The Wall (Lanchester novel)
| Author | John Lanchester |
|---|---|
| Genre | Climate fiction |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
Publication date | March 5, 2019 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 288 |
| ISBN | 978-1-324-00163-8 |
The Wall is a 2019 climate fiction novel by British journalist and novelist John Lanchester. It is Lanchester's fifth novel.[1]
The novel is set in the future, where the United Kingdom has erected a massive wall around itself to defend against rising sea levels and keep out climate refugees, called Others.
The novel received positive reviews from critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.[2] Alec Nevala-Lee, writing for The New York Times, noted that the book "arrives at a moment in which the definition of a wall is a matter of national debate, and it actively invites such associations".[3] Amy Brady of the Chicago Review of Books called it "a harrowing but beautifully written novel that speaks not only to the uncertainties of life in the Anthropocene but also to recent discourses surrounding racial and economic divisions, nationalism, and immigration."[4] Johanna Thomas-Corr of The Guardian called it "an environmental fable that manages to be both disquieting and quite good fun at the same time."[1] Dan Hartland, in a review for Strange Horizons, noted thematic similarities with George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.[5]
The book was longlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize.[6][7]
References
- ^ a b Thomas-Corr, Johanna (15 January 2019). "The Wall by John Lanchester review – dystopian fable for our time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "The Wall". Kirkus Reviews. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ Nevala-Lee, Alec (5 March 2019). "Rising Seas, Migrants, War: A Timely Novel From John Lanchester". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Brady, Amy (27 March 2019). "In 'The Wall,' Climate Change Pushes Us Further Apart". Chicago Review of Books. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ Hartland, Dan (27 February 2019). "The Wall by John Lanchester". Strange Horizons. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "The Wall | The Booker Prizes". thebookerprizes.com. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Not read them yet? A cheat's guide to the 2019 Booker prize longlist". The Guardian. 23 July 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 February 2026.