Stephen King Biography
Stephen King is the most prominent and prolific horror author of the modern era. King lived in a poor, single-parent household where he often turned to reading wild fiction and writing his own stories for entertainment. As a literary-minded boy, he developed a keen interest in comic books and H.P. Lovecraft stories. By the time he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English, King had already penned numerous articles for his high school and university newspapers, so it’s no wonder that he has gone on to publish so many stories. What is surprising, though, is that this once-timid English teacher who typed out his novels in a laundry room makes his living by scaring the wits out of the rest of world.
Facts and Trivia
- King’s first novel, Carrie, almost never made it to print. King’s wife, Tabitha, rescued it from the garbage and encouraged King to complete the work.
- An avid Boston Red Sox fan, King coordinates many aspects of his life around baseball. He frequently travels to Red Sox spring training sites, he trims his facial hair based on the beginning and end of the season, and he even appeared in the movie Fever Pitch—about an obsessed Red Sox fan, of course!
- King has written several works under the name Richard Bachman, a pseudonym created to enable him to publish and sell more than one book a year, which was once widely thought to be the maximum production for an author.
- Though he says he has no real musical talent, King plays guitar in the band Rock Bottom Remainders. Other band members include writers Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, and Dave Berry.
- In 1999, King was hit by a car and almost killed while out on his daily walk. This accident occurred less than a year after he wrote about one of his characters being struck by a car while out on a daily walk.
Biography
Stephen King's remarkable talent in narrative craft and his boundless imagination have propelled the horror genre into the mainstream of popular literature. His innovative approach has breathed new life into traditional gothic and horror motifs. King's work stands as a testament to his ability to engage and thrill readers across generations.
Origins and Early Influences
Stephen Edwin King entered the world on September 21, 1947, at Maine General Hospital in Portland, Maine, as the second son of Donald Edwin and Nellie Ruth King. His elder brother, David, was born two years before him. At just two years old, young Stephen experienced the loss of his father, a merchant marine captain, who abandoned the family, never to return. This event set off a series of struggles for his mother, Nellie, who had to frequently relocate to provide for her sons. Their quest for stability took them through states such as Maine, Massachusetts, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana before they finally found roots in Stratford, Connecticut, when King was six.
From a tender age, King developed a fascination with the horror genre. He avidly listened to suspense-filled radio dramas and was enthralled by captivating tales like Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Cinematic experiences like The Creature from the Black Lagoon further stoked his imagination. The launch of Sputnik I in 1957 by the Soviets broadened King’s perception of alternate realities. Teachers noted his fervent interest in storytelling, a passion that ignited when he was just six.
When King was eleven, the family settled in Durham, Maine, where he made a serendipitous discovery of his father’s old trunk filled with books by writers like H. P. Lovecraft and some of Donald’s early writing attempts. This discovery reinforced King’s burgeoning interest in writing, which he pursued throughout his education. After finishing high school at Lisbon Falls, King matriculated at the University of Maine in Orono in 1966, majoring in English. During his college years, he contributed to the campus newspaper, The Daily Maine, with his column "King’s Garbage Truck," and constantly submitted short stories to various publications.
1967 marked a turning point when King sold "The Glass Floor" to Startling Mystery Stories for thirty-five dollars. Despite this success, he continued his studies and juggled multiple campus jobs, remaining actively engaged in writing, activism, and nurturing a budding romance with Tabitha Spruce, a fellow student and library worker. The couple married in 1971, the same year King began teaching English at Hampden Academy in Maine. To supplement his modest teaching income, King and Tabitha took on extra jobs, with King working in an industrial laundry and Tabitha in a donut shop, all while starting their family.
Crafting a Career
Despite the demands of his early married life, King's commitment to writing remained unwavering. Earnings from his short stories often went towards family necessities or unexpected repairs. Dedicating time outside his teaching duties, King composed several manuscripts, frequently in the cramped confines of the mobile home’s furnace room. He habitually discarded projects he deemed unpromising. However, it was Tabitha who rescued one such piece from the trash, recognizing its latent potential and urging him to continue. Her belief in his discarded draft led to the completion of Carrie, published in 1974. The sale to Doubleday for an advance of $2,500, coupled with significant paperback rights, allowed King to quit teaching and devote himself entirely to writing.
