Richard Bach

1.1. Birth and family

Richard David Bach was born on June 23, 1936, in Oak Park, Illinois. His parents were Roland R. Bach and Ruth Shaw Bach. His father worked as a chapter manager for the American Red Cross. Bach has claimed to be a descendant of the renowned composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

1.2. Education

Bach pursued his academic endeavors at Long Beach State College, attending the institution in 1955.

1.3. Early interest in aviation

Bach's enduring passion for aviation began at the age of 14. This initial experience occurred when his mother was campaigning for a seat on the council of Long Beach, California. Paul Marcus, her campaign manager, who was also a pilot, invited Richard for his first flight in his Globe Swift aircraft. This flight sparked Bach's lifelong fascination with flying.

2.1. Military service

Bach served in the United States Navy Reserve before joining the New Jersey Air National Guard's 108th Fighter Wing, specifically the 141st Fighter Squadron of the USAF. During his time in the Air National Guard, he served as a fighter pilot, flying the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. He was deployed to France in 1960 as part of his service in the USAF Reserve. He enlisted in the US Air Force as a sergeant in 1957 and served for 17 years, achieving the rank of lieutenant before his discharge in 1974.

2.2. Civilian aviation and barnstorming

After his military service, Bach engaged in various aviation-related roles. He worked as a technical writer for Douglas Aircraft and contributed as an editor for Flying magazine. He also became a barnstormer, performing aerial stunts and exhibitions.

In the summer of 1970, Bach, along with his friend Chris Cagle, traveled to Ireland to participate in the flying sequences for Roger Corman's film Von Richthofen and Brown. They flew various World War I aircraft from the Blue Max collection, owned by former RCAF pilot Lynn Garrison. Bach and Garrison had previously met when Bach wrote articles for Avian, Garrison's aviation publication.

In 1975, Bach was the primary force behind Nothing by Chance, a documentary film based on his book of the same name. The film chronicles modern barnstorming across the United States during the 1970s, with Bach recruiting fellow pilot friends to recreate the barnstorming era. Most of Bach's books incorporate flight in some manner, from his early stories that focus purely on flying aircraft, such as Stranger to the Ground, to his later works, where flight serves as a profound philosophical metaphor.

3.1. Early works and themes

Bach's first book, the autobiographical Stranger to the Ground, published in 1963, recounted his Air National Guard unit's deployment to France. The book received positive reviews, including one from Edmund Fuller in The Wall Street Journal. His early works often explored themes directly related to aviation and his personal experiences as a pilot. Throughout his writing career, Bach frequently used the metaphor of flight and animals to explore concepts of self-imposed limits and the pursuit of higher understanding.

3.2. Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, published in 1970, tells the story of a seagull who flies for the sheer love and passion of it, rather than merely for sustenance. The manuscript was initially rejected by several publishers before being accepted by Macmillan Publishers, following its first publication in Soaring, the magazine of the Soaring Society of America. The book, featuring photographs of seagulls in flight by Russell Munson, quickly became a number-one bestseller. Despite containing fewer than 10,000 words, it sold over one million copies in 1972 alone, a surprising success widely reported in the media during the early 1970s.

However, the book initially faced some opposition, particularly from religious figures who perceived its message as contradicting divine will by encouraging individuals to defy conventional paths.

In 1973, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was adapted into a film of the same name, produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation, with a soundtrack by Neil Diamond. Bach subsequently filed a lawsuit against the film's producer and director, Hall Bartlett. Bach alleged that Bartlett had destroyed his screenplay for the film and violated a contractual clause stipulating that the film could not be released without Bach's approval. Leslie Parrish, an associate producer, was appointed to mediate between Bach and Bartlett, but the mediation was unsuccessful. The lawsuit concluded with the film being released in theaters after some changes were made to the final cut, while Bach had his name removed from the film's screenwriting credits.

3.3. Illusions and other major works

Bach's other significant novels include Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, published in 1977, which recounts an encounter with a modern-day messiah who decides to retire. This book, like many of his works, delves into philosophical themes through an allegorical narrative.

His relationship with his second wife, Leslie Parrish, significantly influenced two of his subsequent books: The Bridge Across Forever (1984) and One (1988), which primarily explore their relationship and Bach's concept of soulmates.

