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Golding's Lord of the Flies: A Secret Literary Partnership
15 Dec
Summary
- Editor Charles Monteith transformed Lord of the Flies from a rejected manuscript.
- Their author-editor relationship spanned four decades of collaboration.
- Golding sought constant reassurance despite growing literary success.
A recently revealed correspondence between William Golding and his editor, Charles Monteith, sheds light on a remarkable 40-year literary partnership. Monteith championed Golding's "Lord of the Flies" after numerous rejections, identifying its potential and guiding revisions that transformed it into a canonical work.
Their early exchanges evolved from formal to familiar, reflecting a shared intellectual background. Golding, deeply grateful for Monteith's early intervention, remained consistently humble, often expressing insecurities about his writing and commercial success. Monteith provided consistent encouragement through Golding's evolving career, from early drafts to acclaimed novels like "The Spire" and "Rites of Passage."
Despite accumulating accolades, including a CBE and critical praise, Golding remained anxious about reviews and his literary standing. Monteith's mentorship extended beyond editorial duties, offering crucial support through Golding's personal struggles and professional anxieties, solidifying a relationship that profoundly shaped literary history.
