Peter Benchley's 1974 novel Jaws is a classic American adventure story about a great white shark terrorizing a small beach community. The narrative follows police chief Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper, and shark hunter Quint as they attempt to kill the shark. The book explores themes of man versus nature, small-town politics, and the wilderness. It also touches on timeless elements of life and society, including fear of the unknown, death, science, greed, and corruption.