In his introduction to the centenary edition of Golding’s novel, Stephen King writes, “It was, so far as I can remember, the first book with hands – strong ones that reached out of the pages and seized me by the throat. It said to me, ‘This is not just entertainment; it’s life-or-death.’ ” In the aftermath of a plane crash, a group of British boys become a microcosm of all that is good and bad in society. Some, like Ralph, rely on utilitarian rules to promote order. Others align with Jack to rely on savagery for survival – with tragic consequences.
