J. G. Ballard, The Crystal World

Jeannette Baxter (Anglia Ruskin University)
Download PDF Add to Bookshelf Report an Error

Set in an isolated corner of the Cameroon Republic,

The Crystal World

is widely considered to be one of Ballard’s most mesmerising and haunting works. The novel opens on a note of frustration: a passenger steamer which is carrying Dr Sanders (a leprosy specialist), Father Balthus (a Catholic priest) and Ventress (an architect) amongst its passengers is prevented from docking at the former colonial outpost of Port Matarre. Through the penumbral glow that bathes the distant shore, the passengers observe heavy military and police activity yet no reason is ever given for the boat’s delay. Instead, the characters are left to ruminate over these enigmatic events, and they (along with the reader) start to question their own and each other’s motives for travelling to this remote region of…

1544 words

Citation: Baxter, Jeannette. "The Crystal World". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 October 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1140, accessed 29 March 2024.]

1140 The Crystal World 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

Save this article

If you need to create a new bookshelf to save this article in, please make sure that you are logged in, then go to your 'Account' here

Leave Feedback

The Literary Encyclopedia is a living community of scholars. We welcome comments which will help us improve.