William Golding

  • William Golding was born

    William Golding was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England (biography.com).
  • College

    Golding attended Brasenose College at Oxford in 1930. He spent two years studying science against his father's beliefs. In his third year Golding switched to the literature program. He always dreamed of writing poetry (cliffnotes.com).
  • Golding graduated

    In 1935 Golding graduated from Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education (cliffnotes.com).
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    Career

    From 1935 to 1939, Golding worked as a writer, actor, and producer in a small theater in London. He also worked as a social worker to help pay the bills. He considered the theater his strongest literary influence (cliffnotes.com).
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    William started teaching

    From 1935-1940 Golding taught English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisburg (biography.com).
  • Golding joined the navy

    William Golding joined the navy in 1940 and fought in World War 2. He spent five years on a boat and his experience helped him write his novels (biography.com).
  • Golding went back to teaching and writing

    In 1945 World War 2 ended and Golding went back to teaching and writing (biography.com).
  • Golding published his first novel

    In 1954 William Golding published his first novel, Lord of the Flies. He was rejected 21 times (biography.com).
  • Golding retired

    Golding retired from teaching in 1962 . In 1963 a movie was made about Lord of the Flies (biography.com).
  • Nobel Prize for Literature

    Golding was awarded the Noble Prize for Literature in 1983 at the age of 73 (biography.com).
  • Golding was knighted

    William Golding was knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1988 (biography.com).
  • Golding died

    Golding died
    William Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England on June 19, 1993. After he died his manuscript for The Double Tongue was published. Golding was mainly a novelist but he wrote plays, essays and poetry as well (biography.com).