William Golding

Birth

Sep 19, 1911

William Golding was born on September 19th, 1911 at his grandparent's house in Newquay, Cornwall.

Childhood

1923

When William was a boy, he loved swimming at the beaches of North Cornwall. Once he was old enough, he attended his father's school, Marlborough Grammar School. There, he tried to write his first novel but failed. He also described his young self as a brat; he says he loved bullying people at his school.

Education

1934

After high school, William studied English literature at Brasenose College at Oxford University. Here, he published his first work, a book of poetry aptly entitled Poems.

Teaching

1935

After graduating, Golding followed his father's footsteps and became an English and philosophy teacher at Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury.

Royal Navy

1940

In 1940, William temporarily left teaching to join the Navy. He spent the next six years fighting battleships and he was even the commander of a rocket launching craft.

Lord Of the Flies

Sep 17, 1954

William Golding's most popular book, Lord Of Flies was published September 17th, 1954.

Family

1958

William Golding had a wife whose name was Ann Brookfield. He had two children, one daughter whose name was Judy Carver, and a son whose name was David Golding. (I didn't know what year to put on this one but it is required.)

Awards

1980

William Golding won the Booker Prize in 1980 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983.

Other/Fun Facts

1988

1. William was also an actor and musician
2. He was awarded the title of 'Sir' by the Queen in 1988.
3. Many authors have borrowed plot elements from Lord of the Flies
4. He was rejected 21 times before publishing his first book.
5. A few other books he published: -The Inheritors (1955) -Pincher Martin (1956) -Free Fall (1959) -The Spire (1964) -The Pyramid (1967) etc. (I also didn't know what year to put this as but it is required.)

Death

Jun 19, 1993

William Golding died of heart failure on June 19th, 1993.