The Shawshank Redemption

This stand-alone edition of Stephen King's novella, retitled The Shawshank Redemption, marks the 30th anniversary of the film adaptation that was nominated for Best Picture. A mesmerising tale of unjust imprisonment and offbeat escape, it follows Andy Dufresne, a fiercely compelling convict seeking a strangely satisfying revenge. Originally published in 1982 as "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" in King's collection Different Seasons (alongside "The Body", "Apt Pupil" and "The Breathing Method"), the novella is suspenseful, mysterious and heart-wrenching, populated by a cast of unforgettable characters. Regarded as a Stephen King classic, it compresses moral tension, slow-burning suspense and human drama into a tightly plotted narrative. In 1994 it was adapted for the screen as The Shawshank Redemption, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins; the film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.