The pyramid

'The Pyramid' follows the trials of Oliver,an 18 year old about to go up to Oxford,in pre WW2 Stilbourne,a small English town divided by class and social taboos.Oliver lusts after Evie, a beautiful Catholic girl beneath his social station, suffers the snobberies and pretentions of the local amateur dramatic society and recalls Bounce,his music teacher and her dependency on an unrequited love of Henry Williams. This book is both funny and poignent-a surprising string in Goldings bow-and wonderfully recalls teenage angst and naivete.It tells of the unhappiness the strict social etiquettes of before the war caused,despite it being recalled as a golden age of manners and respect. That may well be because it was replaced with anarchic selfish hedonism,but times change. Its the human race that cant find the medium! Golding is seen as hard to access, but this book is a breeze and a delight to read.You end the book both satisfied and wanting more than the three interlocked novellas that make up the Pyramid. Much different to 'Lord of the Flies' 'The Inheritors' and his other great works,but warmer and no less a great book.