The Shining. King, Stephen First Edition

First edition of King's third novel, the basis for one of the greatest horror films ever made. Octavo, original half black cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, "To George - Best, Stephen King 9/8/79." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Dave Christensen. Jacket typography by Al Nagy. An exceptional example. Inspired by Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death," King's first hardcover bestseller is "his consummate ghostly tale" about "the haunted house to end all haunted houses" (Underwood & Miller, 174, 184) "The fact is that The Shining is a masterwork, a bold product of an original vision, a novel of astonishing passion, urgency, tenderness, understanding, and invention In its uniting of an almost bruising literary power, a deep sensitivity to individual experience, and its operatic convictions, it is a very significant work of art" (Peter Straub). The novel was made into the 1980 movie directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall which is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made.