-
William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised in a 14th-century house next door to a graveyard.
-
1921-30 1921-30 Golding went to Marlborough Grammar School, where his father Alec was science master. HIs father was a tremendous influence.
-
1930 Golding went to Brasenose College, Oxford, to read Natural Sciences.1932 He changed to English Literature.
1934 Golding gained a second-class degree in June of this year. In the autumn, Macmillan published his Poems. -
His father hoped he would become a scientist, but William opted to study English literature instead. In 1934, a year before he graduated, William published his first work, a book of poetry aptly entitled Poems. The collection was largely overlooked by critics.
-
In 1935 Golding took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. Golding’s experience teaching unruly young boys would later serve as inspiration for his novel Lord of the Flies.
-
Although passionate about teaching from day one, in 1940 Golding temporarily abandoned the profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II.
-
In 1945, after World War II had ended, Golding went back to teaching and writing.In 1954, after 21 rejections, Golding published his first and most acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies.
-
In 1963, the year after Golding retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel.
-
Two decades later, at the age of 73, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1988 he was knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II.
-
On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. Ann Golding died on New Year's Day, eighteen months after her husband, and was buried beside him in the graveyard at Bowerchalke.
