles. Strawberry Hill, an English villa in the Gothic revival style, built by seminal Gothic writer Horace Walpole The gothic novel was a literary genre that belonged to Romanticism and began in the United Kingdom with The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole. ... One of the premier programs of the Golden Age of Radio (now known as old-time radio), Suspense advertised itself as radios oustanding theater of thrills and was heard in one form or another from 1942 through 1962. ... It has been suggested that Psycho (genre) be merged into this article or section. ... Ageing or aging is the process of getting older. ... Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson, in the 1962 film adaption. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mansion near Almelo, The Netherlands A mansion is a large and stately dwelling house for the wealthy. ... Vaudeville is a style of multi-act theatre which flourished in North America from the 1880s through the 1920s. ... Influenza, commonly known as the flu or the grippe, is a contagious disease of the upper airways and the lungs, caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family. ... Nickname: City of Angels Official website: http://www. ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed. ... Look up Career in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A movie star is a celebrity who is well known for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. ... A contract is a promise or an agreement that is enforced or recognized by the law. ...

At the height of her success, Blanche was paralyzed in a car crash into the big iron gates in front of the mansion where she and her sister lived. They were returning from a party that night and Jane was drunk. When the police found her, Jane could not remember what happened. She was held responsible and accused of the attempted murder of her sister. Nothing came of the charge, but Jane's film career ended with Blanche's career. Paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups. ...

Now, years later in 1959, Jane, a slatternly and alcoholic former child star, and Blanche, a disabled former reigning screen goddess, continue to live together in the same mansion in a neighborhood that is no longer fashionable. Jane resents having to live in the shadow of her sister, who became more famous than she ever was, and who is now being remembered because of a revival of her films on television. Jane hates having to cook, clean and care, for Blanche, an invalid who is stuck upstairs in her bedroom, but has nevertheless managed to keep her good looks. 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alcoholism is a powerful craving for alcohol which often results in the compulsive consumption of alcohol. ... The term disability, as it is applied to humans, refers to any condition that impedes the completion of daily tasks using traditional methods. ...

Blanche, whose only other contact with the outside world is Elvira Stitt, a weekly cleaning woman, and her telephone conversations with her doctor and attorney, finds she is growing old in the shadow of her mentally ill sister. She decides to sell her mansion and move them to something nicer and easier to take care of. She then calls her lawyer and tells him she is planning to sell. She hears the extension downstairs click. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Jane, who eavesdrops on her sister's calls, believes that Blanche wants to sell the house and put her away in a mental hospital. Blanche, who sees Jane's sinister, brooding mood swing beginning, tries to talk to her sister about her decision. Jane will not listen, however. A mood swing is an extreme change in mood. ...

In a drunken daze, Jane decides to revive her childhood singing and dancing act of Baby Jane, reasoning that Fanny Brice had success with Baby Snooks. She then hires a musical accompanist, Edwin Flagg. Fanny Brice, early Ziegfeld Follies portrait photograph // Biography Fanny Brice (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951) was a United States comedienne, singer, and entertainer. ... In music accompaniment is the art of playing along with a soloist or ensemble, often known as the lead, in a supporting manner as well as the music thus played. ...

As reality topples crazily into eerie fantasy, Jane abuses her sister with monstrous cruelty while embezzling her money to buy liquor and revive her childhood act. See fantasy for an account of the literary genre involving the development of common or popular fantasies. ... Abuse is a general term for the misuse of a person or thing, causing harm to the person or thing, to the abuser, or to someone else. ... Embezzlement is the fraudulent conversion of property from a property owner. ... Bottles of cachaça, a Brazilian alcoholic beverage. ...

Themes include family secrets, resentment, hatred and deceit, and Jane's realization that she has gone from being the cute and beloved Baby Jane to old and unloved. The story culminates with an unusual twist. In literature (as well as many works of nonfiction), a theme is a broad idea in a story, or the message the author is conveying. ...

See also

• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962 motion picture)
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1991 made-for-TV movie)