He worked as a reporter for the washington post, as associate editor of newsweek and as a speechwriter for president johnson. The novel grew out of benchleys interest in shark attacks after he learned about the exploits of shark fisherman frank mundus in 1964. Cmy documentsmikes shitutilitiesbookspdf formatbenchley, peter jaws. This edition of jaws contains bonus content from peter benchleys archives, including the original typed title page, a brainstorming list of possible titles, a letter from benchley to producer david brown with honest feedback on the movie adaptation, and excerpts from benchleys book shark trouble highlighting his firsthand account of. Jaws catches readers in th first pages, with a brutal sharkattack coming right away. Jaws 2book bundle by peter benchley overdrive rakuten. Jaws was his first novel, his previous two books being a story for children and a book based on his trip round the world. Apr 07, 2009 jaws is the classic, blockbuster thriller that inspired the threetime academy awardwinning steven spielberg movie and made millions of beachgoers afraid to go into the water. Jaws by benchley, peter and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at abebooks. Peter benchley, as much as he hated the success of this book and the following blockbuster movie for its demonisation of sharks, is expertly crafted to instill fear into the minds of any reader.
If youre a big fan of the movie i highly recommend reading the book the jaws log by carl gottlieb. He wrote the bestselling novel jaws and cowrote its film adaptation with carl gottlieb. Brody, the chief of police, is doing his best to get to the bottom of the shark attacks, warn people in. Benchleys first novel, a confrontation between man and nature that consciously echoes moby dick fantasy and horror 627, spent 44 weeks on the new york times bestseller list in 1974. Jaws was later adapted into a blockbuster movie 1975. Not a summer has gone by that i have not reread the book and watched the movie. He has worked as a reporter for the washington post, as associate editor of newsweek and as a speechwriter for president johnson. As benchley says, the ocean is the only alien and potentially hostile environment on the planet into which we tend to venture without thinking about the animals that live there, how they behave, how they support themselves, and how they. The author of jaws said yesterday that he would never have written the book if he had known the damage it would do to the reputation of the great white shark. Jaws by peter benchley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Even though the movie focuses only on a part of the novel, which is the terrorizing shark. Jaws is a 1974 novel by american writer peter benchley. Jaws first edition peter benchley bauman rare books.
Estimated sales of 20 million books changed benchleys life forever, not to mention. Jaws book by peter benchley 17 available editions half. Shark life is at once a thriller and a valuable guide to being safe in, on, under, and around the sea. According to author peter benchley, he came up with the title 20 minutes before the book was supposed to go into production. Peter benchley simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Jaws is published by pan macmillan and you can purchase a copy here. Oddly enough, i didnt really enjoy reading peter benchleys jaws. When i learned the book was available on cd in an unabridged format, i immediately ordered it. Next year, specifically february of 2014 will be the forty year anniversary of peter benchleys bestselling novel jaws, a book with a narrative that concerns itself with the efforts of a small island community to catch and kill a great white shark that has been gobbling up some of its. Experience the thrill of helpless horror again or for the first time. His stories and articles appeared in numerous magazine including the new yorker and national geographic. At the behest of spielberg, the characters as depicted in the film were far more affable.
He worked as a reporter for the washington post, as associate editor of newsweek and as a speechwriter for the late president johnson. Although the novel sold 10 million copies and turned peter benchley into a millionaire, he now says that people should love sharks. The jaws phenomenon changed popular culture and continues to inspire a growing interest in sharks and the oceans today. Peter bradford benchley may 8, 1940 february 11, 2006 was an american author, screenwriter, and ocean activist. The rich depth of each character fleshes out a thrilling tale of man versus monster that has left an impression on decades of readers. Benchleys interest in the sea, stemming from childhood summers spent on the coast of nantucket, led to his meticulously researching the subject of sharks and writing such bestselling and critically acclaimed novels as the deep, whiteshark, and jaws. Peter benchley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at abebooks. The philadelphia inquirerthe classic, blockbuster t. This famous novel has been made into a thrilling movie about a maneating shark that terrorizes a beach town. His other books include the deep, the island, the girl of the sea of cortez, q clearance, rummies, beast, white sha. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Discover book depositorys huge selection of peter benchley books online.
But the only title that he and the editor could agree on was just jaws. Mar 17, 2018 jaws is published by pan macmillan and you can purchase a copy here. He was also a speechwriter for president lyndon johnson and a journalist for such magazines as newsweek and national geographic. When peter benchley wrote jaws in the early 1970s, he meticulously researched all available data about shark behavior. Intrigued by a newspaper item about a fisherman who had caught a 4,550pound great white shark off the coast of long island, i wondered what would happen if such a creature were to visit a resort community. Next year, specifically february of 2014 will be the forty year anniversary of peter benchleys bestselling novel jaws, a book with a narrative that concerns itself with the efforts of a small island community to catch and kill a great white shark that has been gobbling up some of its residents. First edition of benchleys bestselling thriller, in scarce firstissue dust jacket. His other books include the deep, the island, the girl of the sea of cortez, q clearance, rummies, beast, white shark, and shark trouble. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction.
