The Green Mile

Published: 1996

The Green Mile (1996) unfolds through the memories of Paul Edgecombe, a former prison guard on Death Row—nicknamed 'The Green Mile' for its linoleum floor—at Cold Mountain Penitentiary during the Great Depression. Paul recounts the arrival of John Coffey, an enormous black man convicted of raping and murdering two young girls. As Paul and his fellow guards discover Coffey possesses miraculous healing powers, they become convinced of his innocence but remain powerless to stop his execution. The narrative explores themes of compassion, racial injustice, mortality, and the moral complexities of capital punishment. Originally published in six monthly installments—a publishing experiment inspired by Charles Dickens—the serialized novels were later collected into a single volume. The unusual publishing approach generated enormous interest, with each installment reaching bestseller lists and creating momentum for subsequent parts. Critics praised King's character development, historical atmosphere, and emotional depth, considering it among his finest work. The 1999 film adaptation directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan received four Academy Award nominations and remains one of the most acclaimed King adaptations. King has expressed particular pride in The Green Mile, noting that the serial format allowed him to create a novel with the pacing and cliffhangers of a film or television series. For readers, the book represents King at his most humanistic, using subtle supernatural elements to explore profound questions about human nature, justice, and suffering. The novel's unforgettable characters—particularly John Coffey, Eduard Delacroix, and the villainous Percy Wetmore—rank among King's most fully realized creations. Its exploration of systemic racism and the flaws in the justice system gives the book continuing relevance beyond its period setting, while its meditation on mortality and meaning has emotional resonance across generations.

Themes

• Justice
• Miracles
• Mortality
• Compassion
• Racial injustice

Adaptations

• 1999 film directed by Frank Darabont, starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan

Collector Notes

Originally published as a six-part serial novel, released monthly. The complete collection was later published as a single volume. The film adaptation received four Academy Award nominations.