A quote in Hemingway's book A Farewell to Arms inspired the title for Shaara's first book, The Broken Place. "The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills." Perhaps that quote best sums up the last years of Shaara's life.
Shaara was in a motorcycle accident in Italy in 1972, remaining in a coma for several weeks. The pain and stroke-like symptoms that resulted left him unable to concentrate and impaired his ability to write. Things seemed to go poorly after that.
In a 1982 interview he spoke of being similar to Shakespeare in that each had been married to the same woman for 30 years but became involved with a "Dark Lady," and each had lost a son. It was an odd comment, especially the last part, because his son Jeff, born in 1952, was still alive. However, it reflected reality. Shaara had divorced his wife in 1980 and had also severed all connections with his son.
