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The Inheritors

Introduced by Ben Okri
3.51 goodreads logo

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( 5,453 ratings, 634 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Inheritors by William Golding explores the clash between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens during a transformative moment in prehistory. The novel delves into the differing perspectives, cultures, and survival instincts of these two human species, providing a poignant reflection on innocence and the progress of civilization. Through vivid storytelling, Golding captures the dramatic and emotional landscape of a world on the cusp of profound change.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by themes of early human life and evolution, as it explores the clash between two differing species, delving into their perceptions and the consequences of their interactions. The narrative offers a deeply immersive look at humanity's ancestors, portrayed with a blend of history and speculative fiction, appealing to those who appreciate rich, thought-provoking storytelling.

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Hunt, trek, and feast among Neanderthals in this stunning vision of prehistory on the cusp of a new age, from the radical Nobel Laureate and author of Lord of the Flies, introduced by Ben Okri.

Hunt, trek, and feast among Neanderthals in this stunning novel by the radical Nobel Laureate and author of Lord of the Flies, introduced by Ben Okri.

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

This was a different voice; not the voice of the people. It was the voice of other.

When spring comes, the people leave their winter cave, foraging for honey and shoots, bulbs and grubs, the hot richness of a deer's brain. They awaken the fire to heat their naked bodies, lay down their thorn bushes, and share pictures in their minds.

But strange things are happening - inexplicable scents, sounds, and violence - and, suddenly, unimaginable creatures are half-glimpsed in the forest; an upright new people of bone-faces and deerskins. What the early people don't know is that their season is already over ...

The Inheritors by William Golding offers a hauntingly compelling exploration of the transformational clash between two unwittingly entwined species.

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 Inheritors by William Golding is often lauded for its evocative portrayal of early human conflict and evolution. Reviewers appreciate Golding's ability to create a vivid and immersive prehistoric world, skillfully blending anthropological insights with profound themes. While some readers praise the novel's imaginative narrative and its exploration of human nature, others mention the challenging narrative style. Overall, the novel is celebrated for its depth and thought-provoking examination of the human condition.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571362325

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 October 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Ben Okri

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 219g

Pages: 272

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.

Nigerian-born poet and author Ben Okri is the author of eight novels, including his Booker-Prize-winning novel The Famished Road as well as collections of poetry, short stories and essays, translated into more than 20 languages. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has won numerous international prizes, including the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Africa, the Aga Khan Prize for Fiction and the Chianti Rufino-Antico Fattore. He is a Vice-President of the English Centre of International PEN and was awarded the OBE in 2001.

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