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William Golding Born
William Golding was born on September 19, 1911 in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised by a mother who was an activist for women's rights and a father who was a schoolmaster. He went to his father's schools for several years. -
William Golding attends Brasenose college at Oxford University
His father wanted William to become a scientist, but William decided to study English literature. He wrote his first book, Poems, in 1934 before he graduated. It was majorly overlooked. -
William Golding begins teaching English and philosophy.
William began teaching at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. Golding taught many disruptive and unruly boys, which would serve as inspiration for Lord of the Flies. -
William Golding marries Ann Brookfield
They married in 1939 and had two kids: David (born 1940) and Judith (born 1945). -
William Golding joins the Royal Navy during WW2.
He spent 6 years working for the Royal Navy except for 7 months in New York. He worked until 1945. This would again serve as valuable experience for his novel. -
William Golding publishes Lord of the Flies
After 21 failed attempts, he finally publishes the novel. It receive many praises and is considered one of the greatest works of all time. -
The Lord of the Flies is made into a movie
This was made the year after Golding retired from teaching. Peter Brook made the movie. -
William Golding receives Nobel Prize for Literature
He received it in 1983. He was 73 years old at the time. -
William Golding knighted
William Golding was officially knighted in 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II -
A new adaptation of The Lord of the Flies released
A new movie was made on The Lord of the Flies. -
William Golding dies
Golding died of a heart attack in Parranarworthal, Cornwall. Posthumously, his book The Double Tongue was published.