journal to his godfather, as he fears it may not show him in the best light. He concludes that he does not have a choice, and eventually he seals the journal, in order to protect what he has written. Rites of Passage won the 1980 Booker Prize. Close Quarters Golding begins Close Quarters (1987) from Talbot's point of view and soon after he completed his first journal on the 6-month voyage to Australia. Talbot starts a new journal in a different tone, as this volume will not be presented to his godfather. He describes his romantic feelings for a young woman whom he meets on a different ship they encounter, HMS Alcyone. Feeling ill, he expresses his fears about the seaworthiness of his own ship and its ability to complete the journey. The book has a more traditional structure, with chapter breaks at dramatic moments (rather than the day-by-day account presented in Rites). Fire Down Below Fire Down Below (1989) closed the trilogy with a description of the ever-more perilous voyage (given the old ship and old charts); of Talbot's maturing and his growing admiration for the Prettimans, a married couple; of the rivalry between the two principal officers, Summers and Benét, for Captain Anderson's respect and trust; and of the conclusion to Edmund's affaire de coeur with Miss Chumley. Much detail is given to the increasingly frantic measures to repair the ship and reach Australia. Literary themes Rites of Passage is characterized by the theme of class division, in particular, the assumption of a higher status by individuals than is warranted. The leitmotiv of proper gentlemanly conduct is explored in the often stormy friendship of Talbot with Lieutenant Summers, who presses him to live up to his responsibilities as an aristocrat after he has taken advantage of its privilege. Summers sometimes feels slighted by Talbot's ill-considered comments and advice. Rites explores the cruelties of men in groups, and the tensions as they struggle over status and place in their artificial society on the ship. Miniseries adaptation In 2005 the books were adapted as a BBC drama serial starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Named To The Ends of the Earth, the series was directed by David Attwood and received a very good critical reception. The series went on to be nominated for six BAFTAs, and won both the Golden Nymph prize for best actor in a mini-series (awarded to Benedict Cumberbatch) and