Fire Down Below

The final volume of Golding's sea trilogy, which began with Rites of Passage. The old warship continues its long and difficult voyage toward Australia, now facing worsening conditions, strained tempers and the pressure of a damaged vessel. Edmund Talbot, no longer the carefree young man of the first book, has grown through what he has seen and begins to understand more of the world and of himself. The novel brings the voyage to a close with humour and gravity, drawing together the themes of rank, duty and human frailty. It is best read after the earlier books.