To the Ends of the Earth
Encyclopedia
To the Ends of the Earth is a trilogy of novels by William Golding
, consisting of Rites of Passage (1980), Close Quarters (1987), and Fire Down Below (1989). The trilogy was adapted as a BBC miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch
in 2005.
, beating Anthony Burgess
' Earthly Powers
. It focuses upon the account of a trip to Australia
, and takes the form of a journal written by Edmund Talbot, a young, aristocratic passenger aboard a British warship. His influential godfather, having secured him employment with the Governor of New South Wales
, presented him with the journal in which to record the significant events of the journey.
Talbot begins his commentary by detailing the various passengers and crew members, who encompass a motley yet representative collection of early 19th century English society. The journal quickly becomes concerned with the account of the downfall of a passenger, the Reverend Colley. Talbot has a somewhat ambiguous role in this: whilst he quickly assumes a mediator's role between the Reverend and Captain Anderson, the initial problem was caused by Talbot's presumption of preference and status within the group of passengers and, inappropriately, the crew. Class division, or the assumption of a higher status than is warranted, is a running theme of the book. This theme focuses upon the proper conduct of a gentleman; however, it also deals with his often-stormy friendship with one of the officers, Lieutenant Summers, who sometimes feels slighted by Talbot's ill-thought-out comments and advice.
Like many of Golding’s books, it also looks at man’s reversion to savagery in the wake of isolation. Talbot is ambivalent about presenting the account, which he considers may not show him in the best light, to his godfather, though he does not consider that he has a choice and eventually has the journal sealed so he cannot tamper with it.
The book focuses upon the romantic feelings of a clearly unwell Talbot for a young woman whom he meets on a different ship they come across, HMS Alcyone
, and fears about the seaworthiness of his own ship to complete her journey.
Much detail is spent on describing the ever-more frantic measures to repair and safeguard the ship and steer her towards Australia
.
. The miniseries also aired in the U.S. on PBS
as part of Masterpiece Theatre
in 2006.
The series received very good reviews. The Guardian
said, "The performances are superb.... The best TV drama of the year by a nautical mile."
William Golding
Sir William Gerald Golding was a British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate, best known for his novel Lord of the Flies...
, consisting of Rites of Passage (1980), Close Quarters (1987), and Fire Down Below (1989). The trilogy was adapted as a BBC miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is an English film, television, and theatre actor. His most acclaimed roles include Stephen Hawking in the BBC drama Hawking ; William Pitt in the historical film Amazing Grace ; the protagonist Stephen Ezard in the miniseries thriller The Last Enemy ; Paul...
in 2005.
Rites of Passage
This was the first book of the trilogy, and went on to win the 1980 Man Booker PrizeMan Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
, beating Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess
John Burgess Wilson – who published under the pen name Anthony Burgess – was an English author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator and critic. The dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange is Burgess's most famous novel, though he dismissed it as one of his lesser works...
' Earthly Powers
Earthly Powers
Earthly Powers is a panoramic saga of the 20th century by Anthony Burgess first published in 1980. On one level it is a parody of a "blockbuster" novel, with the 81-year-old hero, Kenneth Toomey , telling the story of his life in 82 chapters...
. It focuses upon the account of a trip to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and takes the form of a journal written by Edmund Talbot, a young, aristocratic passenger aboard a British warship. His influential godfather, having secured him employment with the Governor of New South Wales
Governors of New South Wales
The Governor of New South Wales is the state viceregal representative of the Australian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, as well as with the eleven other jurisdictions of Australia, and resides predominantly in her...
, presented him with the journal in which to record the significant events of the journey.
Talbot begins his commentary by detailing the various passengers and crew members, who encompass a motley yet representative collection of early 19th century English society. The journal quickly becomes concerned with the account of the downfall of a passenger, the Reverend Colley. Talbot has a somewhat ambiguous role in this: whilst he quickly assumes a mediator's role between the Reverend and Captain Anderson, the initial problem was caused by Talbot's presumption of preference and status within the group of passengers and, inappropriately, the crew. Class division, or the assumption of a higher status than is warranted, is a running theme of the book. This theme focuses upon the proper conduct of a gentleman; however, it also deals with his often-stormy friendship with one of the officers, Lieutenant Summers, who sometimes feels slighted by Talbot's ill-thought-out comments and advice.
Like many of Golding’s books, it also looks at man’s reversion to savagery in the wake of isolation. Talbot is ambivalent about presenting the account, which he considers may not show him in the best light, to his godfather, though he does not consider that he has a choice and eventually has the journal sealed so he cannot tamper with it.
Close Quarters
Close Quarters was published seven years after the original book, though in the book the writing continues not long after the first journal was completed. This book begins with Edmund Talbot starting a new journal, but with a different tone as this was not to be presented to his godfather. The structure of the book differed in that it had a more traditional structure, with chapter breaks at dramatic moments, rather than the journal being presented as a day by day account as the first volume was.The book focuses upon the romantic feelings of a clearly unwell Talbot for a young woman whom he meets on a different ship they come across, HMS Alcyone
Alcyone
In Greek mythology, Alcyone was the daughter of Aeolus, either by Enarete or Aegiale. She married Ceyx, son of Eosphorus, the Morning Star....
, and fears about the seaworthiness of his own ship to complete her journey.
Fire Down Below
This was the final book of the trilogy, written in 1989. It continues the ever-more perilous voyage of the old ship and charts, amongst other things, Talbot's ongoing maturation and growing admiration for the Prettimans, the rivalry between the two principal officers (Summers and Benét) for Captain Anderson's respect and trust and the conclusion to Edmund's affaire of the heart with Miss Chumley.Much detail is spent on describing the ever-more frantic measures to repair and safeguard the ship and steer her towards Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Miniseries adaptation
In 2005 the books were adapted as a BBC drama serial, starring Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is an English film, television, and theatre actor. His most acclaimed roles include Stephen Hawking in the BBC drama Hawking ; William Pitt in the historical film Amazing Grace ; the protagonist Stephen Ezard in the miniseries thriller The Last Enemy ; Paul...
. The miniseries also aired in the U.S. on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
as part of Masterpiece Theatre
Masterpiece Theatre
Masterpiece is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service on January 10, 1971, making it America's longest-running weekly prime time drama series. The series has presented numerous acclaimed British productions...
in 2006.
The series received very good reviews. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said, "The performances are superb.... The best TV drama of the year by a nautical mile."
External links
- To the Ends of the Earth at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- To the Ends of the Earth at the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- To the Ends of the Earth at Masterpiece TheatreMasterpiece TheatreMasterpiece is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service on January 10, 1971, making it America's longest-running weekly prime time drama series. The series has presented numerous acclaimed British productions...