- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Faber and Faber; First Edition edition (17 Mar 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0571222935
- ISBN-13: 978-0571222933
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 13.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 950,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Penelope Lively, Independent
'A bold debut . . . one wants to see what Taylor does next.'
Daily Mail
'Sam Taylor clearly relishes storytelling and his novel has the kind of swift pace that's rare in literary fiction.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the tale of 4 adolescent children who, living in France, decide to run away into the forest and live their lives according to The Social Contract by philospher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Initially, things are fine and our protagonist Michael falls for the sexually provocative Isobel. But having an 'adult' relationship (the first for youngest Michael) in the company of what are basically children, with competing jealousies, and grabbing at power in the creation of their new world order. Alcohol begins to play accomplice to the children's evolving personalities and it is not long before utopia turns nasty. Predictably, an horrific ending ensues.
Talyor is a very good, natural writer and while you are initially in tune with Michael, the change that takes place in him and all the children turns the reader very cold against all. Some lovely lines, for example my favourite "At school...you learn to see the bars of your cage" really summed up how I felt about primary school.
Very good novel, obviously going to be compared to Lord of the Flies, but still worth a read in it's own right.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and more so because it was not quite what i was expecting. It is the dark tale of some adolescents who escape to the forest and is a beautifully written tale of their experiences there. It develops at a fast moving pace and I read it in one sitting. It has a dark unexpected ending which stayed with me for some time afterwards.
I look forward to reading the author's next works...
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Set in the wilds of southern France, Sam Taylor's first novel is a great utopia-crushing read, in the tradition of Lord of the Flies and The Beach. It demands to be read in one sitting, as the second half belts towards it's terrible conclusion.
It begins innocently enough, but little by little things start to go tragically wrong, especially with the arrival of the sinister Joy who ushers a group of four school children, who have escaped to a forest to begin their own republic based on the guidelines laid down in The Social Contract, into a nightmare world of rules and dreams and blackouts.
All of this is handled remarkable well for a first time novelist; Sam Taylor seems set for an interesting career. I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting, fresh read.
It begins innocently enough, but little by little things start to go tragically wrong, especially with the arrival of the sinister Joy who ushers a group of four school children, who have escaped to a forest to begin their own republic based on the guidelines laid down in The Social Contract, into a nightmare world of rules and dreams and blackouts.
All of this is handled remarkable well for a first time novelist; Sam Taylor seems set for an interesting career. I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting, fresh read.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lord of the Flies It Is Not
Some stories have been told. I'd like to think we can all agree on that.
Among the greatest narratives in literature, never to be prequelled, sequelled or otherwise... Read more
Among the greatest narratives in literature, never to be prequelled, sequelled or otherwise... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Niall Alexander
interersting and disturbing........
I enjoyed this book, but knew what was going to happen from a fairly early point. The stage is set early on, and combined with rather plot-spoiler reviews on mu edition I read... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lucinda Stern
bored!
Rubbish go read lord of the flies instead. How come no one knew / cared they were missing and organised a search? Then again by the end of the book I didnt care either. Read more
Published 19 months ago by clashcitykid
The Republic of Trees - Janine
After reading the Republic of Trees I was left feeling empty and cold.
I enjoyed the initial interaction between Taylor's characters, but found that at the end of the book... Read more
I enjoyed the initial interaction between Taylor's characters, but found that at the end of the book... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by J. L. Doughty
Lord of the Flies in a forest
This is a curious mixture of William Golding, George Orwell and even Enid Blyton, given a dark twist. Read more
Published on 21 July 2008 by Archy
Disappointed
A lot of the other reviews sum this one up for me. I only read it as someone recommended it so i may not of picked it up otherwise. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2008 by Snowy3
Unique adventure
This is a dark tale about 4 teens, from 2 families, who live in France. They run away together to a forest in order to set up their own utopian community, which they name The... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2007 by kehs
Big Brother with a Guillotine
If you're a fan of reality TV and interested in the consequences of taking reasonable, functioning human beings out of everyday society and placing them in a set without time, the... Read more
Published on 9 April 2006
Big Brother With A Guillotine
If you're a fan of reality TV and interested in the consequences of taking reasonable, functioning human beings out of everyday society and placing them in a set without time, the... Read more
Published on 2 April 2006 by C. Gardner
Lost
The word above is the only word I can use to describe the way I felt when reading the latter half of this book. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2006 by Ms. J. V. Phillips
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