Name: Lord of the Flies
Rating: 3.47191989551589 (2297 reviews)
ISBN: 9780758751973

William Golding

Edmund L. Epstein

Robert Golding

The classic study of human nature which depicts the degeneration of a group of schoolboys marooned on a desert island.

Lord of the Flies

A plane crashes on an uninhabited island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast.In this, his first novel, William Golding gave the traditional adventure story an ironic, devastating twist. The boys' delicate sense of order fades, and their childish fears are transformed into something deeper and more primitive. Their games take on a horrible significance, and before long the well-behaved party of schoolboys has turned into a tribe of faceless, murderous savages.First published in 1954, Lord of the Flies is now recognized as a classic, one of the most celebrated of all modern novels.

The first two-thirds didn't impress me much. Approaching the end, it became more interesting as tensions among the children mounted and the atmosphere grew more sinister.

​What I liked most about this book was the way it explored fear and paranoia on the island. That atmosphere was constructed brillantly. It somehow reminded me of the beginning of Plato's allegory of the cave: at a certain point, there was objectively something on the island, yet it was amplified by their fears and childish minds into something bigger and scarier that dramatically influenced their behaviour. All in all, I think the story progressed really well and the ending was perfect.

​Beyond the whole well-known thing of "becoming savage", the story seemed like an interesting thought experiment to me.

Matheus Lavinscky 

The first two-thirds didn't impress me much. Approaching the end, it became more interesting as tensions among the children mounted and the atmosphere grew more sinister.

​What I liked most about this book was the way it explored fear and paranoia on the island. That atmosphere was constructed brillantly. It somehow reminded me of the beginning of Plato's allegory of the cave: at a certain point, there was objectively something on the island, yet it was amplified by their fears and childish minds into something bigger and scarier that dramatically influenced their behaviour. All in all, I think the story progressed really well and the ending was perfect.

​Beyond the whole well-known thing of "becoming savage", the story seemed like an interesting thought experiment to me.

A plane crashes on a desert island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. As the boys' delicate sense of order fades, so their childish dreams are transformed into something more primitive, and their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance. First published in 1954, Lord of the Flies is one of the most celebrated and widely read of modern classics. Now fully revised and updated, this educational edition includes chapter summaries, comprehension questions, discussion points, classroom activities, a biographical profile of Golding, historical context relevant to the novel and an essay on Lord of the Flies by William Golding entitled 'Fable'. Aimed at Key Stage 3 and 4 students, it also includes a section on literary theory for advanced or A-level students. The educational edition encourages original and independent thinking while guiding the student through the text - ideal for use in the classroom and at home.

New Educational Edition

I read it and I loved it. Unfortunately, when I took it to school to keep in the class library, someone stole it and I haven't had the chance to reread it since. One day...

Adithya Midhun

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.

Jose Sbuck

Wow, what a haunting and remarkable novel. It's a story I can't help but see as an allegory of human nature, and a very timely one at that. The novel describes how things get out of hand, even when the premise is almost paradise. A plane crashes on a small island, and the only survivors are young boys. There are littleuns, who are about 6 years old, and biguns, who are over 10. There is the strong Ralph, the hunter Jack, the clever Piggy and the sensitive Simon. Ralph and especially Piggy have a strong sense that the boys need rules and structure. Things start off well, with people usually playing their part. Of course, as with any group of people, there are clashes of wills and minor disagreements. But the island provides easy food and water, materials for building shelters, pigs to hunt and so on. It could be paradise. The author shows how the small disagreements add up, and how the different views on prioritisation become major conflicts. It doesn't take more than one charismatic would-be leader to bring society crashing down. The result is confusion, cruelty and violence. To the outside observer, the reader, it seems trivial that the boys should be able to deal with the disagreements and compromise. Is this how wars begin? Is this how relationships go sour? I think the story is plausible to anyone who's spent time in a schoolyard as a child. <blockquote> I should have though that a pack of British boys - you're all British aren't you? - would have been able to put up a better show than that - I mean - </blockquote> There are times when you can't help but wonder how ignorant the boys are when they dismiss Piggy or the Littleuns. The lesson for me is to be more considerate of other people's feelings. The portrayal of fear and being hunted towards the end of the novel is a masterpiece. It's written in a very powerful way, it feels concrete and real. Really, the stuff of nightmares.

Il signore delle mosche

Antonio Marini

Kinda boring at first? Maybe it'll get better, but the pacing was just too slow for me :')

Erika Dilbaryan

William Golding’s unforgettable classic of boyhood adventure and the savagery of humanity comes to Penguin Classics in a stunning Graphic Deluxe Edition with a new foreword by Lois Lowry As provocative today as when it was first published in 1954, Lord of the Flies continues to ignite passionate debate with its startling, brutal portrait of human nature. William Golding’s compelling story about a group of very ordinary boys marooned on a coral island has been labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, and even a vision of the apocalypse. But above all, it has earned its place as one of the indisputable classics of the twentieth century for readers of any age. This Penguin Classics Graphic Deluxe Edition features an array of special features to supplement the novel, including a foreword by Lois Lowry, an introduction by Stephen King, an essay by E. M. Forster, an essay on teaching and reading the novel and suggestions for further exploration by scholar Jennifer Buehler, and an extended note by E. L. Epstein, the publisher of the first American paperback edition of Lord of the Flies. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

(Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

I picked this book because of the cover I didn't have any idea of the theme of this book, this book really surprised me in a good way I learned a lot of this book and helped have an other view of the humanity and how does it really works when were compromised with certain things and how we are constantly changing based on our necessities this book shows us how cruel can we be, and how easily can society be divided due to certain things like ambition of power, religion and different things, I really haven't sort all things out this book really leaves you thinking and force you to pack all ideas up but I'm still in that process. To pack all this out I will say that this book is great and was a really great experience reading this book in my summer thanks lord of the flies.

fer serratos

Englische Lektüre Ab Dem 6. Lernjahr

Jennifer

This behind-the-scenes memoir of Congress was enthralling. Oh...this isn't...well, this nonfiction thriller about the establishment of a fraternity...oh nope that's not it either. A huge metaphor of civilization that still holds true today. The "beast" looming around, instilling fear into the people, not based on facts. Immature, selfish, ego-driven leaders. The smart guy always getting ignored. Battling egos for power. Groupthink. Solving issues with death and violence. Golding predicted our government/world today. This whole story just really felt...on the nose. The symbolism was straightforward. The message clear. Not super impressed.

Dani

I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.

Pilar Abreu Fernandez

So so many layers to unpack. The dialogue perfectly represents the boys descent into madness and shows the power that perceived authority holds. Definitely a must read for anyone who likes classics, enjoys psychology, or simply wants to understand human nature a little better. 

Paige Leitner

William Goldings classic debut novel, republished to mark his centenary.

Jacob Atchison

There’s several layers you can find in the book, how this new micro society of boys starts to mirror what would be the values of their parents in a society, and how personalities deal with themselves and at the same time with others. 

and then there’s the whole idea of the decadence of their situation, how the fun and enjoyment slowly starts to become realisation of a very complex and difficult situation to at some point reveal the forces that move the dynamics of this microsociety, fear, and at some point you might notice it’s not only the fear of being abandoned in an island but also to be left alone from that same society. 

It’s strong enough to make me reflect and think about the dynamics in our society but also in my own self 

Weliton Soranzo

There’s several layers you can find in the book, how this new micro society of boys starts to mirror what would be the values of their parents in a society, and how personalities deal with themselves and at the same time with others. 

and then there’s the whole idea of the decadence of their situation, how the fun and enjoyment slowly starts to become realisation of a very complex and difficult situation to at some point reveal the forces that move the dynamics of this microsociety, fear, and at some point you might notice it’s not only the fear of being abandoned in an island but also to be left alone from that same society. 

It’s strong enough to make me reflect and think about the dynamics in our society but also in my own self 

amelia <3

Maureen

heavy symbolism; a skillful depiction of the savageness of man

Ryan Mateyk

I read this book mostly in the airport and at the pool of my hotel, so either it's not a great beach read or it's just a bad book. Too close to call.

William Golding’s unforgettable classic of boyhood adventure and the savagery of humanity comes to Penguin Classics in a stunning Graphic Deluxe Edition with a new foreword by Lois Lowry.
 
As provocative today as when it was first published in 1954, Lord of the Flies continues to ignite passionate debate with its startling, brutal portrait of human nature. William Golding’s compelling story about a group of very ordinary boys marooned on a coral island has been labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, and even a vision of the apocalypse. But above all, it has earned its place as one of the indisputable classics of the twentieth century for readers of any age.
 
This Penguin Classics Graphic Deluxe Edition features an array of special features to supplement the novel, including a foreword by Lois Lowry, an introduction by Stephen King, an essay by E. M. Forster, an essay on teaching and reading the novel and suggestions for further exploration by scholar Jennifer Buehler, and an extended note by E. L. Epstein, the publisher of the first American paperback edition of Lord of the Flies.
 
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

rr | stays a 5 star read bc we’re never getting rid of the jack merridews 

Helena

Luke Harkness

A very interesting tale that discusses the human psyche 

I went into this book know that it was celebrated throughout recent history for some reason. Now I understand why a little better.

This story essentially covers what would happen if a group of boys whose intelligence and knowledge of the world was slightly lesser than an adult's would deal with being left on an island by themselves. It goes through the ideas of making rules, breaking rules, rebellion and more. It's a great and likely realistic look at what may well happen.

Lord of the Flies

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