Sole survivor of a sunk WWII destroyer, Christopher Hadley Martin struggles to survive on a remote rocky island in the Atlantic. As Christopher, known as Pincher, contends with the extreme elements, dangerous terrain, lack of food and water, and isolation, his past life unfolds through vivid flashbacks. Golding intricately explores Pincher’s descent into madness and paranoia as he fights to beat the odds, revealing his narcissistic and cruel nature that alienated others. With a narrative oscillating between fantasy and reality, faith and doubt, life and death, Golding creates a profound psychological character study that offers thought-provoking perspectives on human nature and our tenuous grip on life. An intense, allegorical portrait of the human condition and will to survive against all odds.