Fiction · horror fiction · demonology
The Shining by Stephen King — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
1977506 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 4.2 (282)
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What is The Shining about?
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 - Works (Danse Macabre / Salem's Lot / Shining)
A glimpse inside
The Corrosive Power of Isolation
King uses the Overlook Hotel's remote, snowbound setting to magnify the psychological unraveling of his characters. Cut off from the outside world, the Torrance family faces not just supernatural threats, but the slow erosion of their relationships and sanity. The isolation acts as both a literal and metaphorical pressure cooker, exposing vulnerabilities and amplifying existing tensions, particularly Jack's struggles with anger and addiction.
Addiction as a Personal and Generational Curse
Jack Torrance's battle with alcoholism is central to the novel, mirroring Stephen King's own struggles at the time. The hotel preys on Jack's weaknesses, suggesting that addiction is both a personal demon and a force that can be inherited or transferred within families. Danny's psychic sensitivity makes him especially vulnerable, highlighting how the consequences of addiction ripple outward to loved ones.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 4.2 / 5
282 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Corrosive Power of Isolation
- 2Addiction as a Personal and Generational Curse
- 3The Supernatural as a Reflection of Inner Demons
- 4Family Bonds Under Siege
- 5The Nature of Evil—Place, Person, or Both?
Popular quotes from The Shining
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
“Redrum.”
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Frequently asked
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