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William Golding Birth
William Golding was born on September 19, 1911 in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall. His mother, was an active suffragette who fought for women’s right to vote. His father, worked as a schoolmaster. -
William Golding published his 1st book
In 1934 William published his first book. The book was about poems entitled Poems. The collection was largely overlooked by critics. -
William began teaching
In 1935 William took up a job teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. Golding’s experience teaching unruly young boys would later serve as inspiration for his novel Lord of the Flies. -
William joined the Royal Navy
In 1940 William temporarily abandoned the profession in order to join the Royal Navy and serve in World War II. He spent the next six years on a boat, except for a seven-month stint in New York, where he assisted Lord Cherwell at the Naval Research Establishment. -
Lord Of The Flies was released
after World War II had ended, Golding went back to teaching and writing. On September 17, 1954 William Golding's most popular book Lord Of The Flies was released. -
Movie Adaptation
In 1963 the year after Golding retired form teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of Lord Of The Flies -
Awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature
Two decades later, at the age of 73, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. "...I came to Sweden characterized as a pessimist, though I am an optimist. Now something – perhaps the wonderful warmth of your hospitality – has changed me into a comic. That is a hard position to sustain." -
Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
As a result of his contributions to literature. In 1988 he was knighted by England's Queen Elizabeth II -
New Film version of Lord of the Flies
In 1990 a new film version of the Lord of the Flies was released, bringing the book to the attention of a new generation of readers. -
William Golding Death
On June 19, 1993 William Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall