John Knowles' A Separate Peace is a classic novel about two boys coming of age during World War II. The book recounts the relationship between Gene Forrester and his best friend Phineas (also known as Finny) during their high school years.
Knowles based the book on his own experiences at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy, which he attended from 1942 until 1944. He attended the school both during the school year and during the summers, when he met other students from nearby prep schools. He used David Hackett, a student at Milton Academy, as the basis for the character Finny. He also based a crucial scene where Finny jumps from a high tree branch on a real event, in which students were initiated into a club by jumping from a tree branch into the river. In interviews, Knowles always noted that the pleasant experiences of the book reflected his real-life experiences at Exeter; the unpleasant experiences in the novel, he said, were the ones he invented.
The 1972 film version of A Separate Peace was shot at Phillips Exeter Academy, on which Devon is based.
Fast Facts:
- Author: John Knowles
- Publication Date: 1959
- Narration: First person flashback
- 1972: Film version
- 2004: Showtime version
- Sequel: Peace Breaks Out
John Knowles' A Separate Peace is a classic novel about two boys coming of age during World War II. The book recounts the relationship between Gene Forrester and his best friend Phineas (also known as Finny) during their high school years.
Knowles based the book on his own experiences at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy, which he attended from 1942 until 1944. He attended the school both during the school year and during the summers, when he met other students from nearby prep schools. He used David Hackett, a student at Milton Academy, as the basis for the character Finny. He also based a crucial scene where Finny jumps from a high tree branch on a real event, in which students were initiated into a club by jumping from a tree branch into the river. In interviews, Knowles always noted that the pleasant experiences of the book reflected his real-life experiences at Exeter; the unpleasant experiences in the novel, he said, were the ones he invented.
The 1972 film version of A Separate Peace was shot at Phillips Exeter Academy, on which Devon is based.
Fast Facts:
Author: John Knowles
Publication Date: 1959
Narration: First person flashback
1972: Film version
2004: Showtime version
Sequel: Peace Breaks Out</note>
A Separate Peace Adaptations
Note: The majority of these links are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.
1966: A Separate Peace (TV)
1972: A Separate Peace
2004: A Separate Peace (TV)
