The Spire

by William Golding

Genres: General Fiction; Classics; Historical Fiction; World War II; Literary Fiction

Synopsis

“There were three sorts of people. Those who ran, those who stayed, and those who were built in.”

A Penguin Classic

Set in medieval England, The Spire tells the story of one man’s vision—the construction of an enormous spire onto a cathedral without foundations. Believing himself to be chosen by God, Jocelin, dean of the cathedral, insists that the spire must rise higher and higher. Told with an inventive narration that reflects Jocelin’s ever-increasing madness, The Spire is an astonishing portrait of obsession, betrayal, and arrogance. Jocelin’s vision produces terrible consequences for those around him; the human cost of one man’s folly.

After Lord of the Flies, William Golding wrote novels that further explored the complexities of human nature, not only social tendencies but the psychological underpinnings of human consciousness. This edition provides a Suggestions for Further Exploration section that identifies key themes throughout Golding’s novels—including The Spire, first published in 1964—and connections to classic and contemporary fiction, nonfiction, film, and television.

Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Release date: March 3, 2026

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Print pages: 224