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 1930, 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 début 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.
