William Golding

Early Life and Education

If you’ve ever read Lord of the Flies, then you’re familiar with the name William Golding. He is a Nobel Prize laureate who has written several novels, essays, short stories, and poems that are still talked about to this day.

Golding was born in an academically gifted family in Cornwall, England. His father was a schoolmaster while his mother was a strong advocate for women’s suffrage.

William Golding attended Marlborough Grammar School where his father taught before joining Brasenose College, Oxford where he studied natural science before switching to English literature. His father wanted him to become a scientist but he pursued his passion for English literature. He published a collection of poetry called Poems in 1934, a year before he graduated.

Teaching Career and World War II

After graduation, he became an English teacher at Michael Hall School. He taught various subjects such as English, Philosophy, Greek, and drama before he joined the Royal Navy to fight in World War II. During his time in the Royal Navy, he fought in multiple significant battles such as the sinking of the Bismarck, which was a German battleship.

Writing Career and Lord of the Flies

After the war, William Golding resumed his teaching career and started writing novels. He wrote his first novel The Lord of the Flies, which was initially rejected by many publishers before being published by Faber and Faber. The novel became an instant success and catapulted Golding’s writing career to unimaginable heights. The novel was based on a group of boys who were stranded on an uninhabited island where they resorted to barbarism and violence to fight before their eventual rescue.

Adaptations and Other Works

Lord of the Flies was adapted into a movie in 1963 further establishing its place in pop culture. Another adaptation of the movie was made in 1990 introducing the book to a whole new generation of readers.

Golding wrote several other novels apart from Lord of the Flies but could never replicate the success of his debut novel. He also wrote essays, reviews, lectures, and short stories on various topics such as literature, history, science, and many more.

Awards and Recognition

Golding was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1983 and he was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988.

Death and Legacy

He passed away in 1993 due to heart failure.