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William Golding's Birth
William Golding was born on this date, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised by his mother, an active suffragette, and his father, a schoolmaster, in a house next to a graveyard. In Marlborough Grammar School, a school his father ran, he attempted to write a novel. Frustrated, he found an outlet through bullying others (biography.com). -
His First Published Work
In 1934, William Golding first published a work of poems titled, Poems, in the year before he graduated college (biography.com). -
Golding's Career in Teaching
In 1935, Golding wanted to follow his father in the field of education, as he pursued a position as an English and philosophy professor (biography.com). -
College Graduation
Golding graduated from the University of Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education (cliffsnotes.com). -
Marriage
Golding married his wife, Ann Brookfield (biography.com). -
World War II: Royal Navy
As World War II began, Golding was called to join the Royal Navy and temporarily halted his profession. During his six years of naval fighting, he fell in love with sailing, fighting off battleships, submarines, and planes (biography.com). -
The publication of Lord of the Flies
In trying to publish his novel, Lord of the Flies, he got 21 rejections before it finally got published in 1954. The novel referenced the two most important events that happened to him: his English profession teaching young boys, and also his naval experiences (biography.com) -
Royal Society of English
Golding was provided access into the Royal Society of Literature (cliffsnotes.com). -
The Film
Nine years after its publication, Peter Brook created a film based off of the novel, Lord of the Flies (biography.com). -
Nobel Prize for Literature
At the age of 73, Golding wont the Nobel Prize for Literature for his widely acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies (biography.com). -
Knighthood
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988 (biography.com). -
New Film adaptation
In 1990, a new film was created of the Lord of the Flies book bringing its attention to another generation (biography.com). -
Death
On this date, Golding experienced a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. After his death, his completed script for The Double Tongue was published (biography.com).