Mansion owned by The Exorcist author up for sale for $3.2m

The Maryland mansion owned by The Exorcist author William Peter Blatty has gone up for sale for $3.2million.

The six-bed, five-bath home is set within half an acre of grounds and located close to the Washington DC suburb of Georgetown – where Blatty’s 1971 horror novel was set.

Blatty got the idea for his masterwork while studying at Georgetown University after overhearing the story of a 14-year-old boy who was given exorcisms because his parents believed he was possessed by the devil.

While Blatty may have had a taste for the darker side of life in his works, his home is anything but – decorated with pastel colors and fine wood finishing throughout, and illuminated by huge windows in almost every room.

The property also comes with its own swimming pool and sauna, a huge dining room, and its own bar room complete with a piano.

Blatty, who spent 17 weeks at the top of the New York Times’ bestseller list with his novel and later won an Oscar for his own screen adaptation, died in January at the age of 89.

His publicist said he passed away from multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, at a hospital close to home. 

The mansion owned by The Exorcist author William Peter Blatty has gone up for sale for $3.2million. It is located in Bethesda, Maryland, only a short distance from the Washington DC suburb of Georgetown where his novel was set

While Blatty had a taste for the darker things in his work, his home is bright and airy - decorated throughout in pastel colors and illuminated by huge windows in virtually every room

While Blatty had a taste for the darker things in his work, his home is bright and airy – decorated throughout in pastel colors and illuminated by huge windows in virtually every room

The six-bed, five-bath property comes kitted out with a guest suite and its own bar room for entertaining guests - perhaps with a tinkle on the grand piano

The six-bed, five-bath property comes kitted out with a guest suite and its own bar room for entertaining guests – perhaps with a tinkle on the grand piano

The home also has a large, beautifully furnished library which is perhaps the least you could expect from a renowned author

The home also has a large, beautifully furnished library which is perhaps the least you could expect from a renowned author

While Blatty has kept his professional and personal life separate throughout his home, the living area does contain one small reference to his work in the form of an Exorcist poster on the wall

While Blatty has kept his professional and personal life separate throughout his home, the living area does contain one small reference to his work in the form of an Exorcist poster on the wall

Blatty bought the property after his novel, published in 1971, spent 17 weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. It comes equipped with this dining room with plenty of space for guests

Blatty bought the property after his novel, published in 1971, spent 17 weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. It comes equipped with this dining room with plenty of space for guests

The author appears to have an eclectic taste in art, as the walls of his mansion are decorated with everything from Asian-style engravings (left) to more abstract pieces (right)

The author appears to have an eclectic taste in art, as the walls of his mansion are decorated with everything from Asian-style engravings (left) to more abstract pieces (right)

Outside the back door is half an acre of forested land for the new owner to explore, in the Burning Tree area of Bethesda

Outside the back door is half an acre of forested land for the new owner to explore, in the Burning Tree area of Bethesda

The house also has a study, where the new owner could potentially get to work on their own bestselling novel

The house also has a study, where the new owner could potentially get to work on their own bestselling novel

Blatty, pictured here in 2000 with Ellen Burstyn (left) and Linda Blair, the stars of The Exorcist, passed away in January from blood cancer at a hospital near his property

Blatty, pictured here in 2000 with Ellen Burstyn (left) and Linda Blair, the stars of The Exorcist, passed away in January from blood cancer at a hospital near his property

The inspiration for his novel came from his time studying at Georgetown University in 1949 when he overheard the story of a 14-year-old boy who was given exorcisms because his parents believed he was possessed by the devil

The inspiration for his novel came from his time studying at Georgetown University in 1949 when he overheard the story of a 14-year-old boy who was given exorcisms because his parents believed he was possessed by the devil

The master bedroom, one of six inside the sprawling home, comes with his and hers en-suite bathrooms 

The master bedroom, one of six inside the sprawling home, comes with his and hers en-suite bathrooms 

The largest bathroom inside the property, which has five of them in total, has a large shower cubicle along with an elaborate raised-up bath and mirrored walls

The largest bathroom inside the property, which has five of them in total, has a large shower cubicle along with an elaborate raised-up bath and mirrored walls

You won't have any trouble fixing your hair or makeup at this bureau as all the surrounding walls are mirrored 

You won’t have any trouble fixing your hair or makeup at this bureau as all the surrounding walls are mirrored 

The home was designed for entertaining, with plenty of guest bedrooms along with multiple large entertaining spaces

The home was designed for entertaining, with plenty of guest bedrooms along with multiple large entertaining spaces

An indoor pool with electric cover is another luxury the new home's owners will be able to enjoy if the snap the property up

An indoor pool with electric cover is another luxury the new home’s owners will be able to enjoy if the snap the property up

Blatty's home also comes with a large outside decked area which has a built-in grill, space for eating, and sun loungers

Blatty’s home also comes with a large outside decked area which has a built-in grill, space for eating, and sun loungers

The four-storey home, which was built in 1988, has its own breakfast room and four parking spaces in its double garages

The four-storey home, which was built in 1988, has its own breakfast room and four parking spaces in its double garages

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