Jaws

6B Peter Benchley. London: Andre Deutsch, 1974. First UK Edition.

Notes

Jaws is a thriller about a great white shark that terrorizes the fictional beach town of Amity, forcing the local police chief, a marine biologist, and a professional shark hunter to confront the deadly creature. Suspenseful and fast-paced, the novel combines elements of horror, adventure, and social drama, exploring fear, political pressure, and survival. Its vivid depiction of the shark and the mounting panic in the community captured readers’ imaginations and turned the book into an international bestseller.

The novel was written by Peter Benchley, an American author and journalist. Before writing Jaws, Benchley worked as a speechwriter and editor, and he drew inspiration for the story from real-life shark catches and reports of shark attacks. Although the book brought him fame, he later expressed concern that it had contributed to widespread fear and hunting of sharks. In response, Benchley became an advocate for marine conservation, writing nonfiction about ocean life and working to protect sharks and their habitats.

The legacy of Jaws expanded enormously after its 1975 film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie became one of the first true summer blockbusters, reshaping Hollywood marketing and release strategies and cementing the story’s place in popular culture. Today, Jaws is remembered not only as a bestselling novel and groundbreaking film but also as a cultural phenomenon that influenced thriller storytelling, ocean tourism, and even public attitudes toward sharks for decades.

Description 

Red cloth binding. Gilt lettering to spine. Original dust wrapper with slight nick to plastic covering on lower edge. Fine condition overall. Loosely inserted newspaper article dated August 1999 with headline ‘Jaws Author Eats his Words to Save ‘Misunderstood’ Sharks.’