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His Birth
William Gerald Golding is born on September 19 in Cornwall, England. His mother, Mildred, supports the British suffragette movement, and his father, Alec, is a schoolteacher who advocates rationalism. -
Early life
Golding grows up under his father’s influence, who is strict and promotes rationalism, which dismisses emotionally-based experiences such as fear. -
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College
Golding attends Brasenose College, Oxford. Initially studying science to please his father, he switches to literature in his third year, driven by his own interests. He graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education. -
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Job
Works in London as a writer, actor, and producer at a small theater while also working as a social worker. He cites Greek tragedians and Shakespeare as his main literary influences. -
Starts Teaching
Begins teaching English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury. He marries Ann Brookfield, and the couple has two children. -
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The Royal Navy
Serves in the Royal Navy during World War II, a period that profoundly shapes his views on human nature and the capacity for cruelty. He asserts that "man produces evil, as a bee produces honey." -
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Teaching
Continues teaching at Bishop Wordsworth's School, except for five years during WWII. He focuses on writing in his spare time. -
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies is published, after being rejected by 21 publishers. The novel, examining humanity’s duality of savagery and civilization, draws from Golding’s experiences with schoolboys and his wartime experiences. -
Full time writer
Leaves teaching at Bishop Wordsworth's School to become a full-time writer. -
His Death
William Golding dies in Cornwall on June 19, 1993.