The Exorcist (novel) The Exorcist (novel) The Exorcist is a 1971 horror novel by American writer William Peter Blatty. The book details the demonic possession of twelve-year-old Regan MacNeil, the daughter of a famous actress, and the two priests who attempt to exorcise the demon. Published by Harper & Row, the novel was the basis of a highly successful film adaption released two years later, whose screenplay was also written and produced by Blatty, and part of "The Exorcist" franchise. The novel was inspired by a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism that Blatty heard about while he was a student in
National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year The National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year Award is a British literary award, given annually to works of children's literature as part of the Galaxy National Book Awards. It was established in 1996, replacing the British Illustrated Children's Book of the Year and British Children's Author of the Year categories. It is currently sponsored by W H Smith, although previously it has been sponsored by Red House (who also sponsor the Red House Children's Book Award). The name changed in 2010, previously it was called the "British Children's Book Award".