Though the Overlook Hotel is fictional, it was inspired by The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, where King spent a solitary night in 1974 and was struck by the eerie atmosphere. The fictional Overlook is depicted as antiquated, cavernous, and likely haunted.

Beyond the focal setting of the Overlook, the story references the larger geographical area of the Colorado Rockies in which the hotel is situated, emphasizing the family's complete isolation once the harsh winter weather sets in, effectively trapping them.

Characters

• Jack Torrance: A struggling writer and recovering alcoholic who becomes the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, hoping to find peace and inspiration for his writing. He is married to Wendy and the father of Danny.

• Danny Torrance: The young son of Jack and Wendy who possesses "the shining," a psychic ability that allows him to see the hotel's horrific past. He is extremely perceptive for his age.

• Wendy Torrance: Jack's wife and Danny's mother. She is supportive of her husband's new job and hopes it will allow her family to become closer and solve their financial problems.

• Dick Hallorann: The chef at the Overlook Hotel who also possesses abilities similar to Danny's. He forms a special bond with Danny and plays a crucial role in the story.

• Delbert Grady: The ghost of a previous caretaker who murdered his family. He appears to Jack and influences him under the hotel's manipulation.

• The Overlook Hotel: While not a character in the traditional sense, the hotel itself is a powerful presence in the book, with its own malevolent consciousness that influences the behavior of the characters.

Critical reception

Named as one of TIME magazine's 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time, The Shining is widely recognized for establishing Stephen King as "an undisputed master of suspense and terror” (The Washington Post), "a master storyteller" (Los Angeles Times), and “the most wonderfully gruesome man on the planet” (USA Today). “[King] probably knows more about scary goings-on in confined, isolated places than anybody since Edgar Allan Poe,” raved Entertainment Weekly, while The Boston Globe described him as "the author who can always make the improbable so scary you’ll feel compelled to check the locks on the front door.” “This chilling novel will haunt you, and make your blood run cold and your heart race with fear,” declared the Nashville Banner. According to Cosmopolitan, The Shining is "guaranteed to frighten you into fits ... with a climax that is literally explosive.” And The New York Times simply called it "Scary! ... Serves up horrors at a brisk, unflagging pace.”

FAQs

What is the main premise of The Shining?

The Shining follows Jack Torrance, a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic who becomes the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. His son, Danny, possesses psychic abilities and begins to see the hotel's sinister, supernatural forces at work, which eventually drive Jack to violence and insanity.

What are the major themes explored in the book?

The Shining explores themes of alcoholism, domestic violence, the disintegration of the family unit, and the consequences of giving in to one's darker impulses and desires. It also delves into the supernatural and the psychic abilities of characters like Danny.

What is the significance of the Overlook Hotel?

The Overlook Hotel is the central setting and almost a character itself in the novel. It is an isolated, haunted resort with a dark history that exerts a malevolent influence over the Torrance family, particularly Jack, amplifying their fears and weaknesses.

How does the book differ from the famous film adaptation?

While the basic premise is the same, Stephen King has been critical of Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation of The Shining, feeling it missed many of the novel's deeper themes and character arcs, particularly those related to the disintegration of the family unit and Jack's struggles with alcoholism and anger.

What is the significance of Danny's "shining" ability?

Danny's psychic abilities, referred to as "the shining," allow him to perceive the supernatural forces and malevolent history of the Overlook Hotel. His shining serves as both a gift and a curse, making him the target of the hotel's influence while also providing him with a means of survival.

How does the book explore the theme of alcoholism?

Jack Torrance's struggles with alcoholism and anger issues are central to the novel's plot and themes. His inability to control his drinking and violent impulses make him susceptible to the Overlook Hotel's manipulation and ultimately lead to his descent into madness and endangerment of his family.

What role does isolation play in the story?

The Torrance family's isolation at the remote Overlook Hotel during the harsh winter months is a crucial element that intensifies the psychological horror and supernatural occurrences they experience. Cut off from the outside world, they become increasingly vulnerable to the hotel's influence.

How does the book explore the disintegration of the family unit?

