William Golding was an English novelist, playwright, and poet, best known for his novel Lord of the Flies, published in 1954. The book explores themes of human nature and civilization through the story of boys stranded on an uninhabited island. Golding's writing often reflects his views on the darker aspects of humanity. Born in 1911, Golding served in the Royal Navy during World War II, which influenced his perspective on conflict and morality. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983 for his body of work, which includes other notable novels like The Inheritors and Free Fall.