Stephen King, born in Portland, Maine, in 1947, had a difficult early life. After his father abandoned the family when King was just two, his mother raised him and his brother under financial hardship, moving often and depending on relatives. King showed an early interest in storytelling, beginning by copying comic books and then creating his own stories. Encouraged by his mother and relatives, he developed a strong love for reading and writing. Books like Lord of the Flies and The Shrinking Man had a profound impact on him. He attended Lisbon High School and later the University of Maine, where he met his future wife, Tabitha Spruce, and honed his craft under the guidance of mentors like Burton Hatlen.
King’s writing career took off in 1973 when his first novel, Carrie, was published. It was a commercial success, and the sale of the paperback rights marked the beginning of his rise to literary fame. Over the next decade, King became a household name with bestselling novels such as The Shining, The Stand, and Pet Sematary, which established him as a master of horror. He also published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman to test whether his success was due to talent or name recognition.
King’s work has been widely adapted into film and television, with hits like The Shawshank Redemption, It, and Misery becoming cultural staples. His Dark Tower series further expanded his literary universe and linked many of his novels together. In 1999, he survived a near-fatal accident after being struck by a van, but he continued writing despite chronic pain.
Today, Stephen King is regarded as one of the most prolific and influential American authors. With over 60 novels and 200 short stories, his works have sold more than 400 million copies. Known for his deep characters, psychological insight, and vivid storytelling, King’s impact on popular fiction—especially horror—remains unmatched.
