Richard Bach became famous all over the world for his story about Jonathan the Seagull. Almost all the works of the American writer are permeated with a passion for flying. Bach's books call the reader into the Unknown, call to fight the routine and routine. If there are works in the world that can change human consciousness, then these are the books of Bach.
From the biography of Richard Bach
The future writer was born on June 23, 1936 in the American city of Oak Park, Illinois. Family tradition says that on the maternal side, Richard is a descendant of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Richard was born into an ordinary, not the most wealthy family. He had three brothers, among them the future writer was the middle one.
The younger brother, Bobby, died at the age of eight. This tragic event left a deep mark on Richard's soul. The impressions of this family drama are partly reflected in the book Escape from Safety.
Already at school age, Richard became interested in literature. But the young man was even more delighted with the planes. As a result, Bach decided to become a pilot and connect his life with aviation. The entire children's room was filled with model aircraft. At the age of seventeen, Richard first took to the air on a biplane.
The parents insisted that their son go to the University of California. Having received the coveted diploma, Bach went to serve in the army: his dream was to become a military pilot. Since then, aviation has become Richard's main passion. He served in the US Marine Reserve Air Squadron. Bahu had a chance to master a bomber. In 1962, he completed his military career with the rank of captain. After that, the military pilot did not part with the sky - he continued to fly for his own pleasure.
The literary work of Richard Bach
Bach's love of flying could only be rivaled by an equally passionate desire to be a writer. However, fame did not come to Richard immediately. Before embarking on literary experiments, he had to learn how to write technical documentation. After graduating from military service, Bach worked for some time in the editorial office of one of the aviation magazines. Only in 1964 did Richard leave his work, which was so far from real creativity, and devoted himself to the craft of writing.
Richard published his first book in 1963. It was the autobiographical story "Stranger on Earth". The author tried to convey to the readers the idea that the state of flight is determined not by technology, but by the strength of the human spirit. The piece went almost unnoticed. The same fate awaited Bach's second book, Biplane (1966).
The aspiring writer realized that in this form, literary creativity would not be able to feed him. From 1965 to 1970, Richard, without leaving literary experiences, got a job as a pilot and aircraft mechanic on charter flights.
In 1970, one of the sports magazines published Bach's parable "The Seagull Named Jonathan Livingston". The author has been hatching his creative idea since 1959. He was attracted by the idea to tell a story about a proud bird who learned the joy of free flight and learned to fly without restrictions and prohibitions.
The general public did not notice the first edition of The Seagull. However, the story-parable was soon published as a separate book. After that, a resounding success came to the author. Over a couple of years, more than a million copies have been sold. In 1978 the story was translated into Russian. The story of Jonathan Livingston also won over the Soviet reader. Bach later admitted that the story was based on the story of a real pilot who conquered the sky in the 1920s and 1930s.
The sensational popularity soon became the cause of a conflict between Richard and the film studio, where in 1973 filming began on the book. The author filed a lawsuit against the producers: he protested that they changed the storyline without his consent. The outcome of the trial was a compromise: only an indication of Bach's authorship in relation to the title of the story was left in the film.
After completing a legal battle, Richard, along with his wife Leslie, moved from Hollywood to a quieter place. He continued to study literature, while devoting time to paragliding. Bach co-authored his next book "The Only One" with his wife.
One of the most important places in Richard's diverse work has always been occupied by airplanes. Flying cars are the characters in his works. With their help, the author tries to convey to the audience his ideas about life, friendship, love, creativity. As a result, each work of Bach turns into an exciting journey, in which the reader embarks with the author, who plays the role of a reliable friend and mentor. Admirers of Bach's work claim that when reading his books, they gain confidence in their abilities, a desire to quickly realize their life goals.
Here are just a few of the most famous books by Richard Bach:
- Alien on Earth (1963);
- Nothing Is Accidental (1969);
- Gift of Wings (1973);
- Illusions (1977);
- The Pocket Guide of the Messiah (2004).
Personal life of Richard Bach
The author of the story of the Seagull, Jonathan, was officially married three times. In 1957, Betty Jean Franks became his chosen one. Young people have lived together for thirteen years. But even the birth of six children could not save this union: Richard and Betty broke up. As Bach later admitted, at that time he simply lost faith in marriage. He was little interested in how his first family lived, although he still communicates with his sons.
In 1973, Richard, on the set of the film, according to his philosophical parable, meets the charming actress Leslie Parrish. It was this woman who for many years became his muse and the heroine of the writer's three works. These books are:
- "The only one";
- "Bridge through eternity";
- Escape from Safety.
These novels are imbued with a love philosophy, which added to Bach's popularity.
Alas, in the late 90s, Richard and his second wife officially divorced. This became the reason for the accusation of the writer that he thus devalued his previous works. Bach made an attempt to rehabilitate himself: he published a parable, where he partly explains the reasons for breaking up with his beloved woman. It ends with the words "Everything in this book can be a mistake."
In 1999, Richard married again. His wife was a girl named Sabrina, half Greek, half Norwegian. She is 35 years younger than Richard. Sabrina Bach is also fond of flying and deftly controls her four-seater Cessna.
