The Exorcist

pstrongem"What an excellent day for an exorcism..."/em/strong/ppOriginally published in 1971,strong /strongemThe Exorcist/em remains one of the most controversial novels ever written. A literary phenomenon soon after its release, it spent fifty-seven weeks on the emNew York Times/em bestseller list, seventeen consecutively at number one. Inspired by the shockingly true story of a child’s demonic possession in the 1940s, William Peter Blatty's iconic novel focuses on Regan, the eleven-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. When sweet Regan's behavior turns sinister, a small group of overwhelmed yet determined individuals take it upon themselves to rescue the poor girl from her unspeakable fate. Timeless and terrifying, emThe Exorcist /emis a story that has gripped the public zeitgeist for more than half a century./ppSoon after its publication, emThe Exorcist/em became a wildly popular motion picture, garnering ten Academy Award nominations. On the opening day of the film, lines of 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, and CBS’s Walter Cronkite devoted almost ten minutes to the story. emThe Exorcist/em was, and is, more than just a novel and a film: it is a true landmark of American culture. . .and a reflection of our innermost fears./ppPurposefully raw and profane, emThe Exorcist/em continues to engross and disturb readers. Now, fifty years since its publication, it remains an unforgettable reading experience that will continue to shock and frighten a new generation of readers./p