The Shining

The Shining  is a 1977  horror novel  by American author  Stephen King . It is King's third published novel and first hardback bestseller; its success firmly established King as a preeminent author in the horror genre. The setting and characters are influenced by King's personal experiences, including both his visit to  The Stanley Hotel  in 1974 and his struggle with alcoholism. The novel was adapted into  a 1980 film of the same name . The book was followed by a sequel,  Doctor Sleep , published in 2013, which was adapted into  a film of the same name . The Shining  centers on the life of  Jack Torrance , a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic who accepts a position as the off-season caretaker of the historic Overlook Hotel in the  Colorado Rockies . His family accompanies him on this job, including his young son  Danny Torrance , who possesses "the shining", an array of psychic abilities that allow Danny to see the hotel's horrific past. Soon, after a winter storm leaves them snowbound, the supernatural forces inhabiting the hotel influence Jack's sanity, leaving his wife and son in grave danger.