A fascinating look at the life of the author who created such modern classics as Carrie, IT, and The Shining.
One of the most prolific and popular authors in the world today, Stephen King has become part of pop culture history. But, who is the man behind those tales of horror, grief, and the supernatural? Where do these ideas come from? And, what drives him to keep writing at a breakneck pace after a thirty year career? In this unauthorized biography, Lisa Rogak reveals the troubled background and lifelong fears that inspire one of the twentieth century's most influential authors.
King's origins were inauspicious at best. His impoverished childhood in rural Maine and early marriage hardly spelled out the likelihood of a blossoming literary career. But, his unflagging work ethic and a ceaseless flow of ideas put him on the path to success. It came in a flash, and the side effects of sudden stardom and seemingly unlimited wealth soon threatened to destroy his work and, worse, his life. But, he survived and has since continued to write at a level of originality few authors could ever hope to match.
"Consulting many sources, among them Silverstein's friends; radio interviews; and newspaper, journal, and magazine articles, Rogak thoughtfully reconstructs the artist's life. ... An authoritative and accessible biography, absorbing from cover to cover."
Library Journal on A Boy Named Shel
"[A BOY NAMED SHEL] offers revealing anecdotes, complete with some dirty laundry, about the prolific children's author and cartoonist."
Kirkus Reviews
"The strength of this biography is in leading readers back to Silverstein's art, which is, after all, where he would have us find him."
