How did Stephen King come up with the term "Constant Reader?"

[vivazebool]

It is my theory that Stephen King adopted the term "Constant Reader" from the Canadian author Robertson Davies. Davies uses this term in his book "Leaven Of Malice."

Evidence in favour of this comes from The Tommyknockers. In the chapter about Hilly Brown learning magic, Stephen King makes mention of Davies and his Deptford trilogy. King is an admirer of Davies and "Leaven of Malice" was published in 1954, way before Stephen King broke into print.

Any thoughts?

[Moderator]

Sounds plausible. I'll try to remember to ask him about it.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I'll be very interested in his answer, cause I feel the brilliant concept of CR's is one of the things that binds us together here on the SKMB, the Fellowship of the King!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Q'smum]

Agreed, John. It makes you feel like more than a fan. Almost like he acknowledges your participation as a reader as part of his work. I will definitely keep check on the answer to this one.

[pandora]

I love it!!!! It makes his books so personal, like the old school letter in the mail box !

[Dandelo28]

I think the expression « Constant Reader » was first used by Paul Sheldon to describ Annie Wilkes in « Misery ». So in TK, it would be the second time « Constant Reader » showed up...

As for where it came from and what does it means in terms of King's work, I would be extremely interested in knowing the answer, because I am presently working on my thesis, wich will explore metafiction in the « Dark Tower » series, and I would love to add a part about the Constant Reader.

So, if anybody has information (such as when was the term first used, in wich books is this expression used, and it's context).

Thank you big-big for any clues on that subject!

[Bev Vincent]

Dorothy Parker used it as a pen name in the 1920s. It seems to me that an author like Twain or Dickens used a similar expression for his readership, but I'm drawing a blank.

[Dandelo28]

Hello everybody!

I recently came across an information concerning Misery and I wondered if somebody would be able to give me more information about it.

During Misery, Paul Sheldon often refers to Annie Wilkes as his « Constant Reader ». And supposedly, it is the first time that the expression « Constant Reader » is being used by King.

So, is there a previous occurence of the « Constant Reader »? And from who King got this idea, and why would he use the same expression to talk about us?

Thanks for all the info you can give me! :)

P.S. I already posted a reply on the « general » subject of the « Constant Reader » in the «Chattery Teeths » section, but since this is primarly about Misery, it seemed like te right place to start this thread.



I may be misunderstanding what you're asking, but I've put this back in this thread as the question about the origin of the term "Constant Reader" was answered here so seemed redundant to post a new thread.

[Kim L.]

Dorothy Parker is who I thought of when I first read the phrase--she used it when writing as a book reviewer for the New Yorker (and it's a bit of kaincidence that the New Yorker with SK's new short story is now available).

[Dandelo28]

I'm rereading Misery again, and I just « stumbled » (ok, I was looking for something like this!) on this phrase, by Paul Sheldon : « Annie Wilkes was the perfect audience, a woman who loved stories without having the slightest interest in the mechanics of making them. She was the embodiment of that Victorian archetype, Constant Reader. » (p. 63 in the Signet papeback edition). So! Where could I find more information about this « Victorian archetype »? It would likely point to Dickens, as Mr Vincent suggested in a precedent reply...

But what about Dorothy Parker? Any link between her and Mr King? I've never heard about her in any ok King's work (both fictions and non-fictions)

Once again, thank you big big for any idea, comment or information!

[Moderator]

Dorothy Parker was an iconic figure with whom Steve would have been familiar. She was mentioned in passing in The Plant.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Michel posted this great little Dorothy Parker poem in another thread recently -

I wish I could drink like a lady
I can take one or two at the most
Three and I'm under the table
Four and I'm under the host

Long days and pleasant nights

[Bryan James]

I wondered a little about the idea myself. Went back through my notes and double checked a book. Below is my PM response to the original post.
~~~
Originally Posted by Bryan James
When seeking the origins of "Constant Reader" I'd go back further. Probably way back. There are a lot of aspects [I meant instances] of an actor or writer breaking out of third person to speak directly to the audience.

Shakespeare's "The Complete" has mention of a Second Edition of "Troilus and Cressida" wherein a preface is written stating "Eternal Reader, you have here a new play, never stalled with the stage, never clapperclawed with the palms of the vulgar..."

(I edited a little bit)

It's an interesting search, though.

~BJS

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

I just remembered something from one of Dorothy Parker's book reviews; she was writing about some children's book (Winnie The Pooh series?) that she thought was cloying & sappy, and she said "It made Tonstant Weader want to fwow up!"

We all float down here.

[Kim L.]

I just remembered something from one of Dorothy Parker's book reviews; she was writing about some children's book (Winnie The Pooh series?) that she thought was cloying & sappy, and she said "It made Tonstant Weader want to fwow up!"

We all float down here.

She was a terrific, very funny writer and the only female member of the fabled Algonquin Round Table . The quote was indeed about the Winnie the Pooh series: "At this point, Tonstant Weader fwowed up."
OK, so she didn't get everything right.

[Dandelo28]

Thank's for all the feedbacks! :) About « The Plant », how can I have access to it?

[Moderator]

Go to The Office (http://www.stephenking.com/the_office.html) and once you successfully answer quiz questions in the second level, you will receive the downloads of The Plant.

[mstay]

Hi,

Michel posted this great little Dorothy Parker poem in another thread recently -

I wish I could drink like a lady
I can take one or two at the most
Three and I'm under the table
Four and I'm under the host

Long days and pleasant nights

I'm so glad you're back John!:laugh:

[Dandelo28]

Okay, now that I have a solid lead on where the expression came from, I want to know how it ceased to describe an obsessive and murderous fictive reader (Annie Wilkes in Misery) and when it started describing « us », King's readers.

Any leads on that? And if anybody has references (such as interviews, on something like that, fire away, I need this stuff too!)

[Bev Vincent]

In the Author's Note for The Waste Lands he writes, "THE FOURTH VOLUME IN the tale of the Dark Tower should appear— always assuming the continuation of Constant Writer's life and Constant Reader's interest—in the not-too-distant future."

[Dandelo28]

I saw that! And isn't it the first time that King refers to himself as « Constant Writer »?

[JohnDalglish]

In the Author's Note for The Waste Lands he writes, "THE FOURTH VOLUME IN the tale of the Dark Tower should appear— always assuming the continuation of Constant Writer's life and Constant Reader's interest—in the not-too-distant future."

Hi,

Boy, it seemed a pretty long time for not-to distant, didn't it? LOL

Long days and pleasant nights

[Dandelo28]

Well, it's me again! And I have another question for all of you! Now that I have your attention, I wont let go that easily!

So, here it is : What about DT7 dedication? The final Dark Tower's serie dedicated to Constant Reader?! How about that! Why this book in particular? Why to Constant Reader and not just to Roland's Followers (an expression he used at least one time in an author's note)?

Oh, and since I'm here! What is the relation of Constant Reader with King's work? Is he only a fan who reads all of King's book and chat about it on a Forum? (No offense here, I'm not judging anybody, only trying to understand a « concept »!) Or does he have to be able to establish links between different King's work (or are these more Calvins than Constant Readers?). Or is he (or she!) is just a reader who takes the time to read King's prefaces, postfaces and author's notes?

One again (seems like a déjà vu, no? ;) ) thank you so much for your toughts, comments and suggestions