Books

First edition, first printing of King's classic, his third published novel and first hardcover bestseller, which firmly established him as a preeminent writer of horror. Basis for Stanley Kubrick's iconic 1980 film adaptation starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and Danny Lloyd. First issue with code "R49" present at rear gutter. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, 1977. Publisher's original black cloth spine over mustard paper boards, spine lettered in gilt; pp. (viii), 447. A very good copy in a very good, first issue dust jacket. Binding remains sturdy with a slight lean. Minimal wear to boards but for some rubbing to cloth near spine heel and a touch of fraying to spine tips. Owner's bookplate to front pastedown, small faint stain to first blank and a spot of light foxing to a few pages at foredge. Jacket remains bright and vivid with some shelfwear, a few closed tears and associated creases, faint rubbing to back panel. A presentable copy, protected in archival mylar.

In Stephen King's "The Shining," published in 1977, Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic and struggling writer, accepts a job as the winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Jack sees this as an opportunity to reconnect with his family—his wife Wendy and their young son Danny, who possesses psychic abilities known as "the shining." As winter descends and the hotel becomes snowbound, strange and eerie events begin to unfold. Danny, sensitive to the hotel's dark history and its supernatural influences, starts experiencing visions of the hotel's disturbing past. He communicates telepathically with the cook, Dick Hallorann, who also possesses the shining and warns Danny of the dangers lurking within the hotel. As the isolation and malevolent forces of the Overlook take hold, Jack's mental stability begins to crumble. Influenced by the hotel's sinister spirits and haunted by his own demons, he becomes increasingly erratic and violent. The malevolent entities within the hotel exploit Jack's vulnerabilities, leading to his descent into madness. Danny's psychic abilities intensify, allowing him to see the horrors hidden within the hotel and foresee the danger posed by his father. With Wendy increasingly worried about Jack's erratic behavior, Danny and his mother attempt to escape the hotel's grasp while evading Jack, who has become a terrifying and dangerous threat. Throughout the novel, King masterfully portrays the psychological horror of isolation, addiction, and the disintegration of the family unit. He explores themes of supernatural malevolence, the impact of past traumas, and the struggle against inner darkness. "The Shining" is celebrated for its atmospheric tension, vivid characterization, and the haunting portrayal of a family unraveling in the face of supernatural evil. The novel has captivated readers for decades, earning its place as a cornerstone in the horror genre and solidifying Stephen King's reputation as a master storyteller of chilling and psychologically gripping tales.