ThefirstvolumeofWilliamGolding'sSeaTrilogy.SailingtoAustraliaintheearlyyearsofthenineteenthcentury,EdmundTalbotkeepsajournaltoamusehisgodfatherbackinEngland.Fullofwitanddisdain,herecordsthemountingtensionsontheancient,sinkingwarshipwhereofficers,sailors,soldiersandemigrantsjostleinthecrampedspacesbelowdecks.Thenasinglepassenger,theobsequiousReverendColley,attractstheanimosityofthesailors,andintheseclusionofthefo'castlesomethinghappenstobringhimintoa'hellofdegradation',whereshameisaforcedeadlierthantheseaitself."e;Theworkofamasteratthefullstretchofhisageandwisdom-necessary,provoking,urgent,rich,complexandrare"e;.(TheTimes)."e;Anextraordinarynovel"e;.(Observer)."e;Golding'sbestandmostaccessiblestorysinceLordoftheFlies"e;.(MelvynBragg).