William Golding

British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate (1911-1993) · United Kingdom · Writers · Died at 81

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He wrote a novel about schoolboys stranded on an island who descend into savagery, and it became one of the most assigned books in English-language education - a story that refuses to let civilization off easy.

Writers Writer / Author Literature Poetry Fiction Screenwriting United Kingdom Europe

A life in dates

1993Died19 June 19931988Knight BachelorAward1985“The writer probably knows what he meant when he wrote a book, but he should immediately forget what he meant when he's written it.”In their wordsAs quoted in Novelists in Interview (1985) edited by John HaffendenRead the whole statement

1983Honorary Doctor of the Sorbonne Nouvelle UniversityAwardNobel Prize in LiteratureAward1980“I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men - they are far superior and always have been.”In their wordsIntroduction to his reading of Lord of the Flies in the unabridged audio version (1980)Read the whole statement

“Reason, when it is refined into logic, has something to offer but only in terms of itself and depends for its effect and use on the nature of the premise.”In their words11 April 1980"Belief and Creativity" Address in Hamburg (11 April 1980); as quoted in Moving Target (2013), Faber & FaberRead the whole statement

Booker PrizeAward1979James Tait Black Memorial PrizeAward1961“Basically I'm an optimist. Intellectually I can see man's balance is about fifty-fifty, and his chances of blowing himself up are about one to one.”In their words7 May 1961Interview with James Keating, Purdue University (7 May 1961), printed in Lord of the Flies: The Casebook Edition (1964)Read the whole statement

1959“The Herr Doctor does not know about peoples.”In their wordsFree Fall (1959), last lineRead the whole statement

1954“We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us - "He beamed at Ralph."That was what you meant, didn't you?”In their wordsCh. 1: The Sound of the ShellRead the whole statement

1911Born19 September 1911

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

William Golding 1983

Golding, Lundkvist och Sartre i Leningrad 1963

Golding House 29 The Green Marlborough SN8 1AW

Golding's House

Lord of the Flies Island that is Featured in the Story "Lord of the Flies"

Paintings in Dining Room, Brasenose College, Oxford - geograph.org.uk - 4508686

Thoughtful Shelf

William Golding 1911-1993 author and Nobel Literature Laureate lived in this house - Marlborough Town Council Plaque

In their own words 7

William Golding

7 statements, newest first

The writer probably knows what he meant when he wrote a book, but he should immediately forget what he meant when he's written it.
1985, As quoted in Novelists in Interview (1985) edited by John Haffenden, Own words
I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men - they are far superior and always have been.
1980, Introduction to his reading of Lord of the Flies in the unabridged audio version (1980), Own words
Reason, when it is refined into logic, has something to offer but only in terms of itself and depends for its effect and use on the nature of the premise.
Apr 11, 1980, "Belief and Creativity" Address in Hamburg (11 April 1980); as quoted in Moving Target (2013), Faber & Faber, Own words

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Awards

Knight Bachelor1988

Nobel Prize in Literature1983

Honorary Doctor of the Sorbonne Nouvelle University1983

Booker Prize1980

James Tait Black Memorial Prize1979

Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

Family

William Golding

Partners

Spouse Ann Brookfield

Child Judy Carver Their record only

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About this person

William Gerald Golding was born on 19 September 1911 in Britain. His debut novel, Lord of the Flies, arrived in 1954 and made his name; over his lifetime he published twelve more volumes of fiction. In 1980 he won the Booker Prize for Rites of Passage, the opening book of a sea trilogy called To the Ends of the Earth. Three years later, in 1983, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was knighted in 1988 and named a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He died on 19 June 1993. Fifteen years later, The Times placed him third on its list of the fifty greatest British writers since 1945.

Country

United Kingdom

In common with William

Balthazar GettyAlso in Lord of the Flies (1990)

Nicholas HammondAlso in Lord of the Flies (1963)

Nora AunorAlso in Asphalt Blood (1975)

James Badge DaleAlso in Lord of the Flies (1990)

Peter BrookAlso in Lord of the Flies (1963)

Christopher de LeonAlso in Asphalt Blood (1975)

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