William Golding
First published by Faber & Faber Ltd, London; 1954
1983 Nobel prize winner William Golding was born in 1911 in Marlborough to a science teacher father and a mother who raised him on adventure stories. Studying Science and English at Brasenose College in Oxford, he began writing without much success. But after he served in World War II his career took off.
In this book, we witness Golding's grim estimation of the human race. Many of his books share the theme of humanity or the lack thereof. Golding believed that in every person lies a certain amount of evil.
William Golding’s book Lord of the Flies is set on a deserted island in some sunny paradise. The plot introduces us to a group of stranded boys who are themselves not yet acquainted. Throughout the book, the relationships they form reflect Golding’s view of human relations. These children are transformed from a cohesive group of British schoolboys into a savage mob.
It starts off light and colorful, painting a vivid picture of the scene, gripping the reader from the very beginning. Golding’s skill for description keeps the reader turning the pages, making them feel as though they too were stranded on that fateful island. Even so, one has the feeling all along that something dreadful is about to occur. The way he sets it up, so smooth, so real, makes one doubt whether they are in fact in the civilized world or have become one of the doomed characters.
Every moment of reading the book is thrilling and makes one constantly dread its end which comes too soon.
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