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Early Life
William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. -
Parents
Mother - Mildred, was an active suffragette who fought for women’s right to vote. Father - Alex, worked as a schoolmaster. -
Education
William received his early education at the school his father ran, called Marlborough Grammar School. -
Struggle in Childhood
When William was just 12 years old, he attempted to write a novel which was unsuccessful.
A frustrated child, he found an outlet in bullying his peers. -
Inspiration
Golding started teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury.
Golding’s experience teaching unruly young boys was later serve as inspiration for his novel Lord of the Flies. -
Role in WW2
He fought battleships at the sinking of the Bismarck and fended off submarines and planes.
Lieutenant Golding was even placed in command of a rocket launching craft. -
First Novel
After 21 rejections, Golding published his first and most acclaimed novel, The Lord of the Flies.
This novel told the gripping story of a group of adolescent boys stranded on a deserted island after a plane wreck. -
Awards
At the age of 72, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. -
Golden Opportunity
He was knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II. -
Sad Death
Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.
After his death, his completed manuscript for The Double Tongue was published posthumously.