# Ben Shattuck

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**Ben Shattuck** (born 1984) is an American writer, painter, and curator.[1][2] Born in Massachusetts, he received a bachelor's degree from [Cornell University](/source/Cornell_University) and a master's degree from the [Iowa Writers' Workshop](/source/Iowa_Writers'_Workshop). He has written two books, and the screenplay for *The History of Sound,* based on two of his short stories.

## Early life and education

Shattuck was born and raised in [Dartmouth](/source/Dartmouth,_Massachusetts), [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts).[3][4] His parents both work in the arts in Massachusetts;[5] his mother owns an art gallery while his father is a painter.[6] Shattuck attended [Deerfield Academy](/source/Deerfield_Academy) for high school, [Cornell University](/source/Cornell_University) for college, and the [Iowa Writers' Workshop](/source/Iowa_Writers'_Workshop) for his [Master's of Fine Arts](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) in fiction.[7][8] He taught fiction writing while at the [University of Iowa](/source/University_of_Iowa) as a [graduate teaching assistant](/source/Graduate_teaching_assistant), and then at [Victoria University of Wellington](/source/Victoria_University_of_Wellington).[citation needed]

## Career

Shattuck's first book, *Six Walks,* was published by Tin House in 2022. The memoir tracks the author's retracing of six walks taken by [Henry David Thoreau](/source/Henry_David_Thoreau), which brings about personal memories and emotional insights.[9][10] It received a starred review from *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly).*[11] His second book, *The History of Sound: Stories,* was published by Viking in 2024.

In 2021, Shattuck and his brother bought the [general store](/source/General_store) in their hometown, [Davolls General Store](/source/Davolls_General_Store), which was originally built in 1793.[12][13]

His first published short story, "Edwin Chase of Nantucket" was published in 2016.[citation needed] Shattuck's short stories and essays have been published in a number of magazines.

His 2018 story "The History of Sound," first published in *[The Common](/source/The_Common_(magazine))*,[14] was published in the [Pushcart Prize](/source/Pushcart_Prize) anthology.[15] Shattuck's *The History of Sound* won The [Story Prize](/source/Story_Prize) Spotlight Award for short story collections published in 2024. It also won the [Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award](/source/Mark_Twain_American_Voice_in_Literature_Award) in 2025.[16]

Shattuck wrote the screenplay for *The History of Sound* based on that story and "Origin Stories".[17] It follows the relationship between two men, Lionel ([Paul Mescal](/source/Paul_Mescal)) and David ([Josh O'Connor](/source/Josh_O'Connor)), directed by [Oliver Hermanus](/source/Oliver_Hermanus) and released in 2025 by [Mubi](/source/Mubi_(streaming_service)) and [Focus Features](/source/Focus_Features)/[Universal Pictures International](/source/Universal_Pictures_International).[18][19] In 2021, Hermanus said of his decision to direct the film: "I instantly fell in love with Ben Shattuck's flawlessly beautiful short story and knew I had to be involved in its journey to the screen."[20]

## Personal life

In 2019, Shattuck lived with girlfriend [Jenny Slate](/source/Jenny_Slate) in [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts), where she was also born and raised.[21] They got engaged after Shattuck proposed during a picnic at a French castle later that year.[22][23] Their daughter was born in late 2020.[24][25][26] Their wedding was postponed three times due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic),[27][28] and they married in their living room on December 31, 2021.[29]

## References

1. ["A Curator Boyfriend is the Hottest Accessory for 2020"](https://www.elle.com/life-love/a29737440/curator-boyfriend-jlaw-cooke-maroney/). *ELLE*. 2019-11-12. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Langmann, Brady (2019-09-11). ["Jenny Slate's Fiancé Ben Shattuck is Living Out Every English Major's Dream"](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a28988170/jenny-slate-boyfriend-ben-shattuck/). *Esquire*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Daley, Lauren (December 6, 2019). ["6 things to know about Ben Shattuck (psst, he's Jenny Slate's fiance)"](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2019/12/06/lifestyle/6-things-know-about-ben-shattuck-psst-hes-jenny-slates-fiance/). *BostonGlobe.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Mahoney, Melissa (2021-09-02). ["A Trip To One Of The Oldest General Stores In Massachusetts Is Like Stepping Back In Time"](https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/davolls-general-store-ma/). *OnlyInYourState®*. Retrieved 2023-03-02.

1. Murphy, Linda. ["Dedee Shattuck Gallery thriving in Westport"](https://www.heraldnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2017/05/19/dedee-shattuck-gallery-thriving-in/20837581007/). *Fall River Herald News*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Boyce, David B. ["Ben Shattuck soars at career's start"](https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/entertainment/local/2008/08/24/ben-shattuck-soars-at-career/52290462007/). *New Bedford Standard-Times*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Shattuck, Ben. ["Ben Shattuck"](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-shattuck-88022a23). Retrieved April 4, 2022.

