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Birth
William Golding was born September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. -
Attempted his first Novel
When William was just 12 years old, tried to write a novel. A frustrated child, he found an outlet in bullying his peers. Later in life, William would describe his childhood self as a brat, even going so far as to say, “I enjoyed hurting people.” -
Published first book
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. -
Began Teaching
In 1935 he started teaching English and philosophy in Salisbury -
Graduated College
In 1935, he graduated from Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education. -
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Worked in a small theather in London
From 1935 to 1939, Golding worked as a writer, actor, and producer with a small theater in an unfashionable part of London, paying his bills with a job as a social worker. -
Joined the Navy
He temporarily left teaching in 1940 to join the Royal Navy. The five years Golding spent in the navy (from 1940 to 1945) made an enormous impact, exposing him to the incredible cruelty and barbarity of which humankind is capable. -
Wrote Lord of the Flies
In 1954 he published his first novel, Lord of the Flies. -
Nobel Peace Prize
British Novelist William Golding wrote Lord of the flies was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. -
Death
On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.