NovelGuide: Biography: William Golding

Biography

William Gerald Golding was born in September of 1911 in Cornwall, England. Growing up in the life of luxury, Golding soon realized that he was very talented at his school studies. He attended both the prestigious colleges of Malboro and Oxford, studying both natural science and English. Despite his father’s protests, Golding eventually decided to devote his career to literature, where he became one of the most famous English novelists ever. Soon World War II started, compelling Golding to enlist in the Navy. It was war where Golding lost the idea that men are inherently good. After witnessing the evil of war, both from men of the enemy and his own side, Golding lost the belief that humans have an innocent nature. Even children he learned are inherently evil, thus foreshadowing his future and most famous novel, Lord of the Flies. In later years, Golding received many noteworthy awards for his contribution to English and world literature. Finally in 1983, he was awarded the Nobel prize for his literary merits. Golding’s other interests include Greek literature, music and history. Yet William G. Golding will be remembered mostly for his great contributions to modern literature.