William Golding's Life

  • Born

    William Golding was born in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England to parents Mildred and Alex Golding. His mother worked to get women a right to vote. His father was a schoolmaster.
  • College

    William went on to attend Brasenose College at Oxford University. His father hoped he would become a scientist, but William opted to study English literature instead.
  • Family

    He and his wife, Ann Brookfield got married in 1939. Together they had two children, David(1940) and Judith(1945).
  • Joined the Navy

    Golding stopped teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. He then joined the Royal Navy and fought in World War II.
  • Lord of the Flies

    After 21 rejections, Golding published his first and most acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies.
  • Lord of the Flies Film

    Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel. In 1990 a new film version of the Lord of the Flies was released.
  • Nobel Prize for Literature

    At the age of 73, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature.
  • Death

    Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.