Edmund Talbot, a young scion of the English aristocracy in the early 19th century, leaves England bound for Australia, where he is to assume an important position within the colonial administration.

This job, obtained through the recommendation of his rich and powerful godfather, represents for the young man the first time he leaves the safety and tranquility of his paternal home to face the sea and the world.

Right from the start, Edmund presents himself as haughty, full of prejudices and self-satisfaction due to his social rank, his extensive education, and his political and religious ideas, certain that a brilliant career awaits him in Australia.

Around him revolves a diverse multitude of characters, carefully described in their physical and character traits, in their pains and hopes.

And all together they are forced to share the narrow spaces of an old military ship converted for passenger transport, which represents a microcosm in itself, dominated by logics and rules that the characters struggle to accept or share.

"At the Ends of the Earth" is a coming-of-age novel. We witness the gradual growth of Edmund. When he arrives in Australia after a year of navigation, there is no longer a trace of the boring young aristocrat. In Sydney, a mature and disillusioned man arrives, aware that the strongest bonds are those created with people with whom one has a true affinity of spirit and not with those who belong to the same social class.

At the end of the journey, Edmund has learned humility, the spirit of collaboration, friendship; he has experienced shame, remorse, fear, but also love.

Strengthened by the new certainties acquired, even when there will be nothing more to hope for, when even his social and career expectations will have collapsed, he will be ready to face adult life.

The first book that I can close contentedly in the new year, and it's a solid 5-star right away! It was a really big mental movie. One should only read it armed with oilcloth and a bottle of rum :D

This book has truly been a remarkable start to the year for me. From the moment I picked it up, I was completely immersed in its pages. The story unfolded like a vivid and captivating film in my mind, with every detail coming to life in the most wonderful way.

The author's writing style is so engaging that it felt as if I was right there with the characters, experiencing their adventures and emotions. It was a truly immersive reading experience that left me longing for more.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and entertaining read. It's the kind of book that you won't be able to put down until you've reached the very end. So, grab a copy, arm yourself with some oilcloth and a bottle of rum (figuratively speaking, of course!), and get ready to embark on an unforgettable literary journey.

This seafaring trilogy has not endured extremely well.

Golding should be lauded for the journal format of Edmund Talbot. He indeed takes certain enjoyable stylistic freedoms here, where Talbot loses count of the days and we only have his subjective perspective on the numerous passengers.

Regrettably, the promising characters aboard the ship are rather shallow. And Golding's strength and weakness as a writer is his inclination to simplify description for the reader.

These three books pale in comparison to the Aubrey-Maturin books or MOBY-DICK. Additionally, I believe the literary "achievement" of CLOSE QUARTERS is grossly overrated. The so-called tone shift is not significantly different from that of the first book.

I did appreciate Summers and Benet, but I was disappointed by the peculiarly restricted novelistic approach. RITES OF PASSAGE truly did not merit winning the 1980 Booker Prize. It should really have been awarded to Anthony Burgess's EARTHLY POWERS, which has far more to convey about human behavior and is a stylistic tour de force compared to these three books.

The story itself was truly a great read.

It had many engaging aspects that kept me hooked. However, in certain areas, it did have a tendency to drag a bit.

I found myself skipping pages at times, yet without losing the overall flow of the storyline.

Surprisingly, I never thought I would be reading such a book. But in order to expand my horizons, I knew I had to step out of my comfort reading zone.

Among all the parts, I enjoyed Part 2 Close Quarters the most.

It had a unique charm and held my interest throughout.

Nevertheless, towards the end, I started to find the main character a bit infuriating.

His actions and decisions were not always to my liking, which slightly affected my overall perception of the story.

Despite this, I still think it was a worthwhile read and it did manage to provide me with some new perspectives and experiences.

This book has been an absolute rollercoaster ride.

When I initially began reading, I had serious doubts about whether I would be able to make it all the way to the end. There were numerous occasions when I had to halt my reading to look up words that I didn't know or attempt to translate the Greek, Latin, and French that were spoken throughout the text.

It was also extremely challenging to form a clear mental picture of the events, considering I knew nothing about boats or ships. However, I persevered, and today, I finally finished the book.

The ending was neatly wrapped up, to the extent that I almost forgot the moments of total aggravation that I had experienced throughout the reading process.

Almost. I suppose I just had higher expectations? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it would be better to break down my feelings into the separate books within the trilogy.

Rites of Passage left me with a predominantly sad feeling. I wasn't overly impressed with the main character/narrator, and most of the other characters annoyed me. Colley tugged at my heartstrings all the way until the end, and I hoped that Anderson would somehow disappear.

By the second book, Close Quarters, I started to question if there was an actual story at all. I truly felt as if I was reading someone's journal (and perhaps that was the intended point), but it felt lacking.

Even now, I can't quite put my finger on what was missing. I simply couldn't establish a connection, and I was becoming really bored.

I reached Fire Down Below and almost gave up, but I knew I had to finish it, so I pushed on.

