John Knowles

Date of Birth: September 16, 1926

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: November 29, 2001

Biography

John Knowles was an acclaimed American novelist, best known for his novel “A Separate Peace” (1959). Born in Fairmont, West Virginia, Knowles attended Phillips Exeter Academy, which served as the inspiration for the Devon School in his most famous work. He graduated from Yale University in 1949. Knowles worked as a journalist and freelance writer before achieving literary success. His novels often explore themes of adolescence, identity, and the loss of innocence. “A Separate Peace” remains a staple in American literature, often studied in high school and college curricula. Knowles continued to write throughout his life, producing several other novels and a collection of short stories.

5 Interesting Facts about John Knowles

1. John Knowles was a member of Yale University’s literary magazine, The Yale Record.

2. “A Separate Peace” was initially published as a short story in Cosmopolitan magazine before being expanded into a novel.

3. Knowles served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

4. In addition to “A Separate Peace,” Knowles wrote several other novels, including “Peace Breaks Out” and “The Paragon.”

5. Knowles taught creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Princeton University, and Florida Atlantic University.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Knowles

1. “There was no harm in taking aim, even if the target was a dream.”

2. “Everything has to evolve or else it perishes.”

3. “You always win at a separate peace, but always lose the war.”

4. “The tree was not only stripped by the cold season, it seemed weary from age.”

5. “It seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

John Knowles’ highest net worth achieved is not well-documented, but his literary success, particularly with “A Separate Peace,” suggests he enjoyed moderate financial success.