Episodes Referencing This Book
December 02, 2021
Context:
Dominic recommends this as 'an absolutely magnificent novel' about Neanderthals, calling it 'probably the best' of Golding's books. The novel shows the world through Neanderthal eyes, portraying them as innocent children of nature while modern humans are depicted as cruel — reflecting Golding's preoccupation with human evil. Chris Stringer discusses how the novel was a reaction against H.G. Wells' portrayal of Neanderthals as brutish, and it's referenced multiple times throughout the episode as emblematic of the 'humans as villains' interpretation of the Neanderthal extinction.