-
William Golding is born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England on September 19th, 1911. His parents are Mr. Alex and Mrs. Mildred Golding.
-
Golding attends college and studies English Literature (though his father had wanted him to become a scientist). A year before he graduates, he publishes a book of poetry simply titled, "Poems".
-
Golding becomes a teacher and teaches English at another school. His experiences teaching young children later becomes his inspiration to write his famous book, Lord of the Flies.
-
Golding's teaching career comes to a close when he quits to work in the Royal Navy. For the next five years, his days are spent overseas and fighting in WWII. While in the Navy, Golding finds a love for sailing and the sea.
-
After 21 rejections, Golding's most famous novel, "Lord of the Flies" is finally published. The book is filled with gory imagery and symbolism, Golding himself based it on his experiences with man during WWII. The books's message can be taken in many ways, however the most common theory is that the theme of the book reflects on how, no matter how civilized humanity can get, we will always inherit that inner savagery in desperate times.
-
William Golding retires from teaching. Lord of the Flies is made into a film, and 2 decades later, Golding wins the 1983 Global Prize for Literature. In 1988, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Golding passes away on June 19th, 1993. His final manuscript is published, but it doesn't nearly get as much attention as his first published novel.
