Stephen Benatar

Stephen Royce Benatar (born 26 March 1937) is an English author from London. His first published novel, The Man on the Bridge, was published in 1981. His second novel, Wish Her Safe at Home, was published in 1982 and reissued in 2007 and 2010. He is known for self-publishing and self-promoting his novels.

Early life and education Benatar was born 26 March 1937 to Jewish parents who lived in Baker Street, London; he grew up on Marylebone High Street. He attended King's College London and Sittingbourne College of Education. His second published novel, Wish Her Safe at Home, was published by The Bodley Head the following year. The book was inspired by the 1947 film The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Screen rights have been bought by a screenwriter who met Benatar in a bookshop,

Benatar is known for his presence in bookstores every weekend, inviting people to read his work. He usually sells around 50-100 copies a day.

Reception NPR said that "Benatar is a sharp wit whose many quirky novels have been unjustly neglected in the States". Emma Thompson, Joan Bakewell and Joanna Lumley are fans of his work. The Independent on Sunday wrote that "this horrifying exploration of madness at least deserves to be called a cult classic."

Personal life Benatar married Eileen Dorothy Bird on 23 January 1965; they remained married for 29 years until he came out as gay. They have two sons (Adam Luke and Piers Crispin) and two daughters (Prudence Hope and Dorothea Nan).

In 2007 Wish Her Safe at Home was reissued by Welbeck Modern Classics. John Murphy, his then partner, is credited with designing the cover.

Works

The Man on the Bridge, 1981, Harvester. A coming-of-age story about a young man in 1950s London who has a tragic affair with a rich gay painter. Such Men Are Dangerous, 1985, Scunthorpe Borough Council. Recovery, 1996 The Golden Voyage of Samson Groves, 1998 Letters for a Spy, 2005 Two On a Tiger and Stars, 2006 Stars, 2006 A Christmas Story, 2009 Unpublished works include Across My Grave; Dead Reckoning; Firebrand; The Moving Staircase; The Road to Trevor Lomax, or Swimming with William; Superman in a Blue Suit; and Until We Met.