The Shawshank Redemption

by Stephen King

This stand-alone edition of King's novella, retitled The Shawshank Redemption, like the film, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Best Picture Academy Award nominee. A mesmerising tale of unjust imprisonment and offbeat escape, The Shawshank Redemption is a Stephen King classic. Suspenseful, mysterious, heart-wrenching and populated by a cast of unforgettable characters, it is about a fiercely compelling convict named Andy Dufresne who is seeking a strangely satisfying revenge. Originally published in 1982 as 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption' in the collection Different Seasons (alongside 'The Body', 'Apt Pupil' and 'The Breathing Method'), it was made into the film The Shawshank Redemption in 1994. Starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, this modern classic was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is among the most beloved films of all time.

144 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2024

About the author

Stephen 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.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant short story. Got to admit I prefer the film which is rare. Still a must read. This is actually the first thing I've ever read by Stephen King. Which is surprising as I often read the books of films ive enjoyed. Admittedly you should read the books first it it doesn't always work that way.
4.2/5*

[Alysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story was perfectly fine.
As I am someone who has the movie in their top five favourites of all time I had to give the novella a go.
If you haven't watched the movie I would suggest reading the book first! because it just doesn't compare in my opinion.
I understand that it is a short story that was written solely from Reds perspective but it does lack in character development and descriptors/plot points.
Which I guess is the charm of the book, leaving many things open to speculation as you only hear stories one sided.
I still enjoyed it! and obviously it was a great short story for them to work off and expand.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah this was decent. The first Stephen King I've read with no theme of horror or the supernatural, however it definitely had the seamless narration that he is praised for in his better writing. This book was basically a man recounting his fellow convict's time in jail and eventually his prison break and was, for want of a better word, nice. I say that because it had equal parts hope and trial and was narrated by a man who was at peace with his own sentence and his life. I would describe this as a man's reflection on hope and institutionalism in the penal system, but it wasn't a heavy book by any means.

[Rachelle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you Iiked the movie you'll like the book. The book only touches on the general story, the movie is much more detailed about it all. I know that's backwards because usually the book has more details than the movie. For example, one character has only a single paragraph in the book but is one of the supporting cast in the movie with a significant role. I loved the book, though. Great read!

[Laur · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars
The story would have been just as good if not significantly better if the first third of the book didn't revolve around gang rape. I feel bad that stephen king has to live in his own mind.

second two thirds of the story were perfect