Every schoolboy in the English-speaking world would have (had to) read William Golding's dystopian novel Lord of the Flies. I did so much later, and almost in parallel with Peter Brook's film which was released in 1963 and which I prefer to Harry Hook's 1990 version (they say that 'The Beach' with Leonardo Di Caprio is an even more modern re-make of the same controversial subjects of human nature and individual welfare versus the common good). Anyway, if you've missed out on your schooling and want to catch up, here's a synopsis as well as the audiobook.
Golding's debut novel Lord of the Flies was all I knew of his writing until I found a well-preserved copy of The Spire in a second-hand bookshop. After reading it - and re-reading it because its symbolism is so subtle that one cannot fully comprehend it at first - I believe it is as good as Golding's much more famous work.
Golding managed to condense a lifetime of experiences into many brilliant summaries. Here's one about women:
"I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been. Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her."
To which a friend added, "If you give her any crap, be prepared to receive a ton of shit!"
