The story follows Jim Hawkins, a young boy who lives at the Admiral Benbow Inn with his mother. After the death of a mysterious sea captain, Billy Bones, Jim finds a map that leads to the treasure of Captain Flint. Along with Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, Jim sets sail on the Hispaniola to find the treasure, unaware that many of the crew members are former pirates of Captain Flint's ship, led by the cunning Long John Silver. The novel unfolds as a tale of adventure, mutiny, and the struggle between good and evil, with Jim facing numerous challenges and learning valuable lessons about courage and loyalty.
R.M. Ballantyne's 'The Coral Island' is a classic adventure novel that tells the story of three boys shipwrecked on a tropical island. The boys, representing different aspects of British society, encounter various challenges and adventures as they build a life for themselves. The novel is characterized by its idyllic portrayal of nature and the boys' resourcefulness. However, it also touches upon themes of colonialism and the encounter between different cultures. 'The Coral Island' is a significant work in the tradition of adventure literature for young readers.
In 'Lord of the Flies', William Golding tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. The novel follows their attempts to govern themselves and the gradual descent into chaos and savagery. The story is an allegory that explores themes of human nature, morality, leadership, and the fragility of civilization. Key characters include Ralph, who represents order and democracy; Jack, who symbolizes power and violence; and Piggy, the voice of reason. The novel highlights the tension between the desire for civilization and the primal savagery that lies beneath the surface of human society.
The story follows the Walker children (John, Susan, Titty, and Roger) and the Blackett children (Nancy and Peggy) as they engage in a summer of sailing, camping, and imaginative play on Wild Cat Island. The children initially declare war on each other but eventually join forces against a common enemy, Uncle Jim (Captain Flint), and later work together to resolve various adventures and misadventures, including a burglary and the theft of Uncle Jim's manuscript. The book celebrates independence, initiative, and the joys of outdoor exploration and imagination[2][4][5].
It’s 70 years since William Golding’s acclaimed novel was published.
Lord of the Flies is the story of a group of English schoolboys marooned on a desert island, and how they survive without adults.
It was Golding’s first novel, and was praised for tackling questions about human nature and whether people are intrinsically good or evil.
The book proved a huge success, and has sold millions of copies around the world. Golding won the Nobel Prize in literature. He died ten years later.
His daughter, Judy Carver, spoke to Vincent Dowd, about her father’s work, in 2014.
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(Photo: A scene from the Lord Of The Flies film, 1990. Credit: United Artists/Getty Images)
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