Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

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.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Shining

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Campbell Scott
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Pay using card ending in
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.

Summary

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.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Jurassic Park cover art
The Fury cover art
The Road cover art
Dark Matter cover art
The Conception of Terror: Tales Inspired by M. R. James - Volume 1 cover art
Kill Creek cover art
The Black Echo: Special Edition cover art
The Troop cover art
The Listener cover art
Year One cover art

Critic reviews

"Obviously a masterpiece, probably the best supernatural novel in a hundred years.'' (Peter Straub)

What listeners say about The Shining

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,785
  • 4 Stars
    933
  • 3 Stars
    209
  • 2 Stars
    41
  • 1 Stars
    17
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,327
  • 4 Stars
    848
  • 3 Stars
    229
  • 2 Stars
    47
  • 1 Stars
    26
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,429
  • 4 Stars
    791
  • 3 Stars
    198
  • 2 Stars
    37
  • 1 Stars
    14

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Horror at its best!!

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great read!

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

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pre listen to Dr Sleep

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

10/10

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and scary.

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Great story.
Very spooky and brilliantly read.
You have to read this book. Do it

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Tour de force

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.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!