William Golding’s 1954 novel about society and the descent into chaos created by a group of young men stranded on a desert island is one of the most important literary works of the 20th century. however, if you’re looking for more books like lord of the flies, it can seem like a daunting task.
Whether you want the story of jack, ralph, piggy, sam and eric, and simon to end differently or you want a little more female energy to be included in this male dominated society (it was written in the 1950s…), then take a look at this list of 10 great works of literature similar to Lord of the Flies that are sure to spark your mind and leave you wanting to read more.
You are reading: Books like lord of the flies
10 interesting books like lord of the flies
one flew over the cuckoo’s nest, by ken kesey
ken kesey’s 1962 novel set in a mental hospital is perhaps best known for the 1975 film adaptation starring jack nicholson, however it’s also a fantastic read if you’re looking for books like lord of the flies.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest follows the story of Randle McMurphy, a convicted felon who feigned insanity to avoid being sent to prison as he is committed to a psychiatric ward. The novel follows McMurphy as he takes on the tyrannical head nurse, Nurse Ratched.
The novel follows similar themes as Lord of the Flies, including examining power dynamics and leadership. Not only is this a great addition to your reading list if you’re looking for books like William Golding’s seminal work, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest it’s also a great underrated classic that everyone should read at least once. time in their lives.
a clockwork orange, by anthony burgess
another novel that is best known for its film adaptation (directed by the incomparable stanley kubrick), anthony burgess’s 1962 dystopian novel a clockwork orange is an excellent choice if you’re looking for books similar to the lord of the flies.
This strange and dark novel follows 15-year-old protagonist Alex, a violent, delinquent youth living in a dystopian society sometime in the not-too-distant future. Divided into three parts, the novel follows a different part of Alex’s life as he comes of age.
Alex becomes the de facto leader of a group of violent boys and deals with the consequences of his actions in a society very different from the one we live in today. It deals with themes similar to Lord of the Flies, including authority, leadership, and anarchy, and is a great addition to any reading list.
Have you already read this book? Check out our list for more books like A Clockwork Orange!
the hunger games, by suzanne collins
If you enjoyed Lord of the Flies for the dynamic of young people caught in an inescapable situation and the anarchy that ensues, then The Hunger Games is also a great option for you.
Set in a dystopian future, The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen as she is selected for an annual televised event that pits 24 children between the ages of 12 and 18 in a battle royale. explores similar themes to lord of the flies. One clear difference, however, is that the protagonist of this novel is a woman, and William Golding’s novel is completely dominated by men.
The novel, which became a successful film franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence, follows themes such as Lord of the Flies, including fulfillment, rebellion, and the effects of when the young seem to be in charge.
if you’re looking for more modern books like lord of the flies, then the hunger games (and its sequels in flames and mockingjay) are a great addition to your reading repertoire.
If you’ve already read this title, check out our list of more books like The Hunger Games & divergent!
slaughterhouse-five, by kurt vonnegut
As one of kurt vonnegut’s seminal works, slaughterhouse-five is a great option if you’re looking for more books like lord of the flies.
this 1969 novel follows billy peregrino as he gets “unstuck in time” and (out of order) takes him through his experiences as a prisoner of war in world war ii and as he witnesses and survives the devastating bombing from Dresden while somehow simultaneously also being abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore and becoming an exhibit in one of their zoos.
Although slaughterhouse-five is certainly very different from lord of the flies, it also explores many of the same themes as the last novel. in particular, it examines the effects that exposure to violence has on young people and the devastating consequences of World War II (as it is implied in Lord of the Flies that the children of the island were in the process of being evacuated from the bombing).
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Overall, if you’re looking for a great classic read similar to lord of the flies, slaughterhouse-five is a fantastic choice.
fahrenheit 451, by ray bradbury
another great book to add to your reading list of books like lord of the flies is ray bradbury’s 1953 fahrenheit 451 dystopia. (After more book recommendations? Check out our list of books like Fahrenheit 451!)
Like the previous dystopias on this list, fahrenheit 451 is set in the not too distant future (believed to be the year 1999) in a society where the totalitarian government heavily censors to most of the reading material that is available to the general public.
The novel follows Guy Montag, a firefighter or a person whose job is to burn books. in fact, the full title of the novel is fahrenheit 451, the temperature at which paper in books catches fire.
