The Inheritors" tells the story of a small, isolated group of Neanderthals, whom Golding portrays as gentle, simple, and deeply connected to their environment. They live a peaceful, routine existence, largely unaware of the changes happening around them. They possess a limited understanding of cause and effect, often attributing events to magic or spirits.

Their world is disrupted by the arrival of a new species: Homo sapiens. These "new people" are more cunning, technologically advanced (they have bows and arrows), and possess a more complex understanding of the world. They are also more violent and driven by different motivations than the Neanderthals.

The narrative follows the Neanderthals as they struggle to understand and adapt to the presence of the newcomers. They observe the Homo sapiens with a mixture of fear, curiosity, and a naive attempt at connection. The Neanderthals' innocence and lack of guile make them vulnerable to the more manipulative and aggressive Homo sapiens.

Through a series of tragic misunderstandings and the gradual encroachment of the new people, the Neanderthal group is slowly decimated. They are unable to comprehend the motivations of the Homo sapiens, and their traditional ways of life are no match for the newcomers' superior tools and ruthless pragmatism.

The novel culminates in the extinction of the Neanderthal group, highlighting the brutal reality of survival of the fittest. Golding uses this prehistoric setting to explore themes of innocence, the nature of humanity, and the inevitable clash between different cultures and ways of being. He leaves the reader pondering the cost of progress and the complex legacy of our own species' dominance.

Ex Library Book with typical library Markings.

Hardcover with Dust Jacket

Pages: 233