The Shining cover art

The Shining

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Shining

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Campbell Scott
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Danny is only five years old, but in the words of old Mr Hallorann he is a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father becomes caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, Danny's visions grow out of control. As winter closes in and blizzards cut them off, the hotel seems to develop a life of its own. It is meant to be empty. So who is the lady in Room 217, and who are the masked guests going up and down in the elevator? And why do the hedges shaped like animals seem so alive? Somewhere, somehow, there is an evil force in the hotel - and that, too, is beginning to shine….

©1977 Stephen King (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc. Horror Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scary Hotel

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Jurassic Park cover art

Critic reviews

"Obviously a masterpiece, probably the best supernatural novel in a hundred years.'' (Peter Straub)
Most relevant
The Shining is horror at its absolute best. I saw the movie and really loved it, so I felt like I had to read the book. I'm sorry to say, but I really don't like the movie that much anymore.

King is extremely good building characters, and this book is no exception. In addition to the many breathless moments you get with chills running down your back, you really get to know the characters as well. That doesn't just make it a good story, but also a very very good book.

Horror at its best!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What did you like most about The Shining?

This book was soooo scary, the reading was lively and painted the picture beautifully. I haven't seen the film so I was new to the story but I loved it. The story got more and more tense as it unfolded. Highly recommended if you want a bit if a scare

Great read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As it was a long time since I had seen 'The Shining', and I couldn't remember if I had actually read it, I decided to listen before I tried the sequel 'Dr Sleep'
I am so glad I did. I remember the film as scarey, but don't remember really understanding the characters, who seemed to be a little two dimensional. The main purpose of the film seemed to scare, but not to really involve you.
The book is so different. OK, it is scarey, but it is Stephen King! However to me, the difference is that I understood and empathised much more with all the characters who really came to life, and I too now want to know what happened to them after The Shining.
I heard that King didn't really care for the screen adaptation, I can understand why.

The narration of the characters is good, but at times the surrounding description of unfolding events lacks atmosphere. While I consider it could be better, it does not, for me, detract from the unfolding story, so, to those, like me, whose remembrance is based on the screen adaptation, I would wholeheartedly recommend listening to this audiobook.

Pre listen to Dr Sleep

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
WOW! Now I loved the film, grew up watching it and became a fan of horror due to it, but wow was so much cut out! and changed. This will never stop me from loving the film but my god the book if far superior.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having watched the movie a long time ago I decided to give the book a go. Regret ever watching the movie now, book is 100 times better. Really brings the characters to life and more importantly explains the story much better.
10/10 all round. Really enjoyed the book.

10/10

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Amazing storytelling, excellent!! Thoroughly enjoyed it, Stephen King is at his best, the master of suspense . It is so scary I thought I would not be able to listen but the narrator kept me hooked, brilliant study of a dysfunctional family and marriage.

Excellent and scary.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved this book, I've seen the film half a dozen times over the years but the book is so different it might as well be a different story! Brilliant.

Great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great story.
Very spooky and brilliantly read.
You have to read this book. Do it

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having only seen the movie I really enjoyed the book, and while the reader takes a while to get into the story once he gets stay in he makes sure you're stuck in with him. Great stuff.

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I must confess that I usually have preferred those of Stephen King's books that he has narrated but this was so well narrated that it did not matter.

The story is one of King's all time greats and I had read it many years ago but as with many books having them spoken in your ears brings a whole new dimension and level of enjoyment, this was no different. It is a good place to start if you are new to Stephen King's books and a great place to renew your acquaintance if you like me read his books year ago.

The story is beautifully crafted and full of genuine chills and that sick sense of inevitabilty that grips you when you can see the outcome but know that nothing can prevent that downward slide into horror. I thoroughly recommend it.

A Tour de force

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews