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Lord of the Flies (50th Anniversary Edition)
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Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
Author: William Golding
Publisher: Perigee Trade
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Our Price: $16.50
You Save: $ 8.50 ( 34% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
Author: William Golding
Publisher: Perigee Trade
Average Customer Rating:
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Lord of the Flies (50th Anniversary Edition) Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780399529207
ISBN: 0399529209
Label: Perigee Trade
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 336
Publication Date: 2003-10-28
Publisher: Perigee Trade
Product Release Date: 2003-10-28
Studio: Perigee Trade
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780399529207
ISBN: 0399529209
Label: Perigee Trade
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 336
Publication Date: 2003-10-28
Publisher: Perigee Trade
Product Release Date: 2003-10-28
Studio: Perigee Trade
Editorial Review of Lord of the Flies (50th Anniversary Edition)
The story that never grows old...
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. And now readers can own it in a beautifully designed hardcover edition worthy of its stature.
This Christmas' meaningful gift, the 50th Anniversary Edition of the Lord of the Flies is the volume that every fan of this classic book will have to own.
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. And now readers can own it in a beautifully designed hardcover edition worthy of its stature.
This Christmas' meaningful gift, the 50th Anniversary Edition of the Lord of the Flies is the volume that every fan of this classic book will have to own.
Customer Reviews of Lord of the Flies (50th Anniversary Edition)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Power of the Shell . . .
Review: Well, most people in America have already read "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, which is definitely a classic. So I'm not going to give a synopsis, just a general appraisal of the work.
The main characters (Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Roger, and many more) are very complex and very riveting. You can clearly observe their distinctive personalities with their actions and their dialogue. And you feel sorry for these characters when something goes horribly wrong.
There are many symbolisms in this book (the conch, the pigs, the flies, etc.), and they work very well here. Interpretations are open (except when it comes to the obvious ones). Tensions are high as we slowly move towards the climax. No Hollywood ending here.
Golding has created an influential work of art, as highlights in this book are many. This isn't an innocent story, and it's no cliché, either. Kudos to the author.
A+
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: fascinating
Review: I first read this in high school and even then it was morbidly fascinating. After having gone through some Anthropology in college, rather than dispel is magic, I found it lent this piece a lot more dimension. A serious study into human nature at some point begs the possibility that the grisly and insane are inherent, even necessary. This does not justify the evils of man against man but offers a path to understanding that may lead to prevention, even eradication of such evils.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: THE ORIGINAL IDEA OF PRISTINE SURVIVAL
Review: This being a classic most of us had to read in school, I dared commenting on some plot points - so,
***** *** ** * WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD * ** *** *****
A number of phospholipids left alone in solution will self-organize into a double-layer membrane. A number of differentiated cells carry the inherent capability of self-organize into a semblance of tissue. Do humans carry a similar inherent tendency to self-organize into organized societies? And at what price?
From Stephen King's THE STAND to one of the best TV series ever, LOST, the idea of an isolated group of survivors forming a pristine human society and falling to avoid our dark proclivities has been explored again and again. This 1954 novel was the original telling of it. WILLIAM GOLDING being a Literature Nobelist, it comes to no surprise that his prose is mesmerizing, economic and direct at the same time.
Most societal archetypes and their interactive trajectories are elegantly represented: the benevolent yet eventually dethroned natural leader (Ralph) that is vindicated only after a deus ex machina intervention (the Naval officer); the militaristic idiot that manages to pass as a charismatic necessity (Jack); the technology-dependent intellectual weakling (Piggy) that eventually gets murdered by the brutal dictator (Roger) - who would come up running the show in the end if not stopped by their return to civilization. Reading LORD OF THE FLIES will bring up a great number of familiar societal types. Nevertheless, GOLDING presents a rather deterministic viewpoint.
One does not have to agree with GOLDING's pessimistic myth: we humans are not inherently bound to our societal shackles - and are perfectly capable of both doing the unexpected and surviving without a structured civilization. We existed a long time without it and we can learn again to do so if dictated by necessity. And, keep in mind, according to the Freudian approach, socialization is the root of most...psychosis.
It will keep you thinking long after the last page is turned.
RECOMMENDED!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Even better the second time around
Review: I read Lord of the Flies in my english class, many years ago. I would have to say that this wasn't my favorite book, but it had some interesting outlooks on life. I read it again recently and I noticed it hadn't lost any of its attraction. His bleak view of human nature helps to make sure it's more then just a casual reading book. It is a work of literature that demands analysis and connections.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good classic, but not as great as it's hyped up to be.
Review: I want to warn you that the introduction (at least in the version pictured) gives away some major plot points. The introductionist is horrible, as many are. I bought the book, you don't need to sell it to me
with an intro. that puts the story on an impossible pedestal. Let me read the book and make up my own mind about it. "Why do you read them?" you might ask. Sometimes (rarely) it gives you insight on something interesting.
Now, on with the actual book. The children's personalities sometimes seem
a little unnatural. I would've liked if Golding had a better understanding of kids, but it's not too much of a distraction. It describes wonderful imagery that was original for its time, like a rotting pig's head, blood drunk pre-pubescent boys dressed as savages, an island setting, the contrast of fair haired, noble Ralph and the heavy-set, frightened, bespectacled "Piggy", etc. (The Ralph/Piggy contrast has been copied numerous times, including the children's show "Rugrats" with Tommy & Chuckie/) There's also a great allegorical aspect to the story which I'll leave for you to discover.
Review Summary: The Power of the Shell . . .
Review: Well, most people in America have already read "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, which is definitely a classic. So I'm not going to give a synopsis, just a general appraisal of the work.
The main characters (Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Roger, and many more) are very complex and very riveting. You can clearly observe their distinctive personalities with their actions and their dialogue. And you feel sorry for these characters when something goes horribly wrong.
There are many symbolisms in this book (the conch, the pigs, the flies, etc.), and they work very well here. Interpretations are open (except when it comes to the obvious ones). Tensions are high as we slowly move towards the climax. No Hollywood ending here.
Golding has created an influential work of art, as highlights in this book are many. This isn't an innocent story, and it's no cliché, either. Kudos to the author.
A+
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: fascinating
Review: I first read this in high school and even then it was morbidly fascinating. After having gone through some Anthropology in college, rather than dispel is magic, I found it lent this piece a lot more dimension. A serious study into human nature at some point begs the possibility that the grisly and insane are inherent, even necessary. This does not justify the evils of man against man but offers a path to understanding that may lead to prevention, even eradication of such evils.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: THE ORIGINAL IDEA OF PRISTINE SURVIVAL
Review: This being a classic most of us had to read in school, I dared commenting on some plot points - so,
***** *** ** * WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD * ** *** *****
A number of phospholipids left alone in solution will self-organize into a double-layer membrane. A number of differentiated cells carry the inherent capability of self-organize into a semblance of tissue. Do humans carry a similar inherent tendency to self-organize into organized societies? And at what price?
From Stephen King's THE STAND to one of the best TV series ever, LOST, the idea of an isolated group of survivors forming a pristine human society and falling to avoid our dark proclivities has been explored again and again. This 1954 novel was the original telling of it. WILLIAM GOLDING being a Literature Nobelist, it comes to no surprise that his prose is mesmerizing, economic and direct at the same time.
Most societal archetypes and their interactive trajectories are elegantly represented: the benevolent yet eventually dethroned natural leader (Ralph) that is vindicated only after a deus ex machina intervention (the Naval officer); the militaristic idiot that manages to pass as a charismatic necessity (Jack); the technology-dependent intellectual weakling (Piggy) that eventually gets murdered by the brutal dictator (Roger) - who would come up running the show in the end if not stopped by their return to civilization. Reading LORD OF THE FLIES will bring up a great number of familiar societal types. Nevertheless, GOLDING presents a rather deterministic viewpoint.
One does not have to agree with GOLDING's pessimistic myth: we humans are not inherently bound to our societal shackles - and are perfectly capable of both doing the unexpected and surviving without a structured civilization. We existed a long time without it and we can learn again to do so if dictated by necessity. And, keep in mind, according to the Freudian approach, socialization is the root of most...psychosis.
It will keep you thinking long after the last page is turned.
RECOMMENDED!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Even better the second time around
Review: I read Lord of the Flies in my english class, many years ago. I would have to say that this wasn't my favorite book, but it had some interesting outlooks on life. I read it again recently and I noticed it hadn't lost any of its attraction. His bleak view of human nature helps to make sure it's more then just a casual reading book. It is a work of literature that demands analysis and connections.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good classic, but not as great as it's hyped up to be.
Review: I want to warn you that the introduction (at least in the version pictured) gives away some major plot points. The introductionist is horrible, as many are. I bought the book, you don't need to sell it to me
with an intro. that puts the story on an impossible pedestal. Let me read the book and make up my own mind about it. "Why do you read them?" you might ask. Sometimes (rarely) it gives you insight on something interesting.
Now, on with the actual book. The children's personalities sometimes seem
a little unnatural. I would've liked if Golding had a better understanding of kids, but it's not too much of a distraction. It describes wonderful imagery that was original for its time, like a rotting pig's head, blood drunk pre-pubescent boys dressed as savages, an island setting, the contrast of fair haired, noble Ralph and the heavy-set, frightened, bespectacled "Piggy", etc. (The Ralph/Piggy contrast has been copied numerous times, including the children's show "Rugrats" with Tommy & Chuckie/) There's also a great allegorical aspect to the story which I'll leave for you to discover.