The Exorcist - Softcover

Blatty, William Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061007226 ISBN 13: 9780061007224

Publisher: Harper, 1994

Synopsis

Originally published in 1971, The Exorcist is now a major television series on FOX. It remains one of the most controversial novels ever written and went on to become a literary phenomenon: It spent fifty-seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, seventeen consecutively at number one. Inspired by a true story of a child’s demonic possession in the 1940s, William Peter Blatty created an iconic novel that focuses on Regan, the eleven-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. A small group of overwhelmed yet determined individuals must rescue Regan from her unspeakable fate, and the drama that ensues is gripping and unfailingly terrifying.

Two years after its publication, The Exorcist was, of course, turned into a wildly popular motion picture, garnering ten Academy Award nominations. On opening day of the film, lines of the novel’s fans stretched around city blocks. In Chicago, frustrated moviegoers used a battering ram to gain entry through the double side doors of a theater. In Kansas City, police used tear gas to disperse an impatient crowd who tried to force their way into a cinema. The three major television networks carried footage of these events; CBS’s Walter Cronkite devoted almost ten minutes to the story. The Exorcist was, and is, more than just a novel and a film: it is a true landmark.

Purposefully raw and profane, The Exorcist still has the extraordinary ability to disturb readers and cause them to forget that it is “just a story.” Published here in this beautiful fortieth anniversary edition, it remains an unforgettable reading experience and will continue to shock and frighten a new generation of readers.

About this title

About the Author

William Peter Blatty is a writer and filmmaker. The Exorcist, written in 1971, is his magnum opus; he also penned the subsequent screenplay, for which he won an Academy Award. His most recent works include the novels Elsewhere, Dimiter, and Crazy.

From the Back Cover

The chilling movie we could not forget . . .

The Exorcist changed popular culture forever.Forty years ago, the movie that was based onWilliam Peter Blatty's runaway #1 bestseller—agroundbreaking story of faith and supernaturalsuspense—held audiences captive. Now this specialedition commemorates the 40th anniversary of the iconic film that paved the way for the entire genrethat followed it: the unforgettable The Exorcist.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harper
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0061007226
• ISBN 13: 9780061007224
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 385