This novella was originally published in a collection of stories in 1982 (titled Different Seasons), and while originally hailed as one of King’s greatest stories, it wasn’t until the film adaptation (abbreviated to simply The Shawshank Redemption) in 1994 that it truly achieved recognition.

The novella tells the story of Andy Dufrane, a banker wrongly imprisoned for his wife’s murder. But rather than focus on “clearing his name,” (as most similar stories would) it deals with how Andy handles prison life, the friendships he forms, and how he ultimately triumphs over injustice, although not in the way you might think. This is a stunning movie about the indomitable nature of the human spirit and an entertaining yarn to boot. It’s impossible not to cheer when Andy raises his arms to the heavens as the clear rain of freedom falls upon his face.

~ Evan Derrick

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