Literary · Gothic · Short stories
The Yellow Wallpaper
A woman ordered to rest in a nursery room by her physician husband becomes more and more fixated on its patterned yellow wallpaper, in a story told through her secret journal.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1892
- Pace
- Fast
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 24
- Format
- Book 42 of 80 in Penguin Little Black Classics
Read this if you want a short, unsettling classic about confinement and control.
Skip this if you prefer stories with clear answers and a lot of action.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about The Yellow Wallpaper
- What is The Yellow Wallpaper about?
- A woman ordered to rest in a nursery room by her physician husband becomes more and more fixated on its patterned yellow wallpaper, in a story told through her secret journal.
- Who should read The Yellow Wallpaper?
- Read it if you want a short, unsettling classic about confinement and control. Skip it if you prefer stories with clear answers and a lot of action.
- How long and how fast is The Yellow Wallpaper?
- It is a fast-paced, short read of about 24 pages, first published in 1892.
- Does The Yellow Wallpaper have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Mental illness.
- Can I borrow The Yellow Wallpaper for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Yellow Wallpaper; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
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| Ebook | ||
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| Audiobook | ||
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