ABSTRACT
Given the resurgence of interest in Stephen King, the time has come to re-evaluate King’s status as one of the most enduring chroniclers of American History. Specifically, this introduction will outline King’s relationship to American History by focusing upon his perspective on the influence of Viet Nam, his complicated understanding of America’s literary legacy, the promise and peril of a “queer” history, and the alterative historical consciousness that appears in his most recent work following 9/11. The emphasis of the book is all inclusive, discussing King texts and their film adaptations from The Shining to his most recent novel, The Institute. Perhaps more than any other popular figure, Stephen King challenges us to confront the destructive patterns of our past as well as our capacity to imagine a different future. His unique perspective on American History has much to teach us about our perilous present.
