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He was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised next door to a graveyard with his mother who fought for women’s right to vote and his father who worked as a schoolmaster.
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When he was 12 years old, he tried to write a novel. He was a frusterated child and so he found relase in bullying other kids. Later in life, he even described his childhood self as a brat.
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After primary school he went to Brasenose College at Oxford University. His father wanted him to become a scientist, but William studied English literature. In 1934, a year before h graduated, he published his first book of poetry but it was largely overlooked by critics.
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He eventually decidided to follow in his father’s footsteps. He took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. Golding’s experience teaching problem young boys would be inspiration for "Lord of the Flies."
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Temporarily, he abandoned the profession of teaching to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II.
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Just like when he was teaching, Golding’s participation in the war led to material for his work. After World War II had ended, he went back to teaching and writing
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After 21 rejections, the book is finally published which is his first and most acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies.
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Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel
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At the age of 73, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
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Knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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He died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. He was found by his wife and their two children, After he died, his completed manuscript for The Double Tongue was published.
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New film version of the book was realsed bringing the attention of a new generation
