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The Spire
Introduced by Benjamin Myers
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Check link for latest rating. ( 4,117 ratings, 460 reviews)
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The Spire
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
One man's vision of erecting a magnificent cathedral spire heralds apocalypse in this epic tale of obsession by the radical Nobel Laureate and author of Lord of the Flies, William Golding (recorded by Benedict Cumberbatch as an audiobook).
Succumb to a churchman's apocalyptic vision in this prophetic tale by the radical Nobel Laureate and author of Lord of the Flies, introduced by Benjamin Myers (narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch as an audiobook).
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
There were three sorts of people. Those who ran, those who stayed, and those who were built in.
Dean Jocelin has a vision: that God has chosen him to erect a great spire. His master builder fearfully advises against it, for the old cathedral was miraculously built without foundations. But Jocelin is obsessed with fashioning his prayer in stone, and his halo of hair grows wilder and his dark angel darker as the spire rises octagon upon octagon, pinnacle by pinnacle, watched over by the gargoylesβuntil the stone pillars shriek, the earth beneath creeps, and the spire's shadow falls like an axe on the medieval world below...
The Spire by William Golding is a gripping tale of ambition, faith, and the human spirit pushing against the boundaries of the possible. This narrative unfurls against the backdrop of a cathedral town in the Middle Ages, capturing the conflict between dreams and reality, and the thin line separating visionaries from madmen.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Spire by William Golding is often praised for its intricate exploration of human ambition and the complexities of faith. The reviews frequently highlight Golding's skillful use of symbolism and his rich, evocative prose that brings the medieval setting to life. Critics appreciate the novel's intense psychological depth and its exploration of the protagonist's obsession, which raises thought-provoking questions about the cost of human endeavour and the nature of vision and madness.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780571362332
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 October 2021
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Faber & Faber
Edition: Main
Contributors:
- Introduction by Ben Myers
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 16.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 228g
Pages: 272
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About the Author
William Golding (1911 - 1993) was born in Cornwall and educated at Oxford. In his youth he was a keen actor, lecturer, small-boat sailor, and musician. In 1940 he joined the Royal Navy, where he saw action against battleships and pursued the Bismarck; after the war, he became a schoolteacher until 1961.
Golding's debut novel,Lord of the Flies, was published in 1954 after being rescued from Faber & Faber's slush pile of manuscripts, and was filmed by Peter Brook in 1963. He won the Booker Prize for Rites of Passage in 1980, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983, as well as being knighted in 1988. Recently, the Times ranked Golding third on their list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.
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