Scott Spencer draws heavily from his personal experiences, observations, and the cultural environment of his time to craft Endless Love’s narrative. Born in Washington, DC, in 1945 and raised in the Midwest, Spencer experienced a sense of dislocation and developed a deep fascination with the complexities of human emotions and relationships during his early years. These elements are evident in how he portrays the characters in Endless Love, especially the protagonist, David Axelrod, whose obsessive love for Jade Butterfield spirals into tragedy.

Spencer’s upbringing in a time of significant social change undoubtedly influenced his writing. The 1960s and 1970s, when Spencer was coming of age, were marked by a counterculture movement that questioned traditional values and explored new ways of thinking about love, freedom, and individuality. Endless Love mirrors this period of experimentation and rebellion, where the Butterfields embrace this counterculture movement. They experiment with substances, openly accept their teenage daughter’s sexual relationship in their house, and practice experimental and holistic medicine. Likewise, David comes from a family of former communists, much like Spencer’s own family. The Communist Manifesto (1848), by Karl Marx, guides Axelrod’s interactions and beliefs throughout the story despite no longer being part of the communist community.