The Shining depicts the gradual breakdown of the once-stable Torrance family as Jack's mental state deteriorates under the hotel's influence, leading to violence and endangerment of his wife Wendy and son Danny. Their once-hopeful attempt at reconnection devolves into a nightmare.

What inspired Stephen King to write The Shining?

King was inspired to write The Shining after staying at the isolated Stanley Hotel in Colorado in 1974, where he experienced a disturbing dream about his son being chased through the hotel's corridors. The hotel's eerie atmosphere and King's own struggles with alcoholism and parenting helped shape the novel's themes.

How does the book explore the idea of giving in to one's darker impulses?

The Overlook Hotel preys upon and amplifies Jack Torrance's darker impulses, including his anger, alcoholism, and even violent tendencies towards his family. The novel explores the consequences of giving into these impulses and the potential for self-destruction that can result.

Quotes

• "Sometimes human places create inhuman monsters… This inhuman place makes human monsters."

• "Darling? Light of my life. I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just going to bash your brains in."

• "Monsters are real. Ghosts are too. They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win."

• "The tears that heal are also the tears that scald and scourge."

• "But see that you get on. That's your job in this hard world, to keep your love alive and see that you get on, no matter what. Pull your act together and just go on."

• "She had never dreamed there could be so much pain in a life when there was nothing physically wrong. She hurt all the time."

• "Tough old world, baby. If you're not bolted together tightly, you're gonna shake, rattle, and roll before you turn thirty."

• "Are you sure self-pity is a luxury you can afford, Jack?"

Quick facts

• Stephen King came up with the idea for The Shining after an unsettling dream he had during a one-night stay at an isolated, eerie hotel, The Stanley.

• King wrote the first draft of The Shining in less than four months.

• The character Jack Torrance's struggle with alcoholism and violent tendencies towards his family reflected King's own battle with addiction as well as his feelings of inadequacy and fears as a young father.

• Before settling on the title The Shining, King had started a novel called Darkshine, which he abandoned before its completion.

• The original manuscript of The Shining included a prologue and an epilogue titled "Before the Play" and "After the Play," respectively, which were cut from the published version but later rediscovered and published in deluxe editions.

• A sequel titled Doctor Sleep, following Danny Torrance into adulthood, was published in 2013.

• There is a well-documented set of conspiracy theories surrounding Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of The Shining, with some fans claiming that the film is a coded message that reveals the true nature of the moon landing.

• King's distaste for the Kubrick film is so well-known that it's referenced in his later work, including a jab in his 2018 novel The Outsider.

About the author

Stephen Edwin King is a prolific American author dubbed the "King of Horror" and also renowned for his contributions to supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy. His extensive body of work includes more than 50 novels, around 200 short stories, and several nonfiction books, with more than 350 million copies of his works sold worldwide. His debut novel, Carrie, was published in 1974, paving the way for a series of horror fiction bestsellers, including Salem's Lot, The Shining, The Stand, Pet Sematary, Christine, and The Dead Zone. His stories have been adapted into numerous successful films, television series, and miniseries.

Born in 1947, in Portland, Maine, King experienced abandonment and financial hardship from an early age. He was raised by a single mother from the age of two, when his father left the family. Through difficulties, King found solace in reading and writing. His education at the University of Maine at Orono further honed his skills, leading to his first published short story, "The Glass Floor," in 1967. Before achieving success as a writer, King worked various jobs, including a stint as an English teacher at Hampden Academy, Maine.

Throughout his career, King has received numerous awards for his contributions to literature, including the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the Edgar Award for Best Novel in recognition of his crime thriller Mr. Mercedes. He co-wrote the screenplay for The Stand, showcasing his versatility and commitment to storytelling.

King continues to be a significant figure in American literature, celebrated for his exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche, his richly drawn characters, and his unflinching examination of contemporary society. He lives in Maine with his wife, Tabitha King, also a novelist. They have three adult children: a daughter, Naomi, and two sons, the writer Joe Hill and Owen King, who collaborated with his father on the novel Sleeping Beauties.