The story of a group of boys marooned on a tropical island after a plane crash, Lord of the Flies, the first novel by William Golding (1911–1993), was published in 1954 and is now a modern classic. For all its adventure and excitement, the book is a profound exploration of the human potential for evil: at first, the boys elect leaders and organize themselves, but very soon rivalry, fear and violence erupt and a descent into savagery begins.