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Golding was born
William Gerald Golding was born September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. -
early kid
William received his early education at the school his father ran, Marlborough Grammar School. When William was just 12 years old, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to write a novel. -
College at Oxford
Golding began attending Brasenose College at Oxford in 1930 and spent two years studying science, in deference to his father's beliefs. In his third year, however, he switched to the literature program, following his true interests -
First work published
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. -
Oxford success
In 1935, he graduated from Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education. -
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Theatre work
From 1935 to 1939, Golding worked as a writer, actor, and producer with a small theater in an unfashionable part of London, paying his bills with a job as a social worker. -
Teaching career
In 1939, Golding began teaching English and philosophy in Salisbury at Bishop Wordsworth's School. -
Married man
Golding married Ann Brookfield, an analytic chemist, on 30 September 1939. -
Royal Navy
in 1940 Golding temporarily abandoned the profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II. -
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Serving the Navy
The five years Golding spent in the navy (from 1940 to 1945) made an enormous impact, exposing him to the incredible cruelty and barbarity of which humankind is capable -
Back to work
In 1945, after World War II had ended, Golding went back to teaching and writing. -
Faber & Faber
In September 1953, after many rejections from other publishers, Golding sent a manuscript to Faber & Faber and was initially rejected by their reader. -
Lord of the Flies was published
Lord of the Flies was published in 1954, Golding combined that perception of humanity with his years of experience with schoolboys. Lord of the Flies was the first to be published after having been rejected by 21 publishers. -
The move
After moving in 1958 from Salisbury to nearby Bowerchalke, he met his fellow villager and walking companion James Lovelock. -
Left teaching to become writer
1961 He left Bishop Wordsworth's School to write full time. -
Publishing success
His publishing success made it possible for Golding to resign his teaching post at Bishop Wordsworth's School in 1961, and he spent that academic year in the United States as writer-in-residence at Hollins College, near Roanoke, Virginia. -
Film adaptation
In 1963, the year after Golding retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel. -
The Spire
The Spire written by William Golding was first published on December 01, 1964. -
Booker McConnell Prize
Rites of Passage won the 1980 Booker McConnell Prize. -
Nobel Prize for Literature
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. -
Film version
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. -
Golding passed away.
On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. He was survived by his wife and their two children, David and Judith. -
The Double Tongue
After Golding passed away, his completed manuscript for The Double Tongue was published posthumously.