Lord of the Flies is considered one of the most well-loved titles assigned in school, according to a survey done in the United Kingdom in 2016. William Golding’s classic novel of deserted island survival, first published in 1954, is a striking tale of young boys left to their own devices on an island with only nature and each other to keep them company—or to tear them apart. Expanding on the theme of children surviving in a world that wasn’t meant for them is A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet, which was published in 2020. A Children’s Bible traces the steps of a young narrator and her band of friends as they flee their parents and the lakeside cabin for safety after a massive hurricane destroys most of the house and renders the adults physically and psychologically useless. In this episode, we examine both novels, which consider humans versus nature and humans versus each other, and we discuss why survivalist fiction holds such appeal, especially now.
Titles discussed:
Titles from the RA Corner: