Author Biography
Peter Benchley: A Biography
Peter Benchley is not a very well known author. Despite being virtually unknown, he has still written fourteen books, all of which have been about sharks or the ocean. His most famous book Jaws, has sold about twenty million copies since its release in 1974 (Summer of the Shark). Peter Benchley has not won any awards for his books however he has won numerous awards for wildlife and animal preservation. Peter Benchley has not only written a best seller but has also been helped save wildlife. Peter Benchley’s passion for wildlife throughout his life was a huge influence on his writing.
Peter Benchley was born May 8, 1940 in New York City. Peter Benchley was born to Nathaniel Benchley who was also novelist. Peter Benchley earned money in his teens by writing during vacations; “A deal offered by his father in the hopes of instilling the necessary authorial discipline in his son.” After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, Peter then went to Harvard to study English. After majoring and earning a degree in English he and his friends went on around-the-world trip, which he would later write about in 1964. He then got his first job working as a staff writer for the Washington Post. He later went to be a speechwriter for president Lyndon B. Johnson (Peter Benchley).
Peter Benchley first got the idea for Jaws after reading about the capture of a 4,550-pound shark. Also reading about the Jersey Shore Attacks of 1916. The attacks of 1916 are about a shark that goes on a spree and kills many swimmers in the time span of a week. (Shark Kills Many). Peter Benchley imagined a book after reading the articles that would be an intense thriller. Jaws was published in 1974, a year later in June 1975 Steven Spielberg released the movie Jaws which would win three Academy Awards. The book Jaws also became a best seller and stayed on the best-seller list for forty-four weeks. Jaws is bestseller and critics say that it is “Gripping” (Washington Post), “Pure Engrossment” (Chicago Sun-Times), and that “Benchley Keeps it Moving” (New York magazine) (Criticism).
After the book Jaws Peter Benchley continued to write about sharks and other sea creatures. Other novels include The Deep, White Shark, and Shark Trouble. The year the film Jaws was released it deeply affected the public. People were now so scared of shark attacks that they refused to go to the beaches. Peter Benchley after his career of writing focused on saving wildlife mainly sharks. On February 11, 2006 Peter Benchley died. Peter died from pulmonary fibrosis, which is a disease that affects the respiratory system.
Peter Benchley although not famous to the public was still a very important person in preservation of wildlife. Jaws has greatly affected the nation! Benchley said that he never thought that his book would have ever become that famous.However, he was wrong, he wrote a book that changed the nation and possibly the world. Even though he was not well known to the public Peter Benchley is one of the greatest authors of all time.
Click here for Works Cited!
Peter Benchley is not a very well known author. Despite being virtually unknown, he has still written fourteen books, all of which have been about sharks or the ocean. His most famous book Jaws, has sold about twenty million copies since its release in 1974 (Summer of the Shark). Peter Benchley has not won any awards for his books however he has won numerous awards for wildlife and animal preservation. Peter Benchley has not only written a best seller but has also been helped save wildlife. Peter Benchley’s passion for wildlife throughout his life was a huge influence on his writing.
Peter Benchley was born May 8, 1940 in New York City. Peter Benchley was born to Nathaniel Benchley who was also novelist. Peter Benchley earned money in his teens by writing during vacations; “A deal offered by his father in the hopes of instilling the necessary authorial discipline in his son.” After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, Peter then went to Harvard to study English. After majoring and earning a degree in English he and his friends went on around-the-world trip, which he would later write about in 1964. He then got his first job working as a staff writer for the Washington Post. He later went to be a speechwriter for president Lyndon B. Johnson (Peter Benchley).
Peter Benchley first got the idea for Jaws after reading about the capture of a 4,550-pound shark. Also reading about the Jersey Shore Attacks of 1916. The attacks of 1916 are about a shark that goes on a spree and kills many swimmers in the time span of a week. (Shark Kills Many). Peter Benchley imagined a book after reading the articles that would be an intense thriller. Jaws was published in 1974, a year later in June 1975 Steven Spielberg released the movie Jaws which would win three Academy Awards. The book Jaws also became a best seller and stayed on the best-seller list for forty-four weeks. Jaws is bestseller and critics say that it is “Gripping” (Washington Post), “Pure Engrossment” (Chicago Sun-Times), and that “Benchley Keeps it Moving” (New York magazine) (Criticism).
After the book Jaws Peter Benchley continued to write about sharks and other sea creatures. Other novels include The Deep, White Shark, and Shark Trouble. The year the film Jaws was released it deeply affected the public. People were now so scared of shark attacks that they refused to go to the beaches. Peter Benchley after his career of writing focused on saving wildlife mainly sharks. On February 11, 2006 Peter Benchley died. Peter died from pulmonary fibrosis, which is a disease that affects the respiratory system.
Peter Benchley although not famous to the public was still a very important person in preservation of wildlife. Jaws has greatly affected the nation! Benchley said that he never thought that his book would have ever become that famous.However, he was wrong, he wrote a book that changed the nation and possibly the world. Even though he was not well known to the public Peter Benchley is one of the greatest authors of all time.
Click here for Works Cited!