It’s the summertime, so it’s always a good idea to poke through the sunny literature that fills our bookshelves. Where else could I possibly start other than Jaws by Peter Benchley? In this post, we are going to talk about the author, and his history writing novels that are both spirited in action and dense in suspense.
A Benchley Biography
Early Life and Reporting
Benchley was born in New York City on May 8, 1940. His father was a writer and his grandfather was a humorist and critic.
Benchley started his academic career at Phillips Exeter Academy. He would graduate from Harvard University in 1961 and spent a year traveling the world. He elaborates on these travels in his first book, a memoir, titled Time and Ticket that was published in 1964. After spending some time in the Marine Corps, he started as a reporter for The Washington Post and later was a “radio and TV editor” for Newsweek. He was also a junior speech writer for President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Jaws and Other Works
After years of trying to make it as a writer, Benchley finally pitched Jaws, which was published in 1974 and it was met with immediate critical acclaim. The book would inspire one of the most popular horror movies of all time–a film by the same name.
He has stated of his fascination with sharks:
“Always, though, I continued to be interested in sharks and the sea, and my family and I have dived all over the world with wonderful creatures. I have written, narrated and been in dozens of television documentaries about marine life” (Peterbenchley.com)
Other books by Benchley included:
- The Deep (1974)
- The Island (1976)
- Rummies (1989)
- Beast (1991)
- White Shark (1994)
Conclusion
Benchley later regretted writing “sensational” books about man-eating water creatures and spent the last decade of his life writing non-fiction as an advocate for conservation. As a conservationist, Benchley spent his later years advocating for sharks and the marine environment. He worked with Wildlife Conservation Society and The Ocean Conservancy.
Peter Benchley passed away in 2006 from pulmonary fibrosis.
