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Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies Paperback - 1997

by William Golding

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback

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.

Description

Penguin Publishing Group, 1997. Paperback. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Used - Good
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Details

  • Title Lord of the Flies
  • Author William Golding
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Condition Used - Good
  • Pages 272
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Publishing Group, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • Date 1997
  • Features Table of Contents
  • Bookseller's Inventory # G1573226122I3N10
  • 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

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

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.

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. 

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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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