What Is Stephen King's Novel 'The Shining' About?

'The Shining'  is the third published novel by Stephen King. Published in 1977, it tells the story of a writer named Jack Torrance, who has previously suffered from an alcohol addiction. Jack is very short-tempered, a trait which loses him his job at a school.

Jack manages to find a job at Overlook Hotel as a winter caretaker, and he and his family move into there. Jack hopes that this job will enable him to get back to the way he was before his alcoholism.

But things don't go according to plan when Jack's telepathic son, Danny, begins to have premonitions about the hotel, which is possessed and targeting people who have psychic powers. The hotel has a mysterious past, and Danny begins to see visions and ghosts and believes that his family is in danger due to the premonitions. Despite this, Danny makes the decision not to tell his family, as he doesn't want to spoil his father's new job.

After attempting to possess Danny and failing, the hotel moves onto Jack, who falls prey to its power.