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William Golding was born September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised by his mother Mildred and father Alec in a 14th-century house next door to a graveyard.
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Golding began attending Brasenose College at Oxford in 1930 and spent two years studying science, in deference to his father's beliefs. In his third year, however, he switched to the literature program, following his true interests.
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He published his first work, a book of poetry aptly entitled Poems. The collection was largely overlooked by critics.
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Golding took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. His experience from teaching young boys later served as an inspiration in his book "Lord of the Flies"
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In 1935, he graduated from Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education.
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At the age of 73 William was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 1983. It awarded to William Golding for his novels which, with the perspicuity of realistic narrative art and the diversity and universality of myth, illuminate the human condition in the world of today.
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Golding was Knighted by England's Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He was particularly struck by two aspects of the process. First, the lowlier the order the more the Queen talked to you. Secondly, she knew in each case why the order was awarded.
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A new film version of the Lord of the Flies was released, bringing the book to the attention of a new generation of readers.
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Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. After Golding passed away, his completed manuscript for The Double Tongue was published posthumously.
