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Blind Willie
First published in the limited edition, Six Stories, this story tells of a man who pretends to be blind and makes his living panhandling on the streets of New York. In the past, bribing the police has kept him from being arrested but he has finally met one who may not take money for an answer.
Edited for its inclusion in Hearts in Atlantis, the story is expanded to explain that Blind Willie was one of the boys who tormented Bobby Garfield and his friends Carol and "Sully" from "Low Men in Yellow Coats."
Edited for its inclusion in Hearts in Atlantis, the story is expanded to explain that Blind Willie was one of the boys who tormented Bobby Garfield and his friends Carol and "Sully" from "Low Men in Yellow Coats."
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About the author
Stephen King
2,439 books887k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 11, 2020
Exciting novella about a Vietnam veteran. After the war Bill Shearman turns into Blind Willie sitting outside a church begging as a vet. What is his motivation? What about the facade he uses? Other people go to work, he is a hard working beggar. This is an interesting look behind society, a break on through to the other side to quote The Doors here that are referred to by Stephen King. A very disturbing and socially critical tale. Police isn't looking too good here either. Is is horror? In one way or another, absolutely, yes, real horror. The story is included in the anthology Six Stories. Recommended!
January 30, 2018
A short novel, or novella, by Stephen King which I found in the collection 'Hearts in Atlantis.' Though I had read the rest of this collection, I skipped this one. (Don't know why. I found it bookmarked when I was sorting through books at my house on Cape Cod. In the cold. In a house with no heat. It was 32 degrees F inside.)
Anyhow, I read it and liked it and sometimes I suddenly know why I like King so much. He's so present, so real, so middle-class and working-class real. Any time I read anything by him I see people I know, or like, or don't like and sometimes, can identify with. Absolutely. There is no pretense in his writing. He never shows off. He just writes. Like him, hate him, be indifferent, I doubt he cares. He truly is a writer of the people, and now, the story...
There's really three Willies in this book, two of which are working guys - one wears a suit, the other a work uniform. The third is a blind beggar. Willie moves from one persona to the next, always in disguise, never really himself. The description and dialogue are perfect, and though the ending is kind of - what??? - I always love reading a King story, novella, or novel which is new to me.
I read his old stuff over and over, too.
Four stars.
Anyhow, I read it and liked it and sometimes I suddenly know why I like King so much. He's so present, so real, so middle-class and working-class real. Any time I read anything by him I see people I know, or like, or don't like and sometimes, can identify with. Absolutely. There is no pretense in his writing. He never shows off. He just writes. Like him, hate him, be indifferent, I doubt he cares. He truly is a writer of the people, and now, the story...
There's really three Willies in this book, two of which are working guys - one wears a suit, the other a work uniform. The third is a blind beggar. Willie moves from one persona to the next, always in disguise, never really himself. The description and dialogue are perfect, and though the ending is kind of - what??? - I always love reading a King story, novella, or novel which is new to me.
I read his old stuff over and over, too.
Four stars.
February 27, 2021
So I purchased "Antaeus" 1994 for a large sum because S.King mentioned in his afterword in "Hearts of Atlantis" that the only unedited, unrevised version of "Blind Willie" appeared in this magazine (which is actually a huge book). This is true, as I could not find it in "Six Stories" which I heard also contained this version. My copy did not.
King also states it is very different and I quote "Different from the MUCH revised version in HIA." It is NOT much different.
For those of you thinking about taking the plunge, spending the money to see this version...don't. Unless you just want it as a collector. It's the same story in Hearts without the references to his attack on Carol. To say I was disappointed in an understatement. I was hoping for an adequate ending, or seeing what Willie does to Wheelock. Well, we don't get that.
The ending merely hints at a possibility left up to the readers interpretation. My interpretation is that but honestly it is left so open and vague that the reader just has to create their own ending.
The story (somewhat spolierish):
Ex Vietnam vet William Teale endured temporary blindness due to a concussion received in combat in 1967. His sight returned, but he kept silent about it in order to get out of the war (implied). It is now 1994 (my guess). He lives in a nice house in the suburbs with his wife and commutes to NYC to "work." He has two offices (both facades) one on the 5th floor and one right above it on the 6th. Two different "companies" and he goes by two different names/identities. Bill Teale on the 5th floor does land adjustments and Will Teal on 6 who does heating and cooling.
Each morning suit and tie Bill enters his office on 5 and goes through the ceiling panel to his office on six where he changes his clothes, and hair and adds a hint of make up, transforming into Will. He takes his suitcase out to the street, enters a hotel restroom and makes his transformation into blind Willie. He has been doing this for years. His regular spot near St. Patricks gets him over 3 grand a day during Christmas, but he's had to "pay off" the beat cop to let him stay there and turn a blind eye. What the beat cop doesn't know is that Willie actually DOES go blind while pan handling, but his sight returns when he's done. So Wheelock (the angry beat cop), one day suggests how he might follow Willie and see where he goes.
Side note: Bill's wife by the way, knows what he does, and I guess she doesn't care because together they give away the change he collects to various churches (keeping the dollars no doubt).
