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Born
WIlliam Golding was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. His mother is Mildred who was an active suffragette and his father was Alex who was a schoolmaster. -
Early Life
William attended school at his father ran. He was bullied by his peers and used writing as his outlet. He tried to write a novel, however he was unsuccessful. He would describe himself as a brat and enjoyed hurting others. -
After Primary School
William attended Brasenose College at Oxford University where he studied English literature. William had published his first work of poetry called "Poems". -
His Teaching Career
William took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. This inspired him to write "The Lord of the Flies". -
Break from Teaching
Golding had temporarily abandoned his profession as a teacher. -
Period: to
Royal Navy
WIlliam had joined the Royal Navy to fight in WW II. For the majority of this time he had spent his time on a boat, but when he wasn't on the boat he was in New York assisting Lord Cherwell at the Naval Research Establishment. Golding had fallen in love with sailing the sea. During WW II, he fought battleships at the sinking of the Bismarck, and also fended off submarines and planes. -
The Return to Teaching
After WW II had ended, Golding went back to his profession of teaching and writing. -
Lord of the Flies
After William had been rejected many times for his novel, he had successfully published his more acclaimed book. -
Retiring
Golding had retired from teaching. A film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel was made by Peter Brooks. -
Nobel Prize
Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. -
Being Knighted
In 1988 he was knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II. -
Death
Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.