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William Golding is born
He was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. His mother, Mildred, was an active suffragette and his father, Alex, worked as a schoolmaster and active realist.(http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis) -
Attended Brasenose College at Oxford
Golding spent two years studying science, however, in his third year he switched to literature. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography) -
Golding published his first work
"Poems" was largely overlooked by critics. (http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis) -
Graduated and began teaching
Golding graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education. He then taught English and philosophy in Salisbury at Bishop Wordsworth's School. (http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis) -
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Worked for a small theater in London
Golding worked as a writer, actor, and producer. He also worked as a social worker. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography) -
Married Ann Brookfield
They lived in Falmouth, Cornwall and had two children. -
Joined the Royal Navy
Temporarily left teaching to fight in WWII. He was exposed to the cruelty of mankind, which would later inspire his writing.(http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis) -
First child, David, is born.
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Golding returned to teaching and writing.
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Second child, Judith, is born.
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Golding published his first novel
"Lord of the Flies" was published after twenty-one rejections. The novel would become a classic. The novel explored the coexistence of civilization and savagery within human beings, represented by the schoolboys stranded on a tropical island. (http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis) -
Published "The Inheritors".
The novel depicts how deceitful individuals rose victorious over the gentler individuals. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
Golding granted membership in the Royal Society of Literature.
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Publisher "Pincher Martin".
This novel tells the story of a naval lieutenant thrown from his ship during WWII. He finds a rock to hold on to and the rest of the novel tells of his survival and recounting of previous events in his life. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
Published "Free Fall".
This novel was written with a first person narration. Golding uses the character to comment on the conflict between rationalism and faith. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
"Lord of the Flies" film adaptation
The year after Golding retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of "Lord of the Flies". (http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis) -
Published "The Spire".
Golding addressed the issue of faith through a character who decides God wants a 400-foot-high spire built on top of a cathedral. The novel tells of the cost of building the spire and the lessons learned too late. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
Published "The Pyramid".
A novel using the musical structure of sonata, "The Pyramid" analyses an English social class in which music is a primary issue. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
Published the collection "The Scorpion God:Three Short Novels".
Each story analyzes the affects of technological progress. One of the stories had been published in 1956 and was later turned into a comedic play titled "The Brass Butterfly", performed in London in 1958. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
Published "Darkness Visible".
Addresses good and evil through the characters Sophy, who wants to kidnap a child for ransom, and Matty, who gives his life to stop her. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
"Rites of Passage" wins the Booker McConnell Prize.
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Published "The Sea Trilogy".
The novel tells of the emotional education and moral growth of a young man named Edmund Talbot during an ocean voyage to Australia in 1812. "Rites of Passage" was published in 1980, "Close Quarters" in 1987, and "Fire Down Below" in 1989. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
William Golding is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
At the age of 73, Golding is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.(http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis) -
Published "The Paper Men".
The novel tells of an elderly novelist trying to elude a young scholar who wants to write his biography. This was reviewed as Golding's worst work because it seemed to condemn critics. (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/lord-of-the-flies/william-golding-biography-2) -
Golding is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and designated Commander of the British Empire.
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New film version of "Lord of the Flies" is released
A new generation of readers was introduced to the classic novel. (http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#lord-of-the-flies) -
William Golding dies
He died of a heart attack in Perranaworthal , Cornwall. His completed manuscript "The Double Tongue" was published posthumously. (http://www.biography.com/people/william-golding-9314523#synopsis)