So Willie knows he has to do something about Wheelock. All we know is that he has an idea and it is hinted that it has something to do with a Santa beard and a Styrofoam begging cup.
In my honest opinion, the version in "HIA" is much better and has more emotional impact because of the element of redemption. In this version, we don't even know why he's begging. Or maybe I missed it.
Anyone who has read a MUCH different version than what I summarized in this review, please email me because I don't see what all the hype is about this UNEDITED Version except to promote Anateaus sales. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice book to have as a collector and die hard S. King fan, but seriously I'm pissed at the way King hyped it.
Anyway....
Antaeus is a 410 page book of short stories and poems, and I will read them all, but had to jump right to King's "Blind Willie." My review is here and not under "Antaeus" for convenience and because I will read the other stories slowly since it is only available in paperback and the print it too small for my old eyes. I will reference this review in my review of "Antaeus."
Content concerns: Cursing.
King also states it is very different and I quote "Different from the MUCH revised version in HIA." It is NOT much different.
For those of you thinking about taking the plunge, spending the money to see this version...don't. Unless you just want it as a collector. It's the same story in Hearts without the references to his attack on Carol. To say I was disappointed in an understatement. I was hoping for an adequate ending, or seeing what Willie does to Wheelock. Well, we don't get that.
The ending merely hints at a possibility left up to the readers interpretation. My interpretation is that but honestly it is left so open and vague that the reader just has to create their own ending.
The story (somewhat spolierish):
Ex Vietnam vet William Teale endured temporary blindness due to a concussion received in combat in 1967. His sight returned, but he kept silent about it in order to get out of the war (implied). It is now 1994 (my guess). He lives in a nice house in the suburbs with his wife and commutes to NYC to "work." He has two offices (both facades) one on the 5th floor and one right above it on the 6th. Two different "companies" and he goes by two different names/identities. Bill Teale on the 5th floor does land adjustments and Will Teal on 6 who does heating and cooling.
Each morning suit and tie Bill enters his office on 5 and goes through the ceiling panel to his office on six where he changes his clothes, and hair and adds a hint of make up, transforming into Will. He takes his suitcase out to the street, enters a hotel restroom and makes his transformation into blind Willie. He has been doing this for years. His regular spot near St. Patricks gets him over 3 grand a day during Christmas, but he's had to "pay off" the beat cop to let him stay there and turn a blind eye. What the beat cop doesn't know is that Willie actually DOES go blind while pan handling, but his sight returns when he's done. So Wheelock (the angry beat cop), one day suggests how he might follow Willie and see where he goes.
Side note: Bill's wife by the way, knows what he does, and I guess she doesn't care because together they give away the change he collects to various churches (keeping the dollars no doubt).
So Willie knows he has to do something about Wheelock. All we know is that he has an idea and it is hinted that it has something to do with a Santa beard and a Styrofoam begging cup.
In my honest opinion, the version in "HIA" is much better and has more emotional impact because of the element of redemption. In this version, we don't even know why he's begging. Or maybe I missed it.
Anyone who has read a MUCH different version than what I summarized in this review, please email me because I don't see what all the hype is about this UNEDITED Version except to promote Anateaus sales. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice book to have as a collector and die hard S. King fan, but seriously I'm pissed at the way King hyped it.
Anyway....
Antaeus is a 410 page book of short stories and poems, and I will read them all, but had to jump right to King's "Blind Willie." My review is here and not under "Antaeus" for convenience and because I will read the other stories slowly since it is only available in paperback and the print it too small for my old eyes. I will reference this review in my review of "Antaeus."
Content concerns: Cursing.
June 13, 2015
The first short story of 'Hearts in Atlantis'. Now only I realized all these stories are connected to each other. Like individual spinoffs of each character. This time the story is about grown up Wille Shearman, one of the kids who beat Carol in 1960. Reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes story The "Man with the Twisted Lip" little bit. This book is really strange.
September 4, 2015
The only reason this isn't four stars is because I want more! I hate that it ended - unanswered questions abound.
December 22, 2017
A vet who becomes blind when he is begging for money and having flashbacks. His wife thinks he is a banker. Interesting.
January 14, 2020
This was an interesting story. I found it amazing how Bill/Willie/Blind Willie all went blind during one part of the day, just like they did on that day in the field.
July 25, 2021
If only it's a little bit longer, with a closure, i would give it 5 ⭐ Honestly, it's more intriguing than the second part (Hearts in Atlantis) which was supposed to be the title story. Huhu.
September 22, 2021
I think it was flowing along nicely until it abruptly ended. I was expecting something more interesting to happen.
January 2, 2024
Definitely the low point of the Hearts in Atlantis collection--you could tell what King was trying to say, but it was waaaaay too on-the-nose. About as subtle as a brick.
April 2, 2025
Read as part of the collection Hearts In Atlantis.
August 19, 2025
Глибоко психологічна оповідь...
Не знаю, що про неї можна розповісти, але подумати таки є про що.
Не знаю, що про неї можна розповісти, але подумати таки є про що.
February 1, 2024
Amusing story but a bit weird. Couldn’t really follow along why he’d go through so many transitional changes before panhandling. But the character-study was fun.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews