The Lord of the Flies

William Golding

1954

3
⚠️Content Warnings
BullyingMurderViolence
At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate; this far from civilization the boys can do anything they want. Anything. They attempt to forge their own society, failing, however, in the face of terror, sin and evil. And as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far from reality as the hope of being rescued. 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 is perhaps our most memorable novel about “the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart.”
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Best for readers who enjoy:  Disturbing · Action-Adventure-Fantasy · Steady

Disturbing Uncharted Island POV: Third-Person Published by Penguin Books
Characters
Children Humans Male Protagonist
Sub-genre
Action-Adventure-Fantasy Dystopia Young Adult
Experience
Disturbing Fast-paced Twists
Pace
Gentle Adrenaline
Balanced
Tone
Light Dark
Balanced
Book length
Short Epic
Balanced
More nuance
Violence
Soft Graphic
Balanced
Romance
Background Front and centre
Background
Worldbuilding
Light touch Deep & dense
Balanced
Readability
Breezy Dense
Balanced
Humour
Serious Very funny
Serious
Target audience
Younger Adult
Balanced
William Golding

William Golding

Action & Adventure, Survivalist Fiction

William Golding (1911-1993) was a Nobel Prize-winning British author, famous for his allegorical novels, especially Lord of the Flies, which explores humanity's innate darkness through stranded schoolboys descending into savagery. His experiences in World War II profoundly shaped his pessimistic view of human nature, a theme central to his works like The Inheritors and Rites of Passage, for which he won the Booker Prize in 1980. Golding's writing, often set in survivalist or historical contexts, examined the conflict between civilization and primal instincts, earning him widespread acclaim and a lasting literary legacy.

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Reader Reviews

3.00
10 ratings
10 reviews
5 stars
1 (10%)
4 stars
3 (30%)
3 stars
2 (20%)
2 stars
3 (30%)
1 stars
1 (10%)
6 January 2026
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Loved it: The Lord of the Flies

The Lord of the Flies has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. Characters feel distinct, and the dialogue reads naturally. The ending resolves fast compared to how much it builds up. I’d still read more from this author even with the flaws.
0
6 January 2026
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Didn’t work for me: The Lord of the Flies

The Lord of the Flies has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. The ending resolves fast compared to how much it builds up. Overall, I’d recommend it to the right reader.
0
6 January 2026
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Really enjoyed: The Lord of the Flies

The Lord of the Flies has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. The pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. If you’re on the fence, try a sample — you’ll know quickly.
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6 January 2026
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Really enjoyed: The Lord of the Flies

0
6 January 2026
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Not for me: The Lord of the Flies

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6 January 2026
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Mixed feelings: The Lord of the Flies

Mixed feelings on The Lord of the Flies, but I can see why people love it. There are a few scenes that genuinely hit emotionally. A couple of sections could have been trimmed without losing anything. Not perfect, but it did enough to keep me turning pages.
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6 January 2026
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Really enjoyed: The Lord of the Flies

0
6 January 2026
User Avatar

Didn’t work for me: The Lord of the Flies

The Lord of the Flies has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. The ending resolves fast compared to how much it builds up. If you’re on the fence, try a sample — you’ll know quickly.
0
6 January 2026
User Avatar

Mixed feelings: The Lord of the Flies

⚠️ Spoilers: minor plot detail mentioned below. I went into The Lord of the Flies with pretty normal expectations and it surprised me. The pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. A couple of sections could have been trimmed without losing anything. There’s a specific turning point late in the book that changes the tone hard — that moment will make or break it for you. Not perfect, but it did enough to keep me turning pages.
Spoiler ahead Click to reveal this review.
0
6 January 2026
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Didn’t work for me: The Lord of the Flies

The Lord of the Flies has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. A couple of sections could have been trimmed without losing anything. The pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. I’d still read more from this author even with the flaws.
0