Books like DARKNESS VISIBLE by William Golding
In Darkness Visible, William Golding presents a tale set in post‑war London. The main character, Septimius Windrave, emerges from the London Blitz alive but orphaned and horribly scarred. He wears a black wide‑brimmed hat to hide his disfigurement and struggles with his identity, asking whether his difference lies only in his face. The novel explores his prophetic visions and the journal he keeps, which may be either madness or inspiration.
Septimius’s path intersects with a variety of other characters: the owners of a local bookstore, Ruth and Sam Goodchild; Mr. Pedigree, a teacher at the boys’ school who is obsessed with pederasty; and two twins, Sophie and Toni, who become determined criminals—Sophie orchestrates a school kidnapping while Toni turns to political terrorism. These characters, along with the broader community, grapple with the hidden darkness that Golding describes as “visible” in their lives.
Through these intertwined stories, Golding examines the “weirdness” of existence and the shadows that linger in ordinary and extraordinary places alike.
First publish date: 1979
Genre: General Fiction/General Fiction
Authors: William Golding
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Books similar to DARKNESS VISIBLE (14 similar books)
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From Kay Redfield Jamison - an international authority on manic-depressive illness, and one of the few women who are full professors of medicine at American universities - a remarkable personal testimony: the revelation of her own struggle since adolescence with manic-depression, and how it has shaped her life.
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