Concrete Island

Concrete Island is a novel by British writer J. G. Ballard, first published in 1974.[1]

Concrete Island
Cover of first edition (hardcover)
AuthorJ. G. Ballard
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
PublisherJonathan Cape
Publication date
1974
Media typePrint (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages176 pp
ISBN0-224-00970-2
OCLC3207706
823/.9/14
LC ClassPZ4.B1893 Co PR6052.A46

Plot introduction

A car accident leaves Robert Maitland, a wealthy architect in the midst of concealing his affair with a colleague, stranded in a large area of derelict land created by several intersecting motorways. Though surrounded by motorists and within sight of large buildings, Maitland is unable to escape the median strip and must struggle for survival. Along the way he encounters other inhabitants of the median strip, which he comes to call "The Island," including a teenaged prostitute who hides out in an abandoned air-raid bunker and an acrobat who became mentally handicapped in an accident and now salvages car parts for bizarre shamanic rituals. He learns to survive by scavenging discarded food from littering motorists, and eventually comes to think of the island as his true home. Conflicts ensue with the other inhabitants and before long Maitland is struggling to determine whether he was truly meant to leave the island at all.

Adaptations

Ballard's papers at the British Library include his screenplay (1972) for Concrete Island (Add MS 88938/3/9).[2]

In 2011, Barcelona-based production company Filmax announced that it was producing a film adaptation of the novel. Scott Kosar was set to adapt Ballard's story, and Brad Anderson was to direct. Actor Christian Bale was announced as the main character. A start date has yet to be announced.[3] Bale, who played the lead in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Ballard's Empire of the Sun, apparently is no longer attached to the project.[4]

In June 2013, BBC Radio 4 aired an hour-long adaptation by Graham White, directed by Mary Peate, featuring Andrew Scott as Maitland, Georgia Groome as Jane and Ben Crowe as Proctor.[5]

References
  1. http://www.ballardian.com/biblio-concrete-island
  2. J.G. Ballard's 'Concrete Island', archives and manuscripts catalogue, the British Library. Retrieved 21 May 2020
  3. McNary, Dave (February 9, 2011). "Christian Bale heads to Filmax's 'Concrete Island'". Variety.
  4. https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/103160-void/
  5. "Concrete Island by J. G. Ballard, dramatized by Graham White". Radio Drama Reviews Online. 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-05.


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