Misery: A Novel by Stephen King

Teaser

The #1 New York Times bestseller Misery is about a famous novelist held hostage in a remote location by his “number one fan.”One of “Stephen King’s best…genuinely scary” (USA TODAY).

Synopsis

Paul Sheldon is a bestselling novelist who has finally met his number one fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes, and she is more than a rabid reader—she is Paul’s nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also furious that the author has killed off her favorite character in his latest book.

Annie becomes his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house.

Annie wants Paul to write a book that brings Misery back to life—just for her. She has a lot of ways to spur him on. One is a needle. Another is an axe.

And if they don’t work, she can get really nasty.

Reception & Praise

“Terrifying” (San Francisco Chronicle), “dazzlingly well-written” (The Indianapolis Star), and “truly gripping” (Publishers Weekly), Misery is “classic Stephen King...full of twists and turns and mounting suspense” (The Boston Globe).

“King at his best... a winner.”
—The New York Times

“Undiluted horror… wonderful… A primal storyteller writing about a primal scream.”
—Houston Chronicle

"Suspenseful, entertaining, genuinely scary.”
—USA Today

“Solid character delineation and terrifying insight. In addition to being able to scare the reader breathless, King says a tremendous amount about writing itself. We delight in his virtuosity.”
—The Washington Post

“Dazzlingly well-written.”
—The Indianapolis Star

“Terrifying…King is a terrific storyteller.”
—San Francisco Chronicle

"Classic King...full of twists and turns and mounting suspense."
—Boston Globe

“Page-turningly effective, stringing out every scene to the screaming point.”
—Chicago Sun-Times

“Stephen King at his best…frighteningly good.”
—Philadelphia Inquirer

“Vintage King…a masterpiece of horror…creates a level of tension that makes it difficult to keep your eyes from jumping to the next page to escape sooner.”
—Cincinnati Post

“Deft psychological horror…easily one of King’s best novels.”
—The Boston Herald

“As is his genius, King never relaxes the oh-my-god tension until the final paragraph.”
—San Diego Tribune

“Compelling…totally involving.”
—Library Journal

“Unadulteratedly terrifying.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Nerve-jangling… razor keen.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Misery had me on edge for days after I’d finished it… the novel is something else — an airless, claustrophobic portrait of an egotistic writer pushed to the edge of madness by pain, pills, incarceration, the expectations of his reading public and a deadline like he’s never known before. In the book, our hero is as threatened by the demons within as he is by the madwoman beside his bed. Like him, you the reader can’t wait to escape; yet you can no more walk away from Mr. King’s tightly spun yarn than Paul can walk away from his captor.”
—The New York Times

About the Author: Stephen King

Stephen Edwin King, born September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine, is a highly acclaimed and prolific American author known for his horror, supernatural fiction, and suspense novels. He is often referred to as "The King" or "The King of Horror". King's books have sold over 350 million copies worldwide and many of his works have been adapted into successful films and television series.

Early Life and Career:

King grew up in Maine with his mother after his parents separated when he was a toddler. He attended the University of Maine, where he wrote for the school newspaper and met his future wife, Tabitha Spruce.

• After graduating, he taught high school English while continuing to write short stories.
• His first novel, Carrie, was published in 1974, launching his career as a horror author.

Literary Works:

• King has written over fifty novels, two hundred short stories, and nine collections of short fiction.
• His works include The Shining, The Stand, The Dead Zone, and It.
• He also wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
• Many of his novels and short stories have been adapted into films, including The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, 1408 and Misery.

Personal Life:

• King is married to Tabitha Spruce and they have three children: Naomi, Joe, and Owen.
• He is also a philanthropist, supporting education and community programs through his foundation.
• King has battled drug addiction in the past, but he has overcome it and is now a recovered addict.