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Birth
Golding was born in 1911 in his grandmother's home in Cornwall. His biological parents were Mildred Curnoe and Alec Golding. His father, Alec Golding, was a science master at Marlborough Grammar School while his mother, Mildred Curnoe, was a campaigner for women's suffrage. -
Attendance in Brasenose College, Oxford
Golding attended Brasenose College, Oxford in 1930, where his first two years were spent studying Natural Sciences, followed by a transition into English Literature. -
Publishing of Golding's first work, 'Poems'
In 1934, Golding's first work, titled 'Poems', was published by Macmillan & Co -
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Teaching Experiences
The year following the publishing of his first work in 1935, Golding would seek employment at Michael Hall School as a teacher for two years. Following this, he undertook the role of Schoolmaster at Maidstone Grammar School, teaching English and Music from 1938-40. His final formal years of teaching would be hosted at Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury, enabling him to teach English, Philosophy, Greek and Drama. -
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Navy Enlistment
Following his career in education, Golding would enlist in the British Navy in 1940 around the peak of the Second World War. Reporting for duty on the HMS Raleigh, he was briefly involved in the pursuit of the Bismarck, and later commanded a landing craft in the invasion of Normandy, D-Day. -
Publishing of "Lord of the Flies"
Following a year of rejections from publishers, Golding's novel manuscript was supported by editor, Charles Monteith, subsequently resulting in the novel being published as "Lord of the Flies" in 1954 -
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Golding's Journal
From 1971 until his death, Golding kept a personal journal originally detailing the recollection of his dreams. However, over time, the contents of his journal expanded into something akin to an autobiography. Some of these journal entries would later be drawn upon for use in his novels. -
Nobel Prize Selection
In 1983, Golding was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, despite the verdict being received with controversy. -
Knighted by the Queen
In 1988, Golding was knighted the title "Knight Bachelor" by Queen Elizabeth II. -
Death
William Golding passed away due to a sudden heart failure on the 19th of June, 1993