Description
The funny and moving story of the apocalypse - as seen from one small village in England
'I loved this book, by turns funny and tragic ... It moves between abject despair and good old-fashioned British stoicism with ease. Magical' Jeff Noon, Spectator, Books of the Year 2018
Retired teacher Edgar Hopkins lives for the thrill of winning poultry prizes. But his narrow world is shattered when he learns that the moon is about to come crashing into the earth, with apocalyptic consequences. The manuscript he leaves behind will be a testament - to his growing humanity and to how one English village tried to survive the end of the world...
Written in 1939 as the world was teetering on the brink of global war, R. C. Sherriff's tragicomic novel is a masterly work of science fiction, and a powerful warning from the past.
'Spectacular, skilled and moving. It is supremely and alarmingly relevant' Fay Weldon
'Intensely readable and touching' Sunday Telegraph
New to Penguin Classics, this is the funny and deeply moving story of the apocalypse - as seen from one small village in England.
About the Author
R.C. Sherriff (1896-1975) served as a captain in the East Surrey regiment during the First World War and subsequently tried his hand at writing. Following rejection by many theatre managements, Journey's End was given a single performance by the Incorporated Stage Society, in which Lawrence Olivier took the lead role. The play's enormous success enabled Sherriff to become a full-time writer. He is remembered for his plays, the screenplays for the films The Invisible Man (1933), Goodbye Mr Chips (1933) and The Dam Busters (1955), and the novel The Hopkins Manuscript (1939).
Reviews
Spectacular, skilled and moving... It is supremely and alarmingly relevant to our life today -- Fay Weldon
Intensely readable and touching * Sunday Telegraph *
I loved this book, by turns funny and tragic ... It's worth the cover price alone for the moonlit cricket match on the village green one night before the world is due to end. Magical -- Jeff Noon * Spectator, Books of the Year *
Book Information
ISBN 9780241349076
Author R. C. Sherriff
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Penguin Classics
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Series Penguin Modern Classics
Weight(grams) 234g
Dimensions(mm) 200mm * 130mm * 18mm
