WILLIAM GOLDING
William Golding was born in Cornwall on 19 September 1911. His father, a well-known educationalist, moved with his family to Wiltshire, where he taught at Marlborough Grammar School. On completion of his studies at the same school in 930, the son went up to Oxford, where
first, at his father's request, he devoted himself to natural science. Soon he changed to English
literature, with a special interest in the Anglo-Saxon period. After passing his exams in 1934 he worked in small theatrical companies as writer, actor and producer, but for a year or two before the
war, and fifteen years or so thereafter, he was also teacher. During the second world war he served
in the navy and took part - finally as lieutenant - in various naval actions such as the sinking of the
battleship Bismarck' and the landing in Normandy, decisive experiences which can be traced here
and there in his writings.The watches at sea gave him time for another main interest: the Greek
language and literature. Having already decided at the age of seven to be a writer, he made his début as early as 1934 with a small collection of poems, which however he wishes to ignore. Golding
does not look upon himself as a poet and his real d but with the novel Lord of the Flies, with which he at once made his name, was not until 1954, when he was 43. Since then he has published seven
novels, a collection of short stories, and several plays, essays and articles. His interests apart from writing - in which they are also reflected, are archaeology, Egyptology, classic Greek, music he plays several instruments) and sailing. Since 1955 he has been a member of the Royal Society of Literature and has received a number of awards.
