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Birth
He was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised in a 14th century house and received his early education from the school where his father taught at (biography.com). -
Early Life
When he was 12 years old he attempted to write a novel but did not succeed in doing so. he also enjoyed bullying and hurting his peers (biology.com). -
College
Starting in 1930 William Golding attended university at Brasenose College at Oxford where he studied science for the first two years of his time there. In his third year, he switched to literature to study his real interest (cliffnotes.com). In 1934 he published his first work, a book of poetry called "Poems", which was mostly overlooked by the critics (biography.com). -
Teaching
In 1935 Golding took a teaching position at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury where he taught English and Philosophy and English. Some of his experiences while teaching served as inspiration for "Lord of the Flies" (biography.com). -
Royal Navy
Even though Golding loved teaching he decided to abandon it for awhile in 1940 to serve in the British Royal Navy where he developed a lifelong love for sailing and the sea. He fought against battleships and planes during the war. His wartime experiences served as influences for Lord of the Flies (biography.com). -
Lord of the Flies
After returning from the war and after 21 rejections his book Lord of the Flies was published. It was his most critically acclaimed work and it set the tone for his future books about man and good and evil (biography.com). -
Post Lord of the Flies
Golding retired from teaching in 1963, and in that same year a movie was made of the Lord of the Flies. In 1983, when he was 73 years old, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. In 1988 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. A new film of Lord of the Flies made in 1990 gave his work more exposure to the younger generations (biography.com). -
Death
Golding spent the last of his years living quietly with his wife since 1939, Ann Brookfield. On June 19, 1993 Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. After his death, the completed manuscript for his work The Double Tongue was published posthumously (biography.com).
