The Death of Grass by John Christopher

The Death of Grass is a classic tale of the post apocalypse. Originally written in 1956 (just after day of the triffids) by British author Samuel Youd under the pen name of John Christopher. The novel was written in just a few weeks and had the effect of liberating Samuel from his day job. In the US the name was changed to "No Blade of Grass" as publishers were concerned people would confuse the novel with a gardening book!.

The novel tells the story of a virilent virus wiping out rice, wheat and barley and threatening mass faminine across Europe and Asia. Austalasia and the Americas impose a very strict quarantine to prevent the virus entering their countries. The novel follows a family as they try and survive in a Britain dissolved into anarchy, and try and reach their brothers potatoe farm.

Dramatic and exciting while being sensible and gritty, this is one novel that should be on everyones book shelf.

This edition is being relaunched by penguin under their Modern Classics label and will hopefully allow a new generation the chance to read a truly modern classic.