Which American author wrote the short story 'The Lottery'?

The American author who wrote the short story “The Lottery” was Shirley Jackson.

Jackson first published the story in The New Yorker on June 26, 1948. It presents an apparently ordinary small-town gathering that gradually becomes horrifying: residents conduct an annual drawing, and the person selected is stoned by the community. Jackson never names the town, keeping the setting familiar and making the ritual feel unsettlingly universal.

The story’s shock came partly from its contrast between cheerful summer details and brutal violence. Jackson used the lottery to explore conformity, tradition, scapegoating, and the danger of obeying customs simply because they are old. The townspeople repeat phrases and procedures without seriously questioning their purpose.

Readers sometimes confuse Jackson with Stephen King because both are associated with American horror, but Jackson’s work is more closely linked to psychological and domestic unease. The Lottery became one of the most frequently discussed and taught American short stories, despite the fierce reaction to its original publication, which included canceled subscriptions and hate mail.