Bach also authored The Ferret Chronicles, a series of five novellas published between 2002 and 2003, which include Air Ferrets Aloft, Rescue Ferrets at Sea, Writer Ferrets: Chasing the Muse, Rancher Ferrets on the Range, and The Last War: Detective Ferrets and the Case of the Golden Deed. These were later collected in a single volume titled Curious Lives: Adventures from the Ferret Chronicles (2005).

Following his 2012 aircraft accident, Bach completed the fourth part of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which had originally been published in three parts, inspired by his near-death experience. His book Travels with Puff: A Gentle Game of Life and Death (2013) was sent to his publisher the day before his accident. In 2014, he published Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student, a sequel to Illusions, which incorporates the story of his real-life plane crash and features the "messiah" Don Shimoda helping him through his difficult medical recovery. His later works include Life With My Guardian Angel (2018).

3.4. Literary style and philosophy

Richard Bach's writing style is distinctive, often incorporating autobiographical elements and using flight as a central metaphorical device to explore profound philosophical concepts. His books consistently espouse his philosophy that our apparent physical limits and mortality are merely illusions. He is noted for his deep love of aviation and his ability to translate this passion into a metaphorical context for spiritual and personal growth. Bach is a graduate of the Silva Method (formerly Silva Mind Control), a self-help program, which has influenced his philosophical ideas about reality, limits, and the nature of the soul. His works encourage readers to question conventional boundaries and pursue their highest potential.

4.1. Marriage and relationships

Richard Bach has been married four times. His first marriage was to Bette Jeanne Franks, lasting from 1957 to 1970, ending in divorce. Bette Jeanne Franks was also a pilot and authored Patterns: Tales of Flying and of Life, a book detailing her experiences as a pilot and a single mother. She played a significant role in Bach's early career, typing and editing much of his aviation writing.

In 1981, Bach married actress Leslie Parrish, whom he had met during the production of the film Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Their relationship became a central theme in two of his subsequent books, The Bridge Across Forever and One, which explored his concept of soulmates. This marriage concluded in divorce in 1999.

His third marriage was to Sabryna Nelson-Alexopoulos, which took place in April 1999 and ended in divorce on April 1, 2011.

Since November 2020, Bach has been married to his fourth wife, Melinda Jane Kellogg.

4.2. Children

Bach had six children with his first wife, Bette Jeanne Franks. His son, Jonathan Bach, was named after the titular character in his bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Jonathan is a software engineer and journalist, and he authored the 1993 book Above the Clouds, which recounts his experiences growing up without knowing his father and their eventual reunion when he was a college student. Richard Bach approved of the book, although he noted that it included some personal history he would have preferred not to see in print.

His other children with Bette Jeanne Franks include Robert, Kristel, James Marcus Bach, and Erika. His youngest daughter, Bethany, tragically died in an accident at the age of 15 in 1985.

7.1. Assessment of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"

Jonathan Livingston Seagull initially faced rejections from several publishers before its eventual release by Macmillan. Despite this, the book quickly ascended to become a number-one bestseller, selling over one million copies in 1972 alone. Its unexpected and widespread success was widely reported in the media. However, the book also encountered opposition from some religious figures, who interpreted its themes of individual pursuit and transcending limits as a defiance of divine will.

7.2. Lawsuits and controversies

A notable controversy in Bach's career involved the 1973 film adaptation of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Bach filed a lawsuit against the film's producer and director, Hall Bartlett, alleging that Bartlett had destroyed Bach's original screenplay and violated a contract clause that prohibited the film's release without Bach's approval. Despite mediation efforts by associate producer Leslie Parrish, the dispute remained unresolved. The lawsuit concluded with the film being released to theaters with some alterations to the final cut, and Bach's name was removed from the screenwriting credits.

7.3. Influence and evaluation

Richard Bach's writings and philosophy have had a broad impact on readers, particularly through their metaphorical use of flight to explore deeper spiritual and philosophical concepts. His books consistently convey the message that perceived physical limitations and mortality are merely illusions, encouraging readers to transcend conventional boundaries. His deep affection for aviation is not just a backdrop but a central element through which he communicates his ideas about freedom, self-discovery, and the pursuit of individual potential. As a graduate of the Silva Method, Bach's works often reflect themes of inner growth and the power of the mind.