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Lord of the Flies
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Lord of the Flies Paperback - 1997

by William Golding; Introduction by E. M. Forster; Notes by E. L. Epstein

Capturing generations of readers since its publication in 1954, "Lord of the Flies" is a cult favorite among students and literary critics. An adventure tale in its purest form, this thrilling account of a group of British schoolboys marooned on a tropical island exposes the duality of human nature itself--the dark, eternal divide between order and chaos, intellect and instinct, structure and savagery.


About this book

  Even though Lord of the Flies is a frequent submission on any banned books list, many high school students are first introduced to this classic piece of literature in their freshman English class. Using very young protagonists set in a harsh, wild environment, author William Golding's disturbing and engaging novel addresses the themes of human nature and personal welfare, often resulting in violence and murder. Despite its controversial subject matter, it is often considered one of the best novels of the 20th Century.

Lord of the Flies
turned Golding into a household name, and although Lord of the Flies was his most popular book, he remained a successful author long after its publication. In fact, Golding was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983, where he remarked that he sought to “...illuminate the human condition in the world of today” through his novels.

Published in 1954 in London by Faber and Faber, Lord of the Flies has sold over millions of copies worldwide. It has been translated into many languages, including Basque and Catalan. Evidently, even though the book focuses on the trials and tribulations of twelve young boys, the themes and archetypes resonate with all readers. 


Summary

Lord of the Flies remains as provocative today as when it was first published in 1954, igniting passionate debate with its startling, brutal portrait of human nature. Though critically acclaimed, it was largely ignored upon its initial publication. Yet soon it became a cult favorite among both students and literary critics who compared it to J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye in its influence on modern thought and literature.

Labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, even a vision of the apocalypse, Lord of the Flies has established itself as a true classic.

From the publisher

Before The Hunger Games there was Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies remains as provocative today as when it was first published in 1954, igniting passionate debate with its startling, brutal portrait of human nature. Though critically acclaimed, it was largely ignored upon its initial publication. Yet soon it became a cult favorite among both students and literary critics who compared it to J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye in its influence on modern thought and literature. William Golding's compelling story about a group of very ordinary small boys marooned on a coral island has become a modern classic. At first it seems as though it is all going to be great fun; but the fun before long becomes furious and life on the island turns into a nightmare of panic and death. As ordinary standards of behaviour collapse, the whole world the boys know collapses with them--the world of cricket and homework and adventure stories--and another world is revealed beneath, primitive and terrible.Labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, even a vision of the apocalypse, Lord of the Flies has established itself as a true classic.


"Lord of the Flies is one of my favorite books. That was a big influence on me as a teenager, I still read it every couple of years."
--Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games "As exciting, relevant, and thought-provoking now as it was when Golding published it in 1954."
--Stephen King

First Edition Identification

 First printings of the book feature the iconic jungle theme artwork on the dust jacket. Careful observers will note that the stick figures of the boys blend almost seamlessly into the wild and untamed environment around them, which was undoubtedly a very specific choice by the artist. Because of Golding's fame and influence as a writer, signed first printings are of Lord of the Flies are quite valuable, sometimes pricing as high as $30,000. 

Details

  • Title Lord of the Flies
  • Author William Golding; Introduction by E. M. Forster; Notes by E. L. Epstein
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 272
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Books, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • Date 1997-08-01
  • ISBN 9781573226127 / 1573226122
  • Weight 0.55 lbs (0.25 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.34 x 5.54 x 0.7 in (21.18 x 14.07 x 1.78 cm)
  • Reading level 770
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Great Lakes
    • Cultural Region: Mexican
    • Cultural Region: Midwest
    • Geographic Orientation: Illinois
  • Library of Congress subjects Regression (Psychology), Islands
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 97002124
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 11/15/1999, Page 601

About the author

Born in Cornwall, England, in 1911 and educated at Oxford University, William Gerald Golding's first book, Poems, was published in 1935. Following a stint in the Royal Navy and other diversions during and after World War II, Golding wrote Lord of the Flies while teaching school. This was the first of several novels including Pincher Martin, Free Fall, and The Inheritors and a play, The Brass Butterfly, which led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983.
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Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

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Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

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Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

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Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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Lord of the Flies
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Lord of the Flies

by Golding, William

  • Used
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781573226127 / 1573226122
Quantity Available
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