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Birth
William Golding was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. His mother, Mildred and his father Alec were both loving and had a great influence on him. He had his early education at the school his father ran, Marlborough Grammar School. He bullied his peers and he said he enjoyed hurting people. -
Early Life
In 1930, William attended Brasenose College at Oxford University and spent two years studying science, in deference to his father's beliefs. In his four years he changed his studies in order to fit his interests. In 1935, he graduated from Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education. -
Teachings
From 1935 to 1939, Golding worked as a writer, actor, and producer in London and payed his bills as a social worker. He said that theater was his strongest literary influence. Golding took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. -
Royal Navy
Golding temporarily abandoned the profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II. During World War II, he fought battleships at the sinking of the Bismarck, and also fended off submarines and planes. He spent most of the time on the sea therefore, Golding developed a lifelong romance with sailing. -
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Lord of the Flies
After 21 rejections, Golding published his first and most acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies. In 1963, the year after Golding retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel. At the age of 73, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1988 he was knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II. -
Death
He spent his last few years with his family; his wife, Ann and his two children David and Judith. On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. He published many other books that were a success.
