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Birth of William Golding
"William Golding was born in September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised in a 14th-century house next door to a graveyard His mother, Mildred, was an active suffragette who fought for women’s right to vote. His father, Alex, worked as a schoolmaster" (www.biography.com). -
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Attendance and Graduation at Brasenose College
"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. In 1935, he graduated from Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education" (www.cliffsnotes.com). -
Release of the book "Poems"
Golding, a year before graduating from college, releases his first book, a compilation of poetry, called "Poems". The book was critically overlooked as a whole (www.biography.com). -
English and philosophy teacher at Bishop Wordsworth's School
"In 1935 Golding took a position teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. Golding’s experience teaching unruly young boys would later serve as inspiration for his novel Lord of the Flies" (www.biography.com). -
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Career after college
Working with a small London theater, Golding was a producer as well as a writer and actor. During his time in the theater, he was influenced by Shakespeare and other Greek tragedians (www.cliffsnotes.com). -
Marriage and post-marriage
Golding marries Ann Brookfield in 1939. They both later have two children, David (born 1940) and Judith (born 1945). The family lived in a house near Falmouth (www.biography.com). -
Golding joins Royal Navy
"While in the Royal Navy, Golding developed a lifelong romance with sailing and the sea. During World War II, he fought battleships at the sinking of the Bismarck, and also fended off submarines and planes. Like his teaching experience, Golding’s participation in the war would prove to be fruitful material for his fiction" (www.biography.com). -
Release of "Lord of the Flies"
Golding finally releases his famous novel, "Lord of the Flies", after 21 rejections. The book criticizes the evil side of humanity as a result of being free from civilized rule (www.biography.com). -
Nobel Prize
William Golding was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983. This was mainly due to his popular classic Lord of the Flies as well as several other successful novels (www.biography.com). -
Death of William Golding
"Golding spent the last few years of his life quietly living with his wife. On June 19, 1993, Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall" (www.biography.com).
