ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephen Edwin King was born in 1947 in Portland, Maine. He is an American author and is popularly known as the King of Horror. His genres include horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, drama, dark fantasy, and crime fiction.
King has authored several novels, novellas, short stories, and non-fiction books. Many of his works have been adapted for movies, TV series, and comics. He has also published under pen names, the most famous one being Richard Bachman.
He is also the recipient of various awards. These include the Bram Stoker Award, the World Fantasy Award, and the British Fantasy Award. He has also received many a lifetime achievement award across the globe.
King is married to Tabitha Spruce. The couple has three children. He and his wife divide their time in their three houses in Bangor, Lovell, and Gulf of Mexico (Florida).
SYNOPSIS
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is a novella from Stephen King’s collection, Different Seasons.
This is the story of Andrew ‘Andy’ Dufresne, a banker incarcerated in the Shawshank State Penitentiary in 1947 for the twin murders of his wife and her lover. Andy has been sentenced to two life sentences, even though he claims to be innocent.
Red, another Shawshank inmate, is the narrator. Red is the go-to person for everyone looking for contraband items at Shawshank. Andy too approaches Red for a poster of Rita Hayworth. The two become good friends over time.
Using his financial acumen, Andy helps the prison staff with their monetary issues. By doing so, he wins their trust and gets the wardens to allow him to work in the prison library. He uses his position to help the other inmates, too.
Just when everything seems to be going smoothly, something happens — Andy tells Red a secret, one that changes their lives forever.
WHAT WE LIKED ABOUT RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is one of Stephen King’s best stories. It has all the makings of a contemporary classic. The compelling title forces the readers to wonder what the story is about. And once they start reading, the novella hooks them from the very first line.
Both Red and Andy are intriguing characters. The supporting characters also have multi-dimensional personalities. There is an aura of raw passion about the story. The plot is so remarkably intricate that readers are kept guessing to the very end as to why Rita Hayworth’s poster matters so much in the story.
The story is empathic, but not melodramatic; the author’s depiction of the Shawshank inmates, even the bad ones, makes readers empathize with them. The ending is a real cliffhanger, but with no theatrics.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABOUT RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
Andy Dufresne’s personality is so overwhelming that readers will find themselves curious to know more about him. While this is one of the best things about the story, one cannot help feel for the poor guy.
QUOTES
There’s a guy like me in every state and federal prison in America, I guess–I’m the guy who can get it for you.
He didn’t speak or even look my way, but pressed a picture of the Hon. Alexander Hamilton into my hand as neatly as a good magician does a card-trick. He was a man who adapted fast.
CONCLUSION
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is a modern classic and should be read by everyone. That said, the book contains some mature themes and is, therefore, not recommended to children.
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