1. ["Ben Shattuck"](http://dedeeshattuckgallery.com/ben-shattuck). *Dedee Shattuck Gallery*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Sullivan, James (March 7, 2022). ["The songs these 11 Bostonians play to chase the winter blahs"](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/07/arts/songs-these-11-bostonians-play-chase-winter-blahs/). *BostonGlobe.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. WRAL (2022-03-28). ["Spring Books from Small Presses :: Out and About at WRAL.com"](https://www.wral.com/spring-books-from-small-presses/20209287/). *WRAL.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau by Ben Shattuck"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781953534040). *www.publishersweekly.com*. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Fall River Herald News"](https://www.heraldnews.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldnews.com%2Fstory%2Fbusiness%2F2021%2F02%2F24%2Fdartmouth-shattuck-brothers-davolls-general-store-new-owners-plans-will-ben%2F6751068002%2F). *www.heraldnews.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Tallman, Kerri. ["Shattuck brothers preserve small-town feel at Davoll's General Store in Dartmouth"](https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/business/2021/07/29/dartmouth-davolls-general-store-small-town-feel-preserved-shattuck-brothers-russells-mills/5403327001/). *New Bedford Standard-Times*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["The History of Sound"](https://www.thecommononline.org/the-history-of-sound/). *The Common*. 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Pushcart Prize XLIV: Best of the Small Presses, 2020 Edition by Bill Henderson"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781888889956). *www.publishersweekly.com*. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["The Mark Twain House & Museum Announces Ben Shattuck’s The History of Sound as 2025 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award Winner"](https://marktwainhouse.org/2025/10/07/mark-twain-house-announces-2025-twain-award-winner-ben-shattuck-the-history-of-sound/). *Mark Twain House and Museum*. Retrieved 2025-10-07.

1. ["The History of Sound"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15799524/?ref_=ttfc_ov_bk), Film4, End Cue, Fat City, 2025-09-12, retrieved 2025-11-17

1. Ravindran, Manori (2021-10-29). ["Josh O'Connor, Paul Mescal Unite for Gay Romance 'History of Sound' From Oliver Hermanus – AFM"](https://variety.com/2021/film/global/josh-oconnor-paul-mescal-gay-romance-history-of-sound-1235100566/). *Variety*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Lutkin, Aimée (2021-10-31). ["Everything We Know About WWI Love Story 'The History of Sound'"](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a38116957/everything-about-the-history-of-sound-ww1-movie/). *ELLE*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Ravindran, Manori (2021-10-29). ["Josh O'Connor, Paul Mescal Unite for Gay Romance 'History of Sound' From Oliver Hermanus – AFM"](https://variety.com/2021/film/global/josh-oconnor-paul-mescal-gay-romance-history-of-sound-1235100566/). *Variety*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Jenny Slate is 'deeply in love' with her new boyfriend"](https://www.boston.com/culture/entertainment/2019/06/25/jenny-slate-boyfriend-ben-shattuck/). *www.boston.com*. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Garvey, Marianne (2019-09-10). ["Jenny Slate is engaged to art curator boyfriend Ben Shattuck"](https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/10/entertainment/jenny-slate-engaged-trnd/index.html). *CNN*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. Perez, Lexy (2019-09-09). ["Jenny Slate Engaged to Boyfriend Ben Shattuck"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jenny-slate-engaged-boyfriend-ben-shattuck-1238502/). *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Jenny Slate and fiance welcome 1st child, a daughter named Ida"](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/jenny-slate-fiance-1st-child-daughter-named-ida-75681295). *Good Morning America*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Jenny Slate Welcomed Her First Child with Ben Shattuck"](https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/jenny-slate-baby-ida-lupine-ben-shattuck). *W Magazine*. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Jenny Slate Gives Birth to Baby Girl (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight"](https://www.etonline.com/jenny-slate-gives-birth-to-baby-girl-exclusive-160017). *www.etonline.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Jenny Slate Invited a Total Stranger to Her Wedding"](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/jenny-slate-wedding-stranger). *Vanity Fair*. 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. ["Jenny Slate Reveals She Married Ben Shattuck in Living Room Ceremony on New Year's Eve | Entertainment Tonight"](https://www.etonline.com/jenny-slate-reveals-she-married-ben-shattuck-in-living-room-ceremony-on-new-years-eve-177915). *www.etonline.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

1. VanHoose, Benjamin (January 18, 2022). ["Jenny Slate Reveals She Married Ben Shattuck in Living Room Ceremony on New Year's Eve"](https://people.com/movies/jenny-slate-married-ben-shattuck-living-room-ceremony-new-years-eve/). *people.com*. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ben Shattuck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Shattuck) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Shattuck?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.