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Birth
William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. -
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First Try
When William was just 12 years old, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to write a novel. -
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Going to College
When William was just 12 years old, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to write a novel. -
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First Publish
In 1934, a year before he graduated, William published his first work, a book of poetry aptly entitled Poems. -
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Getting a job
In 1935 Golding took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. -
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Life on sea
Golding spent the better part of the next six years on a boat -
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True compassion
While in the Royal Navy, Golding developed a lifelong romance with sailing and the sea. -
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Going to the Navy
Although passionate about teaching from day one, in 1940 Golding temporarily abandoned the profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II. -
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First book
In 1954, after 21 rejections, Golding published his first and most acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies. -
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Movie
In 1963, the year after Golding retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel. -
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Nobel Peace Prize
Two decades later, at the age of 73, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. -
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Death
On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. After Golding died, his completed manuscript for The Double Tongue was published posthumously.