Without spoiling the novel, i would like to point out just some differences between the book and the film since the latter contained over 20 scenes that were not in benchleys original story. See the complete jaws series book list in order, box sets or. Still, jaws was and always be one of the great thrillers of all time both as a book and a movie. Peter benchley has 38 books on goodreads with 216150 ratings. Aug 06, 20 peter benchley began his career as a novelist in 1974 with the publication of jaws, which was made into a hugely successful film. Doubleday commissioned him to write the novel in 1971, a period when benchley. The island is filled with small town people and a mayor who wants to keep a lid on things to keep the tourists coming. Jaws by peter benchley, doubleday edition fonts in use. Peter bradford benchley may 8, 1940 february 11, 2006 was an american author and screenwriter. Jaws at 40 is peter benchleys book a forgotten masterpiece. Sep 04, 2014 it is forty years since a littleknown writer named peter benchley published a first novel called jaws. In honor of shark week i reread jaws by peter benchley. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read jaws.
Cmy documentsmikes shitutilitiesbookspdf format benchley, peter jaws. The rest of the book more so than the movie deals with the townspeople, and how they each react to the shark. Benchley s interest in the sea, stemming from childhood summers spent on the coast of nantucket, led to his meticulously researching the subject of sharks and writing such bestselling and critically acclaimed novels as the deep, whiteshark, and jaws. Oddly enough, i didnt really enjoy reading peter benchleys jaws, making this one of the few instances that id say the movie is better than the book. If youve only seen the film one of the best ever imho the book is worth reading. The finale is heartpounding, and surprising even if youve seen the movie. James keen once upon a time there was a shark that ate people jaws. Jan 01, 2009 peter benchley, as much as he hated the success of this book and the following blockbuster movie for its demonisation of sharks, is expertly crafted to instill fear into the minds of any reader.
The novel grew out of benchley s interest in shark attacks after he learned about the exploits of shark fisherman frank mundus in 1964. Peter benchely was a master who, ironically, ended up dedicating his life to shark preservation after villifying them with this book. Jaws is the story of a killer shark staking a claim off amity island. Peter benchley was born in new york city in 1940 and is the son of novelist nathaniel benchley and grandson of humorist robert benchley. He is known for the bestselling novel jaws and cowrote its subsequent film adaptation with carl. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Peter bradford benchley may 8, 1940 february 12, 2006 was an american author, best known for his novel jaws and its subsequent movie adaptation, the latter cowritten by benchley with carl gottlieb and directed by steven spielberg. Dec 16, 20 discover book depositorys huge selection of peter benchley books online. It is forty years since a littleknown writer named peter benchley published a first novel called jaws. Peter benchley began his career as a novelist in 1974 with the publication of jaws, which was made into a hugely successful film. Inside jaws is free on vimeo, but ill warn you that the only people who will enjoy it are really. It tells the story of a great white shark that preys upon a small resort town and the voyage of three men trying to kill it. Peter benchley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Jaws is the classic, blockbuster thriller that inspired the threetime academy awardwinning steven spielberg movie and made millions of beachgoers afraid to go into the water. The bold sans serif caps used for the title are very likely lettering, featuring a w made of an overlapping double v which may evoke shark teeth albeit blunt ones. Published by doubleday and company, new york, 1974. Hed thought of many options he wasnt crazy abouta stillness in the water, a silence in the deep, the jaws of death, the jaws of leviathan. Several more of his works were also adapted for both cinema and television, including the deep, the island, beast, and white shark later in life, benchley came to regret writing such. Peter benchley more than twenty years ago, i set out to write a story about a town menaced by a marine predator. Brody, the chief of police, is doing his best to get to the bottom of the shark attacks, warn people in town, and stop the shark from killing.
He also wrote the screenplay for the blockbuster 1975 film adaptation. Buy jaws by peter benchley from amazons fiction books store. Peter bradford benchley was an american author best known for writing the novel jaws and cowriting the screenplay for its highly successful film adaptation. Jul 05, 2012 this edition of jaws contains bonus content from peter benchleys archives, including the original typed title page, a brainstorming list of possible titles, a letter from benchley to producer david brown with honest feedback on the movie adaptation, and excerpts from benchleys book shark trouble highlighting his firsthand account of.
His stories and articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including the new yorker and national geographic. Over the ensuing decades, benchley was actively engaged with scientists and filmmakers on expeditions. Over the ensuing decades, benchley was actively engaged with scientists and filmmakers on expeditions around the world as they expanded. Peter benchley was born in new york city in 1940 and was the son of novelist nathaniel benchley and grandson of humorist robert benchley. First edition points and criteria for jaws year published. The success of the book led to many publishers commissioning books about mutant rats, rabid dogs and the like threatening communities. Jaws author now regrets his attack on sharks by philip delves broughton in boston thursday, april 4, 2000. Benchley opens with him under the sea in a shark cage, this is followed by a recounting of how his book became a popular movie, and then he rolls into the whole myths and misconceptions about sharks, which most actually now know thanks to shark day, week, and month.