Three score years ago today saw the publication of Lord of The Flies, William Golding’s allegorical tale about who we are, especially when we get together.

I don’t know what he would have made of that modern question that is only ever asked rhetorically: “What are we like”? but William Golding shows us his version and it makes for uncomfortable reading.

Thank you Mr Lowe for introducing me to this, one of my favourite books.

On beasts and where beasts are to be found…

“Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.”

On beasts and fear and fear of ourselves and each other.

“I know there isn’t no beast—not with claws and all that, I mean—but I know there isn’t no fear, either.

Unless we get frightened of people. “

On how to build a world that can really, really suck…

“We did everything adults would do. What went wrong?”