Maureen Kelly

At once an enthralling adventure story about a group of schoolboys stranded on an island and a richly textured moral tale, this is also Golding's attack on Western society and its institutions.

A minor masterpiece, The Awakening was a scandalous book when it arrived from the turn-of-the-century presses. With a heroine who found her husband dull, married life dreary and confining, and motherhood to be bondage, this revolutionary book is still relevant to many. This concise supplement to Chopin's The Awakening helps students understand the overall structure of the novel, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and culutral perspectives of the author.