Stephen King is a popular horror writer, best known for writing the novels "The Shining", "Carrie", "Christine" and "The Dark Tower" series. He was born in Portland, Maine, on the 21st September 1947.
Early life and early novels
As child, Stephen King was educated at Durham Elementary school. He later attended Lisbon High School. He left the University of Maine in 1970, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in English. It was here that he met his wife. A year later, he began work as a teacher at Hampden Academy.
Picture source: flickr.com
King had an interest in writing from an early age and wrote many stories in school. His first published novel was "Carrie", which told the story of a shy girl with telekinesis. The novel was the fourth book that he had written, but the first one to be published. The novel, which was published in 1974, was originally abandoned by King, but he returned to it later after being persuaded to continue it by his wife.
King's second published novel was "Salem's Lot". It was published in 1975. Whilst King was writing the novel, his mother became ill. She died of cancer in 1974, a few months after "Carrie" was published. Following her death, King moved to Boulder in Colorado. It was here that the author began working on "The Shining", which later became his third published novel in 1977. King later completed his fourth published novel, "The Stand" (published in 1978) after he and his family moved back to Maine. He later began work at the University if Maine, where he taught creative writing.
As well as writing novels such as "Carrie" and "The Shining", King also wrote a number of other stories under a different name during his early writing career. For these stories, he used the pseudonym Richard Bachman. King decided to use this name in order to double his production of novels, and he also wished to see if his success was a result of talent or luck.
There were many clues in the Bachman stories to hint that King was the actual writer. Eventually, many of King's fans became suspicious after noticing the similarity between King and Bachman's style of writing. King attempted to rid these fans of their suspicions by going as far as to place a fake photo of Richard Bachman inside the cover of a Bachman novel entitled "Thinner", which was published in 1984. He dedicated the novel to Bachman's "wife" and also credited her for the fake photo.
Eventually though, it was revealed that Bachman and King were the same author after a bookstore clerk did some research. Despite the discovery, a novel entitled "The Regulators" was released in 1996 under the name Richard Bachman. King had previously given an explanation about the Bachman saga in his 1985 story collection entitled "The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King". In 1987, the novel "Misery" was published. King had originally planned to release the book as a Bachman novel, but kept it under his own name after it was revealed that King was Bachman.
Later life and later novels
King began writing his "Dark Tower" series back in the 1970s. The series has a total of seven books, the most recent being "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower", which was published in 2004. The final instalment contains a fictional account of a road accident that King was involved in during 1999. King had been walking when he was struck by a van. He nearly died as a result of his injuries and coincidentally had previously written a novel entitled "From a Buick 8", where a character is killed after being hit by a car.
In recent years, King has had a number of novels and short stories published, though his writing has slowed down since his accident. A novel entitled "Blaze" which King wrote under his Bachman pseudonym in the 1970s was published in 2007. In 2008, his fifth collection of short stories, "Just After Sunset", was published. A novel that King began to write in the 1980s entitled "Under the Dome" is due for release in later 2009. The novel will be a rewrite of what King originally produced when he started it in the 80s.
Adaptations of King's works
There have been many film and television adaptations of Stephen King's novels and short stories. In 1976, a film adaptation of "Carrie" was released. The film was a success, earning lots of positive feedback from critics and viewers.
A film adaptation of "The Shining" followed in 1980. Though not as successful as "Carrie", "The Shining" has since become one of the most popular film adaptations. The film had mixed response, with King himself expressing his dissatisfaction at the casting of Jack Nicholson as the protagonist "Jack Torrance".
A film called "Creepshow" was released in 1982 and contained stories that were based on a number of short stories by Stephen King. Stephen King himself starred in the film. Other popular adaptations include "Christine", which was released in 1983. There were plans to release an animated remake of the film, but this never came about.
A film adaptation of "Children of the Corn", was released in 1984 and is based on King's 1978 short story of the same name. Although not as successful as other adaptations, the film spawned several sequels, one of which was a cinematic release, the others direct to video.
"Stand By Me" was released in 1986 and is based on King's novella called "The Body". The film was nominated for a number of awards.
A sequel to "Creepshow" was released in 1987 and once again contained stories that were based on the works of King. A third sequel followed, but was not connected to King or any of his stories.
Other notable adaptations include: "The Running Man" (1987), "Pet Sematary" (released in 1989) "Misery" (released in 1990), "It" (released as a made for television horror film in 1990), "The Lawnmower Man" (released in 1992), "The Shawshank Redemption" (released in 1994), "The Green Mile" (released in 1999) and "The Rage: Carrie 2" (sequel to "Carrie", released in 1999).
