ThistitlecomeswithanintroductionbyPenelopeLively.Oliveriseighteenandwantstoenjoyhimselfbeforegoingtouniversity.Butthisisthe1920sandhelivesinStilbourne,asmallEnglishcountrytownwhereeveryoneknowswhateveryoneelseisgettingupto,andwherelove,lustandrebellionarecloselyfollowedbyrevengeandembarrassment.Writtenwithgreatperceptionandsubtlety,ThePyramidisWilliamGolding'sfunniestandmostlight-heartednovel,probingthepainfulawkwardnessofthelateteens,thetragedyandfarceoflifeinasmallcommunityandtheconsolingpowerofmusic."e;Goldingdepictswithsubtleskillallthepainsofgrowingupandgrowingold.Hetreatsustosomesuperbcomicepisodes"e;.(DailyTelegraph)."e;Golding'smostapproachablenovelandacuriouslypersonalone,thatreturnstothemindagainandagainasiftheshamesandidyllswereone'sown"e;.(Guardian)."e;Neatlydrawn,funnyandtouching…Thesnap,thetang,andthetensioninGolding'sproseisalwaysapleasure"e;.(Harper'sMagazine).