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William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England.
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In 1934, the year before he graduated, he published his first work, a book of poetry titled "Poems". This collection was largely overlooked by critics.
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In 1935, Golding began teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury.
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In 1939, Golding married Ann Brookfield. He lived with her near Falmouth, Cornwall.
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William Golding temporarily abandoned his teaching job in 1940 to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II. He spent a large part of six years on a boat, except for seven months where he assisted Lord Cherwell at the Naval Research Establishment.
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After 21 rejections, Golding published his first and most acclaimed novel, The Lord of the Flies. This novel has been considered a classic since its publication.
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In 1963, Golding resigned from teaching. In the same year, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of Goldings' acclaimed novel, The Lord of the Flies.
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When Golding was 73, he was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. This was two decades after the film adaptation, but 29 years after the books publication.
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In 1988, Golding was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. The honor of being knighted was Britain's way of saying 'thank you' to people who have made a notable contribution to public life.
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On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.
