William Golding, Biography

Biography

 Sir William Golding was born on September 19, 1911 in Cornwall England. He was born to Alex, a scientist, and his mother, Mildred, a active participant in the women’s suffrage movement. His parents, especially hid dad, brought him up to be a scientist, although he had the mind of a creative artist. He first attempted to write a book when he was 12. He had seemed to always have been a writer, ever since he was young [3].

He revolted against the scientist and decided to read Literature instead, he became devoted to Anglo-Saxon[2]. He saw his first works published at 22, a year before he decided to get his degree in English, a poetry collection simply named Poems. After graduating form the University of Oxford in 1935[3], he decide to continue what family had done before, become a a school teacher.. He sought publication form twenty-one publishers which rejected him. He go published when he came upon Faber & Faber who published the forty-three year olds book. It sold modestly in the hardback edition that was first released. It became more affordable, after the paperback edition was released in 1959[4]. The book was a best seller because it reached tens of millions readers. Teacher saw the symbolic nature and the interest students demonstrated and soon started assigning as required reading. Scholars then critiqued and reviewed the book after the book reputation grew. His first book definitely got him the recognition that he now has.. The book was filmed 1963 in by Peter Brook. Became a school teacher after he married Ann Brookfield[1] in 1939.

 He had his career interrupted by participating with the British Royal Navy in 1940. On the war front he experienced human nature, he stated, “"I must say that anyone who moved through those years without understanding that man produces evil as a bee produces honey, must have been blind or wrong in the head." He saw what one human could to another, which can be seen portrayed in Lord of the Flies[2].

While at sea Golding had done some reading that enhance his knowledge about Greek history and mythology [4]. Upon his return to Bishop Wordsworth's School in 1945[4], he resumed his career in writing. He wrote three stories which never got published.

After doing some storytelling one evening he asked his wife if it would be a good idea to write a story about children showing how they naturally behave. She replied “it is a first class idea [1].”

The author’s productive later years, 5 novels in 10 years, the quality of his works established him as on of the best authors of the twentieth century. He was even named Commander of the British Empire in 1965. He wrote 12 novels, essays and reviews, poems, short stories and travel book about Egypt.

Two of the prestigious award he received includes the Booker Prize which he received in 1980 for his novel “Rites of Passage,” he also obtained a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983[2]. The Noble Foundation cited “these books are very entertaining and exciting,” as partial reasoning behind its decision.

He lived happily his last days in Wiltshire. He died of a heart attack [1] on June 19, 1993[4].

Works Cited

1. "Lord of the Flies: Author Biography." Novels for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 10 December 2010. .
2. Frängsmyr, Tore, ed. "William Golding." Nobel Prize. Nobel Foundation, 1993. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. .
3. William Golding Limited. "Biography." William Golding. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec.  2009. .
4. “William Golding.” 9 Dec. 2009.Library of Congress. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/Gi-He/Golding-William.html>