John Knowles was an influential American novelist renowned for his novel A Separate Peace, a seminal work published in 1959. Born in Fairmont, West Virginia, Knowles' journey as a writer began with his education at the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. He graduated in 1945 and later continued his studies at Yale University, becoming an alumnus of the class of 1949.

Knowles' experiences at Exeter during the summer of 1943 heavily inspired A Separate Peace. The Devon School, where the story is set, serves as a thinly veiled allegory for Phillips Exeter. While the novel delves into themes of youth and the loss of innocence during World War II, Knowles clarified that the narrative is not strictly autobiographical. Despite this, elements such as the atmosphere and sentiments of that time are drawn from his personal experiences. In his essay, "A Special Time, A Special Place," Knowles reflected on the poignant memories captured in his literature.