The death of grass ([New ed.])

A post-apocalyptic vision of the world pushed to the brink by famine, John Christopher's science fiction masterpieceThe Death of Grassincludes an introduction by Robert MacFarlane in Penguin Modern Classics.

At first the virus wiping out grass and crops is of little concern to John Custance. It has decimated Asia, causing mass starvation and riots, but Europe is safe and a counter-virus is expected any day. Except, it turns out, the governments have been lying to their people. When the deadly disease hits Britain, society starts to descend into barbarism. As John and his family try to make it across country to the safety of his brother's farm in a hidden valley, their humanity is tested to its very limits. A chilling psychological thriller and one of the greatest post-apocalyptic novels ever written,The Death of Grassshows people struggling to hold on to their identities as the familiar world disintegrates - and the terrible price they must pay for surviving.

John Christopher (1922-2012) was the pen name of Samuel Youd, a prolific writer of science fiction. His novels were popular during the 1950s and 1960s, most notablyThe Death Of Grass(1956), The World in Winter(1962), andWrinkle in the Skin(1965), all works depicting ordinary people struggling in the midst of apocalyptic catastrophes. In 1966 he started writing science-fiction for adolescents;The Tripodstrilogy, thePrince in Waitingtrilogy (also known as theSword of the Spiritstrilogy) andTheLotusCavesare still widely read today.

Ifyou enjoyedThe Death of Grass, you might like John Wyndham'sThe Day of the Triffids, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.

'Gripping ... of all fiction's apocalypses, this is one of the most haunting'
Financial Times