William G. Golding

Sir William Gerald Golding (September 19 1911 – June 19 1993) was an English novelist, poet and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1983) "for his novels which, with the perspicuity of realistic narrative art and the diversity and universality of myth, illuminate the human condition in the world of today."

Early life

Born on September 19, 1911 at St Columb Minor, a village near Newquay, Cornwall. He started writing at the age of seven. His Cornish background has been rarely commented on, but he came to learn Cornish as a young man.

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September 19 - 1911 - St Columb Minor - Newquay - Cornwall - Cornish

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His father was a local school master and an intellectual, who had radical convictions in politics

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and a strong faith in science. The family moved to Marlborough and he attended Marlborough Grammar School. He later went to Oxford University (Brasenose College) in 1930, where he studied natural sciences and English language. His first book, a collection of poems, appeared a year before Golding received his BA.

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Oxford University - Brasenose College - 1930 - Natural sciences - English language - BA

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He married Ann Brookfield, an analytical chemist, in 1939. He became a teacher of English and philosophy at Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury.

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1939 - Bishop Wordsworth's School - Salisbury

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During World War II he served in the Royal Navy and was involved in the sinking of Germany's mightiest battleship, the Bismarck. He participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day and at war's end went back to teaching and writing.

Related Topics:
World War II - Royal Navy - Germany - Battleship - Bismarck - Normandy - D-Day

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In 1961 his successful books allowed Golding to leave his teaching post and he spent a year as writer-in-residence at Hollins College in Virginia. He then became a full-time writer.

Related Topics:
1961 - Hollins College - Virginia

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