Pyramid [Paperback]

William Golding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 13, 1974

A paperback edition of a novel first published in 1967, which explores the painful awkwardness of the late teens, and all the tragedy and farce of life in a small community.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Yet once more, o ye laurels? No, not from dissertation writers and literary quarterlies, who may not know quite what to make of Golding's latest. A careful, subdued story of one young man's passage from adolescence to reminiscence, from the 20's through the 40's, from the village of Stillbourne to Oxford and back, The Pyramid builds itself with dogged detachment and gradual accretions of meaning. Oliver, son of a limp pharmacist, has a few initiatory bouts with a bitter young town sexpot; an unwilling romp in the town musical show; and (the best part of the three) violin lessons from Miss Dawlish, a town eccentric beguiled by her driving teacher. Demands are made on this unresponsive, not terribly interesting hero, who tells it all in a first person sometimes arch, sometimes fine. If there's an allegory here, it's less cut and dried and ready for exegesis than is usual with Golding. Way of All Flesh rendered by Updike, the labellers might say...meanwhile, it can and will be read at face value, no great shakes but a pleasant climb. (Kirkus Reviews ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

William Golding’s Pincher Martin (1956)

Pincher is a selfish man and a thief, greedy fellow. He fanatically keeps asserting his autonomy and resists the power of God, because he himself wants to be the dominant force. His ‘story of life’ is trying to subject others to his will. Martin perseveres in his defiance of God no matter how futile and painful its consequences, thus demonstrating free will at its most perverse. Martin goes on asserting his autonomy even when he is reduced to a pair of claws, even when the claws are  worn away too, and Pincher Martin as a personality is annihilated.

His dogmatic attitude, his ‘enjoyment’ in challenging God; - a risk taking activity which expresses his inner need to demonstrate his strength and masculinity – are very typical for the Aggressive Style of character.

Born in Cornwall, England, William Golding started writing at the age of seven. Though he studied natural sciences at Oxford to please his parents, he also studied English and published his first book, a collection of poems, before finishing college. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II, participating in the Normandy invasion. Golding's other novels include Lord of the Flies, The Inheritors, The Free Fall, The Spire, Rites of Passage (Booker Prize), and The Double Tongue. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Faber Faber Inc; First Soft Cover Edition edition (February 13, 1974)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571089887
• ISBN-13: 978-0571089888
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,838,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Cornwall, England, William Golding started writing at the age of seven. Though he studied natural sciences at Oxford to please his parents, he also studied English and published his first book, a collection of poems, before finishing college. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II, participating in the Normandy invasion. Golding's other novels include Lord of the Flies, The Inheritors, The Free Fall, Pincher Martin, The Double Tongue, and Rites of Passage, which won the Booker Prize.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Approachable Golding, November 11, 2009

By 

An admirer of Saul "Mr Wobble" (uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pyramid (Hardcover)

'The Pyramid' follows the trials of Oliver,an 18 year old about to go up to Oxford,in pre WW2 Stilbourne,a small English town divided by class and social taboos.Oliver lusts after Evie, a beautiful Catholic girl beneath his social station, suffers the snobberies and pretentions of the local amateur dramatic society and recalls Bounce,his music teacher and her dependency on an unrequited love of Henry Williams.
This book is both funny and poignent-a surprising string in Goldings bow-and wonderfully recalls teenage angst and naivete.It tells of the unhappiness the strict social etiquettes of before the war caused,despite it being recalled as a golden age of manners and respect. That may well be because it was replaced with anarchic selfish hedonism,but times change. Its the human race that cant find the medium!
Golding is seen as hard to access, but this book is a breeze and a delight to read.You end the book both satisfied and wanting more than the three interlocked novellas that make up the Pyramid. Much different to 'Lord of the Flies' 'The Inheritors' and his other great works,but warmer and no less a great book.