William Golding Reading Order
6 series · 20 books · Born 19 September 1911
William Golding was a prominent British novelist known for his thought-provoking explorations of human nature and society. Active from 1954 to 1995, he penned around 20 works across six series, including the acclaimed novel Lord of the Flies, which remains a powerful reflection on civilization's vulnerabilities. His diverse portfolio also features standalone novels, short story collections, non-fiction, and plays.
Anthologies Series
Complete2 books (1987–1990)
Start with The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories and read in order.
Non-Fiction Series
Complete3 books (1965–1985)
Start with The Hot Gates and Other Occasional Pieces and read in order.
Plays Series
Complete1 book (1958–1958)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Brass Butterfly 1958Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Story Collections Series
Complete2 books (1957–1971)
Start with Sometime, Never and read in order.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete9 books (1954–1995)
Start with Lord of the Flies, the first of 9 books in the Standalone Novels series.
To the Ends of the Earth Series
Complete3 books (1980–1989)
Start with Rites of Passage and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has William Golding written?
- William Golding has written 20 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1954 to 1995.
- What is the first book in each William Golding series?
- Here are the first books in William Golding's series: Anthologies: The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories; Non-Fiction: The Hot Gates and Other Occasional Pieces; Short Story Collections: Sometime, Never; To the Ends of the Earth: Rites of Passage.
- What order should I read William Golding's books?
- We recommend reading William Golding's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are William Golding's series complete?
- William Golding has 6 completed series.