Who Is William Golding? Age, Biography and Wiki
William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, and passed away on June 19, 1993. As of 2025, he would have been 114 years old. Golding remains a towering figure in literature, celebrated for his thought-provoking works that explore the depths of human nature. His most famous novel, "Lord of the Flies," continues to resonate with readers, examining themes of civilization and savagery. Golding's contributions to literature earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983, cementing his legacy as one of the 20th century’s greatest writers.
| Occupation | Playwright |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 19, 1911 |
| Age | 81 Years |
| Birth Place | Newquay, Cornwall, UK |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | |
| Date of death | 19 June, 1993 |
| Died Place | Perranarworthal, Cornwall, UK |
Popularity
William Golding's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While information regarding William Golding’s height and weight has not always been a focal point in discussions about his life, it is generally acknowledged that he was of average build for his time. Speculating on his physical stats is challenging, especially given the era he lived in, but he is often depicted in photographs as standing at approximately 5 feet 8 inches. His weight likely fluctuated throughout his life, reflective of the evolving lifestyle and health practices of the 20th century.
Family, Dating & Relationship status
Golding was married to Ann Brookfield from 1939 until his death in 1993. They had three children together: Judy, David, and Graham. Throughout his life, Golding maintained a relatively private family life. There are no records of extramarital relationships or affairs, suggesting a steadfast commitment to his family. In 2025, Golding's familial lineage continues to play a crucial role in honoring his legacy, with descendants likely engaged in promoting and sharing his literary contributions.
The house was known as Karenza, the Cornish word for love, and he spent many childhood holidays there. The Golding family lived at 29, The Green, Marlborough, Wiltshire, Golding and his elder brother Joseph attending the school at which their father taught.
Golding's mother was a campaigner for female suffrage; she was Cornish and was considered by her son "a superstitious Celt", who used to tell him old Cornish ghost stories from her own childhood. In 1930, Golding went to Brasenose College, Oxford, where he read Natural Sciences for two years before transferring to English for his final two years.
His original tutor was the chemist Thomas Taylor. In a private journal and in a memoir for his wife, he admitted that, as a teenager during a vacation, he tried to rape a teenage girl with whom he had previously taken piano lessons, perceiving her to have "wanted heavy sex".
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death, William Golding's net worth was not publicly disclosed, but his works, particularly "Lord of the Flies," have sold millions of copies worldwide and remain in academic syllabi today. His earnings continue to grow posthumously through royalties and literary adaptations. While specific figures for 2025 are speculative, Golding's estate undoubtedly benefits from ongoing interest in his works, reinforcing his status as a literary figure of immense value.
Career, Business and Investments
William Golding's career as a writer began after he served in the Royal Navy during World War II. His experiences during the war greatly influenced his literary themes. Apart from his most renowned novels, Golding also authored plays and poetry. Post-retirement, he briefly worked as a lecturer and continued to publish works that explored moral and philosophical themes.
Golding's writings have also inspired various adaptations, including film and theatrical productions, which serve as business ventures that likely bolster his estate's income. His insightful perspectives continue to be studied in educational settings around the globe, ensuring his literary impact endures beyond 2025.
In 1935, he took a job teaching English at Michael Hall School, a Steiner-Waldorf school then in Streatham, South London, staying there for two years.
After a year in Oxford studying for a Diploma of Education, he became a schoolmaster teaching English and music at Maidstone Grammar School from 1938 to 1940, before moving to Bishop Wordsworth's School, Salisbury, in April 1940.
There he taught English, philosophy, Greek, and drama until joining the navy on 18 December 1940, reporting for duty at HMS Raleigh. He returned in 1945 and taught the same subjects until 1961.
Social Network
Though William Golding had no social media presence during his lifetime, his works have a substantial online presence today. Various platforms and literary forums celebrate his contributions through discussions, quotes, and analyses of his texts. The public's fascination with his work leads to ongoing conversations about the relevance of his themes, allowing fans and scholars alike to connect online, bridging the gap between past and present.
Golding's 1967 novel, The Pyramid, consists of three linked stories with a shared setting in a small English town based partly on Marlborough where Golding grew up.
The Scorpion God (1971) contains three novellas, the first set in an ancient Egyptian court ("The Scorpion God"); the second describing a prehistoric African hunter-gatherer group ("Clonk, Clonk"); and the third in the court of a Roman emperor ("Envoy Extraordinary").
The last of these, originally published in 1956, was reworked by Golding into a play, The Brass Butterfly, in 1958. From 1971 to 1979, Golding published no novels.
After this period he published Darkness Visible (1979): a story involving terrorism, paedophilia, and a mysterious figure who survives a fire in the Blitz and appears to have supernatural powers. In 1980, Golding published Rites of Passage, the first of his novels about a voyage to Australia in the early nineteenth century.
The novel won the Booker Prize in 1980 and Golding followed this success with Close Quarters (1987) and Fire Down Below (1989) to complete his 'sea trilogy', later published as one volume entitled To the Ends of the Earth. In 1984, he published The Paper Men: an account of the struggles between a novelist and his would-be biographer.
Education
Golding was educated at Marlborough Grammar School and went on to study at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he obtained a degree in English Literature. His education played a foundational role in shaping his literary voice, and he later acknowledged the influence of classical literature on his writing. Golding's academic background contributed significantly to his complex portrayals of human nature and societal structures, themes that remain pertinent in current discourse and education.
Golding took his B.A. degree with second class honours in the summer of 1934, and later that year a book of his Poems was published by Macmillan & Co, with the help of his Oxford friend, the anthroposophist Adam Bittleston.
