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Birth
William Golding was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England, to Mildred and Alex Golding. His mother was a suffragette and father was a schoolmaster at Marlborough Grammar School (Biography.com Editors). -
Early Education
Golding attended the grammar school his father taught at (Biography.com Editors). Aside from what he learned in school, young Golding was influenced by his fathers science-based, rationalist beliefs. He also had a personal interest in literature, reading works of poets such as Tennyson (William Golding Biography). In fact, at the age of twelve, Golding attempted to write his own novel, though with little success (Biography.com Editors). -
Higher Education
Golding started studying science at Brasenose College at Oxford Unniversity, in an attempt to please his father. However, after two years, he chose the literature program instead and focused on poetry until his graduation in 1935 (William Golding Biography). While attending college he published a book of poetry, entitled Poems (Biography.com Editors). -
Exploring Occupations
Golding took up social work in settlement houses and held a variety of positions for a theater in London. Theater inspired Golding, who admired Greek playwrights and Shakespeare (William Golding Biography). The theater may have inspired him, but his job as a teacher at Bishop Wordsworth’s School gave him the subject of his first successful novel, Lord of the Flies. The characters of the work embodied the reckless spirit of the boys he taught in school (Biography.com Editors). -
Military Years
From 1940 to 1945 Golding served in the Royal Navy, in which he fought ships, submarines and planes, and did research in New York. World War II exposed Golding to the evil side of humans, which he explores in his works (Bioography.com Editors). -
Publication of Lord of the Flies
1954 marked the publication of Golding's most successful novel, Lord of the Flies, which analyzes human nature through the story of a group young boys stranded on a deserted island. The book is part of the curriculum in many schools (Biography.com Editors.) -
Publication of The Inheritors
Golding wrote his second novel, The Inheritors, shortly after Lord of the Flies. Although he wrote many more works, such as Pincher Martin, Free Fall, The Spire, and The Pyramid, this was his personal favorite (William Golding Biography). -
Publication of The Paper Men
The Paper Men, was declared Golding's worst novel. Ironically, the novel criticized literary critics (William Golding Biography). -
Death
Golding lived in Falmouth, Cornwall with his wife until he passed away from a heart attack. The his last work, The Double Tongue, was later published (Biography.com Editors).
