GOLDING, William. Sa Majeste des Mouches.

(Paris): Gallimard, 1956. First French edition. Octavo. 257 pages. Golding’s debut novel, translated from the English by Lola Tranec. The work, now considered a classic of English literature, was initially rejected by many publishers before finally being accepted by London-based Faber & Faber; one professional reader labelled the book an “Absurd and uninteresting fantasy about the explosion of an atomic bomb on the colonies and a group of children who land in the jungle near New Guinea. Rubbish and dull. Pointless”. The dystopian novel, allegorizes the story of schoolboys marooned on an island to investigate mankind’s inherent savagery. The novel greatly influenced writers of horror and post-apocalyptic fiction, particularly Stephen King who uses the name Castle Rock, from the mountain fort in Lord of the Flies, as a fictional town that has appeared in a number of his novels. The book itself appears prominently in his novels Hearts in Atlantis, Misery, and Cujo. Considered a great parable of the modern human condition, it has since become a staple of best novel lists and educational reading lists. A very good copy, partially uncut, crease to front cover.