Totally agree that he’s a 19th century writer! I don’t know if you’ve read Danse Macabre—if not, it’s 100 percent worth the read. I think it’s kind of a skeleton key for understanding King: it details the two threads of his education — Fifties comics and TV, and nineteenth century literature. In that book he focuses on Shelley, Stoker, and Stevenson, but you can tell he’s widely read. (And, for example, The Talisman and a few of his short stories self-consciously reflect on Twain and Hawthorne.)
Totally agree that he’s a 19th century writer! I don’t know if you’ve read Danse Macabre—if not, it’s 100 percent worth the read. I think it’s kind of a skeleton key for understanding King: it details the two threads of his education — Fifties comics and TV, and nineteenth century literature. In that book he focuses on Shelley, Stoker, and Stevenson, but you can tell he’s widely read. (And, for example, The Talisman and a few of his short stories self-consciously reflect on Twain and Hawthorne.)
I haven't yet and I don't think it's part of my curriculum, but I will likely get around to it!