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Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King
Stephen Edwin King is an American novelist best known for horror fiction, with a body of work that also includes suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. His first novel, Carrie, was published in 1974, and his publisher describes his books as worldwide bestsellers.
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About Stephen King
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United States · Novelist, High-school English teacher · 2 affiliations
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- Novelist
- High-school English teacher
At a glance
- King is principally associated with horror fiction but has also written suspense, science fiction, and fantasy.
- Carrie, his first published novel, was released by Doubleday in 1974.
- Much of his fiction is set in Maine and draws on the state's history, culture, and everyday life.
- His honors include the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the National Medal of Arts.
Maine background and education
King was born in Portland, Maine, on September 21, 1947. He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1970 with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach at the high-school level.
Teaching and transition to full-time writing
After making his first professional short-story sale in 1967, King began teaching English at Hampden Academy in 1971 while continuing to write fiction. Doubleday accepted Carrie in 1973, and a subsequent paperback sale gave him the financial means to leave teaching and write full-time.
Literary work and public standing
King's work is especially associated with horror, while also spanning suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. Maine is a recurring setting in his fiction, and he published some work under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. Simon & Schuster's author page describes him as the author of more than 60 books and characterizes them as worldwide bestsellers, although that description is publisher-supplied rather than an independently audited count or sales total.
Major honors
King received the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2003 and was named a National Medal of Arts recipient in 2014. Mr. Mercedes won the 2015 Edgar Award for Best Novel, and PEN America presented King with its Literary Service Award in 2018.
Affiliations
- University of Maine at Orono Student; B.A. in English 1970
- Hampden Academy High-school English teacher 1971
Timeline
- Made his first professional short-story sale, “The Glass Floor,” to Startling Mystery Stories.
- Graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a B.A. in English.
- Began teaching English at Hampden Academy in Hampden, Maine.
- Carrie, King's first novel, was released by Doubleday.
- Received the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
- Named a National Medal of Arts recipient.
- Mr. Mercedes won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
- Received PEN America's Literary Service Award.
Additional verified details
Current context
- Simon & Schuster's active author page describes King as the author of more than 60 books and characterizes them as worldwide bestsellers. This is a publisher-supplied biographical description rather than an independently audited total of books or sales.
Biographical facts
- Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine, on September 21, 1947.
- He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1970 with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach at the high-school level.
- King began teaching high-school English at Hampden Academy in Hampden, Maine, in 1971 while continuing to write short stories and novels.
- A major paperback sale connected with Carrie gave King the financial means to leave teaching and write full-time in 1973.
- King published some work under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
- Much of King's work is set in Maine and engages with elements of the state's history, culture, and everyday life.
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