This is a literary profile of the American author, Stephen King, whose books and film adaptations have attracted a world-wide audience of millions. It presents a biographical look at his life and work, a chronological narrative that recounts the story of how King became a best-selling author. His progress is charted from the early years in Durham, when he developed his Maine milieu; the college years, when he found his fictional voice; the formative years which saw the publication of Carrie and Salem's Lot; to the years of success as best-seller followed best-seller. George Beahm was the editor of The Stephen King Companion.