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Birth
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. -
Education
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. -
Teaching
In 1935 Golding took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. -
Family
Golding spent the last few years of his life quietly living with his wife, Ann Brookfield, at their house near Falmouth, Cornwall, where he continued to toil at his writing. The couple had married in 1939 and had two children. -
Fighting in the war
in 1940 Golding temporarily abandoned the profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II. -
After the war
In 1945, after World War II had ended, Golding went back to teaching and writing. -
Rewards
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. -
Death
On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Cornwall. After Golding died, his completed manuscript for The Double Tongue was published posthumously.
