Misery

Stephen King

May 2007 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

One of the true classics of psychological suspense, about a writer and his No. 1 fan, now with a stunning new cover look.

Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now he's writing to stay alive.

Misery Chastain is dead. Paul Sheldon has just killed her - with relief, with joy. Misery made him rich; she was the heroine of a string of bestsellers. And now he wants to get on to some real writing.

That's when the car accident happens, and he wakes up splinted and in pain, in the remote mountain home of his rescuer, Annie Wilkes.

The good news is that Annie was a nurse and has pain-killing drugs. The bad news is that she has long been Paul's Number One Fan. And when she finds out what Paul has done to Misery, she doesn't like it. She doesn't like it at all . . .

Ratings and reviews

After reading and hearing so many raving reviews of this, I was excited to read it and I got my hopes up way too soon. Of all his works I've read and despite numerous attempts I can't finish this novel. It's slow and dull... not as horrifying as some of King's other works. Perhaps I'm a little desensitised, but I found The Shining, Christine, and even Carrie much better reads.

I read this book on my phone at work ( over a few days ). I had seen the movie as a child, but reading it felt entirely different. Some scenes are diffrent. A good Novel.

What a page turner this was! Intense, insightful and imaginative story about the border between manic depression and totally psychotic - and not necessarily just Annie Wilkes... couldn't put it down. Far better than the film version (which inspired me to read the book). And not a sledge hammer in sight. A must read.

About the author

STEPHEN KING is the author of more than seventy books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His crime thrillers featuring Holly Gibney include Mr Mercedes, winner of the Edgar Award for best novel, and The Outsider, both of which were adapted into successful TV series, as well as Finders Keepers, End of Watch and the title story from If It Bleeds. Many of his titles are the basis for major motion pictures including IT, Stand By Me (adapted from The Body) and The Shawshank Redemption, which is IMDb's top-rated movie of all time. King is the recipient of The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence 2022, the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.