Peter Shaffer, an acclaimed British playwright, was born on May 15, 1926, in Liverpool, alongside his twin brother Anthony. Both brothers would eventually earn renown in the literary world. Shaffer’s early education took place at St. Paul’s School in London, from which he graduated in 1944, amidst the tumultuous final years of World War II. During this period, with much of the male workforce off fighting, Shaffer was conscripted to work as a coal miner, a role filled by many young adults at the time.

Post-war Education and Early Career

Following the war, Shaffer pursued higher education at Trinity College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1950 and soon after relocated to New York City. While in the United States, he took on roles that immersed him in the world of books, working in a bookstore and at the New York Public Library. However, his stay in New York was temporary, and by 1954, he had returned to London, where he joined the music publishing firm Boosey & Hawkes. During this period, Shaffer began carving out a niche as a writer, penning scripts for radio and television and contributing as a literary critic for the journal Truth between 1956 and 1957.

Emergence as a Playwright

Shaffer's entry into the world of theater was marked by the production of his debut stage play, Five Finger Exercise, in 1958. This was followed by the successful one-act plays The Private Ear and The Public Eye in 1962. Furthering his collaboration with eminent figures in theater, Shaffer co-wrote the screenplay for Peter Brook's film adaptation of William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies in 1963.

Breakthrough Works

In 1964, Shaffer cemented his reputation with the premiere of Royal Hunt of the Sun: A Play Concerning the Conquest of Peru. This ambitious work creatively wove together elements of ritual, dance, music, and drama to bring to life the epic story of Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Incan empire. The Incas, who once dominated western South America in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, had their cultural heartland in present-day Peru, a realm ultimately reshaped by Pizarro's endeavors. In 1965, Shaffer continued his exploration of innovative theatrical techniques with the one-act play Black Comedy, which ingeniously employed a device from Chinese theater where actors pretend to be in pitch darkness, despite the stage being illuminated.

Critical Acclaim and Artistic Exploration

Though his 1970 play The Battle of Shrivings did not meet with critical acclaim, Shaffer's career soon rebounded with Equus in 1973. Widely acclaimed as his magnum opus, Equus earned Shaffer prestigious awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Shaffer later adapted the play into a screenplay for the 1977 film version, further securing his reputation.

The Pinnacle of Success

The playwright's prolific period continued with the creation of Amadeus in 1979. This renowned work, described by Shaffer as "a fantasia on events in [18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus] Mozart’s life," delves deeply into the complexities of the human mind. The narrative centers on Antonio Salieri, the royal court composer, whose profound envy of Mozart's effortless genius drives the drama. Portraying Mozart as a crude, self-absorbed prodigy—a sort of early rock star—the play achieved tremendous success, capturing the 1980 Tony Award, and its subsequent film adaptation won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Shaffer.

Later Works and Lasting Legacy

Following the triumph of Amadeus, Shaffer continued to create impactful works, including Yonadab: The Watcher in 1985 and the widely enjoyed comedy Lettice and Lovage in 1987. His career, distinguished by meticulous craftsmanship and theatrical successes, was acknowledged with numerous accolades. Shaffer was not only a popular figure in drama but also a respected member of the literary community, as evidenced by his fellowship in the Royal Society of Literature and membership in the Dramatists Guild. In 1987, he was honored with the title of Commander of the British Empire, a testament to his significant contributions to the arts.