The Shining
The Shining is a 1977 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It is King's third published novel and first hardback bestseller; its success firmly established King as a preeminent author in the horror genre. The setting and characters are influenced by King's personal experiences, including both his visit to The Stanley Hotel in 1974 and his struggle with alcoholism. The book was followed by a sequel, Doctor Sleep, published in 2013. The Shining centers on the life of Jack Torrance, a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic who accepts a position as the off-season caretaker of the historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. His family accompanies him on this job, including his young son Danny Torrance, who possesses "the shining", an array of psychic abilities that allow Danny to see the hotel's horrific past. Soon, after a winter storm leaves them snowbound, the supernatural forces inhabiting the hotel influence Jack's sanity, leaving his wife and son in incredible danger. ---------- Also contained in: - [Carrie / Night Shift / 'Salem's Lot / Shining](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14917547W) - [Works (Danse Macabre / Salem's Lot / Shining)](https://o
Themes & atmosphere
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What you might want to know about The Shining
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Recovering alcoholic writer Jack Torrance takes a winter caretaker job at the closed Overlook Hotel high in the Colorado mountains for him, his wife Wendy, and their five-year-old son Danny. Danny has the shining, and the hotel has been waiting for someone like him since long before Jack arrived.
Yes. Stanley Kubrick directed a 1980 film adaptation starring Jack Nicholson. Stephen King famously dislikes the Kubrick version. King produced a more faithful 1997 TV miniseries; he also wrote a sequel novel, Doctor Sleep, adapted as a 2019 film.
Yes. Stephen King wrote Doctor Sleep (2013) as a direct sequel to The Shining. It follows a grown Danny Torrance. The 2019 film adaptation directed by Mike Flanagan tries to bridge the King and Kubrick versions.
The Shining was written by Stephen King, published in 1977 by BCA.
The Shining is 506 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Shining takes most readers 8 to 11 hours to finish.
The Shining is a standalone novel by Stephen King, not part of a series.
The Shining is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.