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.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction

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*

[James Kimber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call me a dumb-dumb, but I didn’t know Shawshank Redemption was a Stephen King book!

Some interesting differences between this and the film, and dare I say it… the film is probably better? Still enjoyed it though.

[harveymundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very short read but definitely one of my favourites of this year

[Sadie Glassford · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - FINALLY finished after I ran out of Spotify listening credits. 😭 While it was a good, quick story, and the narrator sounds exactly like Morgan Freeman, it was just that. This was a good, quick story. Would I read it again? For pure enjoyment? No, probably not. I am glad I read it, though!

[Brie LeCheese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors. I love his storytelling so much and especially when it’s read by a great narrator. This one has so much hope and heart, even though the characters are criminals, you still love them and root for them.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately I think this is a case of the movie being better than the book, but come on who can blame me.

[Jose Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book.

It’s short, engaging, and a perfect example of how a great story doesn’t need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impression. Stephen King packs so much emotion, hope, and character development into such a small space that I never felt like anything was missing.

After reading consistently for a while, I’ve realized that some books are simply longer than they need to be. Shawshank Redemption reminded me that quality matters far more than quantity. A well-told story doesn’t have to overstay its welcome.

I’d especially recommend this book to people who are just getting into reading or those who don’t yet have the stamina for longer novels. It’s approachable, memorable, and incredibly rewarding.

A fantastic read from beginning to end.

[Mark Jestel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shawshank Redemption remains a standout in cinema history, yet many people forget it is based on a Stephen King novella. Revisiting the story, I was thrilled to find it holds up remarkably well. I initially worried a short novella would miss the depth of the film and wondered what cinematic elements were actually added, but I was pleasantly surprised by how closely the adaptation honors the source material. It is a fast, compelling read that continues to deliver a powerful message about hope, the desire for freedom, and the timeless reminder to get busy living or get busy dying.

[Nigel Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man what a fantastic read. This is such a neat book from King. I love how the entire book is written from one characters perspective, even though it largely covers another. King really makes it feel like you’re reading the manuscript of an inmate at Shawshank prison, and not a book written by a white dude from Maine. Easily my favourite read of the year so far!

[To Read Pile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the movie when it came out but, of course, that was a long time ago. Usually, a book is much different than the movie, but in this case, the screenplay is basically identical to the book.

Flaw in the story is why Andy wouldn't meet with his lawyer first rather than talk to the warden, but hey, every story has flaws.

[Cameron Embry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is widely considered a "classic" movie, but I had never seen it. That being said, the themes presented throughout the book are interesting, designed to shift your perspective in some areas, and ultimately about the ability to see things through to end. All in all a pretty decent read.

[Mel DP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This movie is a classic. So when I saw the book and how short it was, I knew I was reading it in one setting. Now things are slightly different and I do love the movie more. However this is still really good. I did find myself picturing the movie the entire way through.

[Heather Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 The ending really carried this for me. Shawshank Redeemed?

[Keenan Komancheck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly wasn’t my favorite book but I’m excited to watch the movie

[Jules Readner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've watched the movie ages ago, so the audiobook wasn't a surprise to me, but the narration was stellar! 

[Morgan Class-Kirtley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Surprisingly short but gripping.

[Anna Pardue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[ALittleJude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the ending very, very much.

[Stel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This particular version seems to be a novel adaptation of the film, but I still very much enjoyed it.

[Juan Bautista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libraaazo

[Laura-Jane Barber · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

It was good. Not my fave. I hear the movie is really good.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very rare for me, but I preferred the movie to the book…

[Bjarne Siewertsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knew the story from the film. Very well written. A pure joy to read

[Benjamen Dees · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

[David Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really changed the way I think of Stephen King. It is a fundamentally hopeful book. There’s such a longing for meaning and significance here. King seems like a really good guy after this book.

[Adam Segato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatest thing ever 🙌

[Michael Oliver · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

7.5/10. Just meh. Good storytelling but nothing had any substance to make it feel impactful. Maybe it’s because I didn’t like the narrator, idk

[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!