Throughout the novel, the reader watches Guy as he struggles with aspects of his job and begins to question the totalitarian regime he lives under, especially after witnessing the attempted suicide of a woman who would rather die than die. to see his books burned. of his wife (and subsequent medical ambivalence) and the disappearance of a neighbor who actively questioned the government.
Although frequently challenged, fahrenheit 451 is a remarkable critique of modern media obsession and censorship and is an excellent choice for readers looking for books similar to mr. of the flies.
If you’ve already read Ray Bradbury’s classic, browse our list of books like Fahrenheit 451 for more recommendations.
animal farm, by george orwell
As one of George Orwell’s most seminal works, Animal Farm is an excellent choice for those looking for books like Lord of the Flies, especially if they’re interested in seeing how a society seemingly perfect can so quickly descend into madness.
First published in 1945, animal farm is a perfect allegory for the events leading up to the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 and the subsequent establishment of the Stalinist ussr. The novel follows an animal farm as they conspire to (and eventually) overthrow the human owners and establish a communal farm where “all animals are equal” and work for the good of their society.
However, things quickly take a turn for the worse as power dynamics come into play and propaganda influences the minds of farm animals. Soon, their utopian communal society descends into one that is worse than before, where few animals are doing quite well and many more suffer because of it.
one of the best works of 20th century literature and an excellent read if you’re curious about the power dynamics of the former soviet union (under stalin), animal farm is also a excellent option if you are looking for a novel like the lord of the flies.
Have you already read this book? check out our list for more books like animal farm!
the crucible, by arthur miller
if you’re sick of reading novels but want an interesting read akin to lord of the flies, then arthur miller’s 1953 work the crucible is a fantastic choice for you.
This Tony Award-winning play, written as an allegory for McCarthyism in the United States, is set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692-1693 during the Salem Witch Trials.
The play follows the citizens of the town as a group of girls, led by antagonist Abigail Williams, accuse certain members of their theocratic, puritanical society of witchcraft. such accusations inevitably led to the deaths of 19 people involved in the trials.
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The play examines themes such as revenge and compliance, along with the dynamics of leadership in a primitive and isolated society.
Regarded as one of Miller’s most important works, The Crucible is a seminal piece of American literature and an excellent choice for those looking to read something like Lord of the Flies.
the lottery, by shirley jackson
Another fantastic, if not short, read for those seeking literary works similar to Lord of the Flies is Shirley Jackson’s 1948 short story, The Lottery.
Considered one of the most famous short stories in American literature, The Lottery is about a small-town society and the dynamics of fulfillment and power within it, similar to that of the Lord of the Rings. flies.
The short story follows the residents of the town as they prepare for a lottery and discuss the traditions behind it and discuss, in horror, how neighboring towns have eliminated their own lotteries in recent years.
The story ends with a stomach-churning twist, making this short read not the best just before bedtime, however it remains a classic critique of how societies work and how we as people We are influenced by our peers.
circle, by madeline miller
if you liked lord of the flies for its desert island setting, rather than the total and bloody anarchy that occurs on said island, then you may enjoy madeline’s novel circe miller of 2018.
This novel is especially good for fans of the classics and Greco-Roman myth as it is a modern retelling of the story of the Greek goddess Circe, most famous for her appearance in rarity for having an affair with odysseus and becoming turns his men into pigs when they come across his island.
The novel follows Circe from her birth, her love affairs and obsessions with mortals, and the experiments with magic that lead to her being exiled to her own isolated island.
While it’s certainly different in plot compared to Lord of the Flies, it’s a great “desert island book” and also features cameos from mythological favorites, including Odysseus, Daedalus, and Theseus.
For even more recommendations, check out our books like circe list.
robinson crusoe, by daniel dafoe
although lord of the flies is much more about the dangers of anarchy and a society without borders, no list based on a book set on an isolated island is complete without the participation of robinson crusoe .
The quintessential “desert island book,” robinson crusoe follows the eponymous character as he is shipwrecked and stranded on an island near Trinidad for 28 years.
Published 300 years ago in 1719, robinson crusoe has certainly stood the test of time and remains an excellent addition to any reading list, especially if you’re looking for great books that are similar to mr. of flies.
Whether you’re looking for books like Lord of the Flies because you enjoyed reading about how societies work and examining human nature, or because you like reading about being stranded on a desert island, there are a number of! fantastic works of literature that should keep you reading for a long time!
Looking for a book like Lord of the Flies? do you have any additions? tell us in the comments!
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