The Exorcist

by William Peter Blatty · 1971

When celebrated actress Chris MacNeil discovers her eleven‑year‑old daughter Regan behaving in increasingly violent and inexplicable ways, she turns to the only help she can imagine: two Catholic priests who specialize in confronting the supernatural. As Regan’s personality fractures under the weight of an ancient, malevolent presence, the priests must confront their own doubts and the limits of faith while performing a harrowing exorcism. Blatty weaves a chilling tale of possession, religious conviction, and the battle between good and evil, grounding the horror in the everyday lives of a mother, a child, and the men tasked with saving them. The novel’s stark, unflinching prose and psychological depth make it a timeless work of supernatural terror that continues to haunt readers decades after its first publication.