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  • Rites of Passage

  • To the Ends of the Earth: A Sea Trilogy, Book 1
  • By: William Golding
  • Narrated by: William Golding
  • Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (5 ratings)

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Rites of Passage

By: William Golding
Narrated by: William Golding
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Summary

Lose yourself in an epic naval journey in the final novel in the Booker Prize-winning Sea Trilogy, by the author of Lord of the Flies. Read by the author in 1989, this recording was re-mastered in 2022.

I grow a little crazy, I think, like all men at sea who live too close to each other and too close thereby to all that is monstrous under the sun and moon....

Edmund Talbot is sailing to Australia in the early 19th century. In his journal, he records mounting tensions aboard the ancient, stinking warship, as officers, sailors, soldiers and emigrants jostle in the cramped darkness below decks. But when something happens to Reverend Colley that brings him into a 'hell of self-degradation', it seems that shame is a force deadlier than the sea itself....
©1980 William Golding (P)2022 Faber Audio
Classics Fiction Historical Fiction Sea Adventures Adventure Sailing
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Critic reviews

"Golding writes the past as present [with] uncanny skill and tremendous intuition." (Ben Okri)

"A master at the full stretch of his age and wisdom - necessary, provoking, urgent, rich, complex and rare." (The Times)

"An extraordinary novel." (Observer)

What listeners say about Rites of Passage

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Bluesview

Interesting

The audio, although remastered, is not that clear and the volume low compared to other audio books. William Golding speaks in a clear voice and does quite well but it takes a while to get used to him, at least we hear how he wants it to be heard. The story is interesting but can be tedious at times.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Chris

excellent novel but audio a bit ropey

an Excellent novel but as others have said the sound quality is a bit ropey in places

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