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Birth
William was born to Alec and Mildred Golding in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. Golding received his education from his father, who ran the Marlborough Grammar School. -
Death
Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. His incredible imagination and examination of the human psyche continues to inspire readers today. -
Graduated from Oxford
Golding's father assumed he was going to university to study the sciences, but instead, he opted to study English literature. He published his first work (a book of poetry) a year before he graduated. -
Married Ann Brookfield
A year after marriage, the couple moved to Falmouth, Cornwall and had their first child, David. Five years later, they had a baby girl, Judith. -
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Work in the Navy
Golding spent his time in the war on a ship, falling in love with the sea and sailing. Golding’s participation in the war would prove to be a great form of research for his future novels. -
Published 'Lord of the Flies'
The inspiration for Golding's novel came from his years teaching immature, young boys at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. After 21 rejections, his first novel, 'Lord of the Flies' was finally published in 1954. -
Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
Two decades after he retired, he received a Nobel Prize for his contributions to English literature. The Nobel Prize for English Literature is one of six annual prizes that are awarded to people for important work in the field of literature. -
Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
Golding was rewarded with knighthood in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honors List. The honors are Britain's way of saying 'thank-you' to people who have made a notable contribution to public life.