Jaws: A Novel

by Peter Benchley

Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The shark-versus-man classic that inspired the blockbuster Steven Spielberg movie

“A tightly written, tautly paced study of terror.”—The Washington Post

A great white shark terrorizes the beautiful summer getaway of Amity Island, and a motley group of men take to the water to do battle with the beast. A heart-pounding novel of suspense and a brilliant meditation on the nature of humanity, Jaws is one of the most iconic thrillers ever written. 

This edition features bonus content from Peter Benchley’s archives, including the manuscript’s original typed title page, a brainstorming list of possible titles, a letter from Benchley to film producer David Brown with candid feedback on the movie adaptation, and excerpts from Benchley’s book Shark Trouble, highlighting his firsthand account of writing Jaws, selling it to Universal Studios, and working with Steven Spielberg.

After writing Jaws in the early 1970s, Peter Benchley was actively engaged with scientists and filmmakers, and over the ensuing decades, joined many expeditions around the world as they expanded their knowledge of sharks and shark behavior. He encouraged each new generation of Jaws fans to enjoy his riveting tale and to channel their excitement into support and protection of these magnificent prehistoric apex predators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781400064564
Publisher:	Random House Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/31/2005
Series:	Jaws , #1
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	114,381
Product dimensions:	5.37(w) x 8.29(h) x 0.92(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Peter Benchley began his career as a novelist in 1974 with the publication of Jaws, which was made into a hugely successful film. His other books include The Deep, The Island, The Girl of the Sea of Cortez, “Q” Clearance, Rummies, Beast, White Shark, and Shark Trouble. He was also a speechwriter for President Lyndon Johnson and a journalist for such magazines as Newsweek and National Geographic. Benchley died in 2006.

Date of Birth:

May 8, 1940

Date of Death:

February 12, 2006

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Place of Death:

Princeton, New Jersey

Education:

Phillips Exeter Academy; B.A. in English, Harvard University, 1961

Read an Excerpt

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(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Jaws"
by .
Copyright © 2005 Peter Benchley.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A tightly written, tautly paced study of terror [that] makes us tingle.”—The Washington Post
 
“Powerful . . . [Benchley’s] story grabs you at once.”—The New York Times Book Review
 
“Relentless terror . . . You’d better steel yourself for this one. It isn’t a tale for the faint of heart.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
 
“Pure engrossment from the very opening . . . a fine story told with style, class, and a splendid feeling for suspense.”—Chicago Sun-Times

Editorial Reviews

A tightly written, tautly paced study of terror [that] makes us tingle.”—The Washington Post
 
“Powerful . . . [Benchley’s] story grabs you at once.”—The New York Times Book Review
 
“Relentless terror . . . You’d better steel yourself for this one. It isn’t a tale for the faint of heart.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
 
“Pure engrossment from the very opening . . . a fine story told with style, class, and a splendid feeling for suspense.”—Chicago Sun-Times

From the Publisher

Benchley's novel, while better known as the source material for Steven Spielberg's classic movie, has earned its own stripes as a small gem of suspense fiction. With another summer fast approaching, audio listeners may be interested in revisiting the town of Amity, Long Island, and getting back in the water. Erik Steele, a theater and film actor, chomps into Benchley's raw prose with appetite, enjoying every bite of gore and social observation. Making ample use of well-placed pauses and silences, Steele amplifies not only the suspense, but Benchley's surprisingly well-honed characterizations. The experience, of course, is markedly different from Spielberg's film, offering shocks less visceral and more contemplative. A Random House hardcover. (Apr.)

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Publishers Weekly

While the movie version of this story dominates, Benchley's tale of a shark that stalks the shores of Amity Island gains new life in the nuanced reading by Erik Steele. While it's a good bet to suggest either the book or the movie to fans of Beck, as both Benchley's novel and Spielberg's film provide similar thrills to Beneath the Dark Ice, try the audio for a new slant. In particular, characters come to life in interesting ways, with voices undercut with fear and dialog delivered in a different rhythm. The pacing, too, is altered just enough to create a new experience. Steele's reading makes this classic beast-tale new again. Fans of Benchley can be pointed to Beast as well because it makes a nice companion to Beck. — Neal Wyatt, "RA Crossroads," Booksmack! 1/6/11

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