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Born
Born on September 19th, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. His mother, Mildred, was an active suffragette who fought for women’s right to vote. His father, Alex, worked as a schoolmaster. -
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Life
William was born on September 19th, 1911 and he died on June 19th 1993. -
First Work - Poems
In 1934, a year before he graduated, William published his first work, a book of poetry aptly entitled Poems. The collection was largely overlooked by critics. -
English Teacher
In 1935 Golding took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. -
Got Married
The couple had married in 1939 and had two children, David (b. 1940) and Judith (b. 1945). -
Joined Royal Navy
In 1940 Golding temporarily abandoned the profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II. -
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Time in Navy
During World War II, he fought battleships at the sinking of the Bismarck, and also fended off submarines and planes. Lieutenant Golding was even placed in command of a rocket-launching craft. -
Back to teaching
In 1945, after World War II had ended, Golding went back to teaching and writing. -
First Major Publish - Lord of the flies
In 1954, after 21 rejections, Golding published his first and most acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies. The novel told the gripping story of a group of adolescent boys stranded on a deserted island after a plane wreck. -
Lord of the flies Movie
In 1963, the year after Golding retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel. -
Noble Prize of Literture
Two decades later, at the age of 73, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. -
Knighted
In 1988 he was knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II. -
New Lord of the flies Movie
In 1990 a new film version of the Lord of the Flies was released, bringing the book to the attention of a new generation of readers. -
Died
On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.