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William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised in a 14th-century house next door to a graveyard.
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William received early education at a school his father ran, Marlborough Grammar School. He found that bullying his peers was enjoyable and even said "I enjoyed hurting people." William went on to attend College at Oxford University. In 1934, he published his first book.
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In 1935, William decided to follow his father's footsteps and taught English and Philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury.
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In 1940, William abandoned his profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War 2.
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In 1945, William went back to teaching and writing.
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In 1954, after 21 rejections, William published his first and acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies.
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In 1963, William retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film of his novel.
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In 1988, William was knighted by England's Queen Elizabeth II.
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William spent the last few years of his life with his wife. The couple had been married since 1939 and had 2 children.
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On June 19, 1993, William died of a heart attack. After his death, his completed manuscript for "The Double Tongue" was published.