The success of Carrie was followed by novels like Salem’s Lot and The Shining , which solidified King's reputation. Despite his agent's concerns about being typecast in the horror genre, King was...
(This entire section contains 1300 words.)
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undaunted. His subsequent successes vindicated this confidence, demonstrating his prowess across various storylines.
With Danse Macabre in 1981, King explored the horror film domain, delving into the interplay between cinematic and literary horror. Central to his creative process was the perennial "what if?" - a guiding question that shaped his stories. From contemplating near-total human annihilation in The Stand to obsessive fan behaviors in Misery, King's narratives examined human responses to extraordinary situations.
Beyond novels, King excelled in short stories, many of which appeared in collections like Different Seasons and Night Shift. Under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, he published works that stepped outside his usual style, including Rage and The Long Walk, until a curious bookstore clerk uncovered Bachman's true identity.
Reaching Wider Audiences
King's transition to the screen and television expanded his reach, bringing his stories to new audiences. While some adaptations received mixed reviews, others, such as Stand by Me and Misery, garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. Television also became a platform for King’s narratives, with adaptations like Salem’s Lot and It captivating viewers.
As his name became synonymous with horror, even those unfamiliar with his books recognized Stephen King. Balancing his public persona with family privacy was a challenge King adeptly navigated. His media presence included television commercials and appearances on top talk shows, alongside a notable motorcycle tour promoting his book Insomnia and championing independent bookstores over larger chains.
Legacy and Influence
Stephen King's prolific output and public visibility transformed him into more than just a horror writer. His works occasionally surfaced in legal contexts, with defendants claiming they were influenced by his stories. Critics have debated the moral implications of his narratives, which, despite their dark themes, often argue for confronting and defeating evil. King's own life was not without its dramas, including a home invasion by a disturbed fan.
The debate over the literary value of King's work continues, with some dismissing him as catering to mass tastes, while others draw comparisons to literary giants like Dickens and Poe. King himself remains largely indifferent to these critiques, focusing on his craft and his loyal readership.
Throughout his career, King approached writing with discipline, dedicating himself to it almost daily. Acknowledging his good fortune, he and Tabitha generously contributed to various causes, including education, public libraries, and community programs. Their philanthropic efforts extended to numerous causes, enhancing the lives of many in Maine and beyond.
Beyond their professional achievements and charitable work, King and his wife prioritized raising their children, Joseph, Naomi, and Owen, striving to ensure a stable and loving family environment, much like the themes often explored in King's stories.
Further Reading
Beahm, George, ed. The Stephen King Companion. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel, 1989. Beahm offers a thorough introduction to King's work through analysis, interviews, and commentary.
Beahm, George, ed. The Stephen King Story. Williamsburg, Va.: GB Publishing, 1991. The most comprehensive biography of King.
Docherty, Brian, ed. American Horror Fiction: From Brockden Brown to Stephen King. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990. A collection of essays situating King among other American horror writers.
Heller, Terry. The Delight of Horror: An Aesthetics of the Tale of Terror. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1987. An exploration of the artistic and psychological underpinnings of horror fiction, leading to a deeper understanding of King's work.
Herron, Don, ed. Reign of Fear: Fiction and Film of Stephen King. Los Angeles: Underwood and Miller, 1988. Essays highlighting the role of film in shaping King’s reputation.
King, Stephen. Danse Macabre. 1981. New York: Berkeley, 1982. A history of horror films offering insights into King's development as a horror enthusiast.
Magistrale, Tony. The Moral Voyages of Stephen King. Mercer Island: Starmont, 1989. A brief analysis of the moral structures within King’s fiction.
Reino, Joseph. Stephen King: The First Decade, “Carrie” to “Pet Sematary.” New York: Twayne, 1988. An introduction to the works defining King’s early career.
Reino, Joseph. Stephen King: The Second Decade, “Danse Macabre” to “The Dark Half.” New York: Twayne, 1992. A discussion of King’s works in the second decade of his career.
Underwood, Tim, and Chuck Miller, eds. Kingdom of Fear: The World of Stephen King. 1986. New York: New American Library, 1987. A collection of essays exploring King’s works through a critical lens.
Criticism by Stephen King
