“Every crease is a story.”
by Stephen King
Open Library readers: 4.17 / 5 from 287 ratings. Separate from ratings here.Catalogue checked 2026-10-02.
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…
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.
Rate this book
No ratings here yet. Read it? Leave your mark in the margin.
Gathering editions from Open Library…
Something tucked inside your copy?
A pressed flower, a ticket stub, an inscription on the flyleaf. Photograph it for Found in Books.
Send your copy travelling
Print a numbered bookplate, pass the book on, and follow where it goes next.
The Shining is by Stephen King. The catalogue records its first publication in 1977. A later edition may have a different publication date on its copyright page.
The catalogue records 506 pages for a representative edition. Pagination varies with the publisher, format, type size and translation, so check the edition you intend to read.
Cheapest first, postage included where the seller lists it. From third-party sellers; we may earn a commission. Disclosure
Compare the publisher, publication date, language, format and ISBN in the editions section. If you need a particular translation or a matching book-club copy, confirm those details with the seller. A work-level page brings different editions together; its first-publication year does not identify your individual copy.
Check a copy's editionCreasy Spines ratings come from readers here. The separate Open Library score is 4.17 out of 5 from 287 ratings in our catalogue snapshot. It belongs to a different reader community and is not combined with our ratings.
Compare the current seller links on this page, including postage, condition and edition. Availability and asking prices can change. If the copy you need is missing, save a wanted search in Hunt List.
Look for a copyThe Shining
Hodder, 2018 / Paperback
ISBN 9781473695498
Shining
Anchor Books, 2013
ISBN 9780606257619
The Shining
Anchor Books, 2013 / Ebook
ISBN 9780385528863
The Shining
Anchor Books, 2013
ISBN 0525565329
The Shining
Hodder Paperback, 2013 / Paperback, 528 pp.
ISBN 9781444781359
The Shining
Anchor Books, 2013 / Paperback
ISBN 9780345806789
Shining
Hodder & Stoughton, 2012
ISBN 9781444764369
The Shining
Anchor Books, 2012 / Paperback, 688 pp.
ISBN 9780307743657
Showing 8 of 98
Your shelves, ratings and reviews belong to the book, not a particular edition. Edition data from Open Library.