Early life and early novels
As child, Stephen King was educated at Durham Elementary school. He later attended Lisbon High School. He left the University of Maine in 1970, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in English. It was here that he met his wife. A year later, he began work as a teacher at Hampden Academy.
Picture source: flickr.com
King had an interest in writing from an early age and wrote many stories in school. His first published novel was "Carrie", which told the story of a shy girl with telekinesis. The novel was the fourth book that he had written, but the first one to be published. The novel, which was published in 1974, was originally abandoned by King, but he returned to it later after being persuaded to continue it by his wife.
King's second published novel was "Salem's Lot". It was published in 1975. Whilst King was writing the novel, his mother became ill. She died of cancer in 1974, a few months after "Carrie" was published. Following her death, King moved to Boulder in Colorado. It was here that the author began working on "The Shining", which later became his third published novel in 1977. King later completed his fourth published novel, "The Stand" (published in 1978) after he and his family moved back to Maine. He later began work at the University if Maine, where he taught creative writing.
As well as writing novels such as "Carrie" and "The Shining", King also wrote a number of other stories under a different name during his early writing career. For these stories, he used the pseudonym Richard Bachman. King decided to use this name in order to double his production of novels, and he also wished to see if his success was a result of talent or luck.
There were many clues in the Bachman stories to hint that King was the actual writer. Eventually, many of King's fans became suspicious after noticing the similarity between King and Bachman's style of writing. King attempted to rid these fans of their suspicions by going as far as to place a fake photo of Richard Bachman inside the cover of a Bachman novel entitled "Thinner", which was published in 1984. He dedicated the novel to Bachman's "wife" and also credited her for the fake photo.
Eventually though, it was revealed that Bachman and King were the same author after a bookstore clerk did some research. Despite the discovery, a novel entitled "The Regulators" was released in 1996 under the name Richard Bachman. King had previously given an explanation about the Bachman saga in his 1985 story collection entitled "The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King". In 1987, the novel "Misery" was published. King had originally planned to release the book as a Bachman novel, but kept it under his own name after it was revealed that King was Bachman.
Later life and later novels
King began writing his "Dark Tower" series back in the 1970s. The series has a total of seven books, the most recent being "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower", which was published in 2004. The final instalment contains a fictional account of a road accident that King was involved in during 1999. King had been walking when he was struck by a van. He nearly died as a result of his injuries and coincidentally had previously written a novel entitled "From a Buick 8", where a character is killed after being hit by a car.
In recent years, King has had a number of novels and short stories published, though his writing has slowed down since his accident. A novel entitled "Blaze" which King wrote under his Bachman pseudonym in the 1970s was published in 2007. In 2008, his fifth collection of short stories, "Just After Sunset", was published. A novel that King began to write in the 1980s entitled "Under the Dome" is due for release in later 2009. The novel will be a rewrite of what King originally produced when he started it in the 80s.
Adaptations of King's works
There have been many film and television adaptations of Stephen King's novels and short stories. In 1976, a film adaptation of "Carrie" was released. The film was a success, earning lots of positive feedback from critics and viewers.
A film adaptation of "The Shining" followed in 1980. Though not as successful as "Carrie", "The Shining" has since become one of the most popular film adaptations. The film had mixed response, with King himself expressing his dissatisfaction at the casting of Jack Nicholson as the protagonist "Jack Torrance".
A film called "Creepshow" was released in 1982 and contained stories that were based on a number of short stories by Stephen King. Stephen King himself starred in the film. Other popular adaptations include "Christine", which was released in 1983. There were plans to release an animated remake of the film, but this never came about.
A film adaptation of "Children of the Corn", was released in 1984 and is based on King's 1978 short story of the same name. Although not as successful as other adaptations, the film spawned several sequels, one of which was a cinematic release, the others direct to video.
"Stand By Me" was released in 1986 and is based on King's novella called "The Body". The film was nominated for a number of awards.
A sequel to "Creepshow" was released in 1987 and once again contained stories that were based on the works of King. A third sequel followed, but was not connected to King or any of his stories.
Other notable adaptations include: "The Running Man" (1987), "Pet Sematary" (released in 1989) "Misery" (released in 1990), "It" (released as a made for television horror film in 1990), "The Lawnmower Man" (released in 1992), "The Shawshank Redemption" (released in 1994), "The Green Mile" (released in 1999) and "The Rage: Carrie 2" (sequel to "Carrie", released in 1999).
