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William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. His full name is Sir William Gerald Golding. -
His mother, Mildred, was an active suffragette who fought for women's right to vote. His father, Alex, worked as a schoolmaster. Golding grew up in Marlborough, Wiltshire in a small house next to a graveyard. -
When William was growing up around 12 years old he attempted to write a book, but it was unsuccessful. Now William describes himself growing up as a bully or a brat, he just liked to hurt people because to him that was an outlet. -
William got his early education at the school his father ran, Marlborough Grammar School. He then went on to go to college at the University of Oxford and he later also went to Brasenose College before graduating in 1935. -
In 1935, William graduated from the University of Oxford. -
After college, he started working in settlement houses and the theater for a bit. After a while, he decided to take in teaching English. He taught at Bishop Wordsworth School. -
Golding spent the next six years of his life on a boat, except for a seven-month stint in New York where he assisted Lord Cherwell at the Naval Research Establishment. -
In 1963, the year he retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel. -
At the age of 73, Golding was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. -
William Golding died at the age of 81 on June 19th after an apparent heart attack.