Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies
Score Classic
What it's about
During a war, a plane carrying a group of English schoolboys crashes on a deserted tropical island, and no adults survive. At first the boys elect a leader, Ralph, and try to build a society with rules and a signal fire. But Jack, leader of the choirboys turned hunters, has other ideas, and as fear of a 'beast' spreads, the island descends into savagery.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the TIME and Modern Library lists of the best novels and was voted onto the BBC's Big Read. Golding later won the Nobel Prize, and it's still one of the most taught novels in the world.
You'll love it if you liked
1984
A Clockwork Orange
Brave New WorldGood to know
Children are killed. It's short and symbolic.
By the numbers
- Readers3 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics92 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller54 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #93 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #422 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1433 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
If you like this, read next
Ender's Game
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Black Boy: A Record of Youth and Childhood
The Killer AngelsExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Lord of the Flies worth reading?
Yes. It's on the TIME and Modern Library lists of the best novels and was voted onto the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #1,433 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Lord of the Flies about?
During a war, a plane carrying a group of English schoolboys crashes on a deserted tropical island, and no adults survive. At first the boys elect a leader, Ralph, and try to build a society with rules and a signal fire. But Jack, leader of the choirboys turned hunters, has other ideas, and as fear of a 'beast' spreads, the island descends into savagery.
How long does it take to read Lord of the Flies?
About 5 hours (208 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Lord of the Flies?
If you liked it, try 1984 by George Orwell, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess or Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.