About three-quarters of the way through this last part of the trilogy, I actually began to feel something for some of the characters, actually caring about what happened to them.

Just to lose my favorite one and not even know what became of the others. The story semi-redeemed itself for me in the end, so I wasn't too terribly disappointed.

I just... well, as I said earlier, I guess I expected something more.

This is an outstanding trilogy.

I awarded it 4 stars to signify its excellence, yet it doesn't quite reach the status of a masterpiece.

It lacks the intensity and singularity of Golding's "Pincher Martin" or, of course, "Lord of the Flies."

It is a fine sea story, but fans of Patrick O'Brien might long for the aroma of slowmatch wafting through a tumultuous gundeck.

It is a charming tale of coming of age, and surprisingly so, but this might be confusingly intertwined for Americans with a story of the clashes between English class, intellect, and human decency.

Each book features an odd and unexpected (and no doubt highly symbolic) death, but none of them seem particularly compelling or essential to the plot.

That being said, read it for the vivid descriptions of the storms, seasickness, beauties, and agonies of sea travel in the age of sail.

Read it for the complex and astonishing evolution of many of the major characters.

Read it for the hopeful and unforeseen arc of the three books.

Most importantly, read it for the incredibly clever and graceful writing of dialogues and reflections – truly eye-opening work that reminds us why Golding was one of the modern greats.

The reading material is extremely tough. It contains numerous unfamiliar technical words related to ships, such as those about the art and science of ship commanding. The description of the rough seas also adds to the difficulty. Edmund Talbot's adventures are vividly narrated, which have convincingly proved his profound marine knowledge and remarkable skills.

Furthermore, his sincerity and valor have been handsomely rewarded with such a romantic love. The various episodes within this love story suggest his unwavering determination. It is truly a captivating and challenging piece of literature that demands careful study and reflection to fully understand and appreciate the depth of its content and the complexity of the characters and their experiences.

One cannot help but be impressed by the detailed and vivid portrayal of the maritime world and the emotional journey of Edmund Talbot.

A captivating and enchanting tale of seafaring in the 19th century is presented by the literary giant, William Golding. This story is not only a wonderful adventure but also an excellent vocabulary builder. There were numerous words within its pages that I had never before encountered, which added an element of excitement and discovery as I read. Golding's masterful use of traditional nautical slang, such as "tarpaulin," made the reading experience truly engaging and interesting. It transported me back in time to the era of tall ships and brave sailors, allowing me to vividly imagine the scenes and the lives of those who plied the seas. Overall, it was a delightful read that left a lasting impression.

Hard to follow and uninteresting, William Golding's contribution to literature is profound but his skills are not well shown in this novel.

Goldings is widely regarded as a significant figure in the literary world, yet this particular work seems to fall short in effectively demonstrating his prowess. The plot may be convoluted, making it difficult for readers to keep up and engage with the story.

Perhaps the lack of clear narrative structure or the complex themes presented in a disjointed manner contribute to this sense of being hard to follow. Additionally, the characters may not be as fully developed or engaging as they could be, leaving readers feeling uninterested.

However, it is important to note that Golding's overall body of work is still highly regarded, and this one novel should not overshadow his many other achievements. It is possible that this particular work was an experimental or less successful attempt, but it does not diminish the importance of his contributions to literature as a whole.

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mm.. ok, but have but for adventure on the seas I have been spoilt by reading O' Brian!

Well, it's true that when it comes to adventures on the seas, I have truly been spoiled by reading O' Brian's works. His detailed descriptions and thrilling narratives have painted a vivid picture of life at sea during a particular era. The stories are filled with exciting voyages, encounters with various cultures, and the challenges faced by the sailors. Through his words, I have been able to experience the excitement and danger of the high seas as if I were right there on the ship. It has set a high standard for my expectations of sea adventure stories, and it's hard to find others that can match the level of authenticity and excitement that O' Brian brings.

I had truly adored William Golding's renowned first novel, "Lord of the Flies," when I perused it during my high school days many years ago.

Though it might have been a tad intense for 16-year-old kids, it was a novel that delved deep into the darkness of the human soul and explored how human beings, in this instance school boys, could regress to violence and primitive instincts when faced with a desperate situation.

"To the Ends of the Earth" is a compilation of Golding's Sea novels. It narrates the tale of a young Brit, Talbot, who is journeying from Britain to Australia aboard an old navy ship that has been transformed into a passenger carrier to assume a government position.

The book presents the story in the form of journal entries penned by the protagonist for the benefit of his godfather, a prominent aristocrat in Britain.

However, the issue with the book lies in its reliance on the reader's appreciation of the British class system and the unbelievably pompous and artificial relationships among the members of society. The tiresome artificiality of the entire interpersonal relationships is, of course, part of Britain's history, with some remnants persisting in the present day, but it does not render the books any more captivating. There are simply not enough interesting events within the books. It is rather disappointing.....