How many books has William Golding written?

William Golding published 13 novels, 2 novellas and 2 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.

What order should I read William Golding's books in?

Read each series in its own order: start To the Ends of the Earth with Rites of Passage. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.

What is William Golding's most famous book?

Lord of the Flies (1954) is William Golding's most widely read book.

Are William Golding's books connected?

2 books belong to 1 series (To the Ends of the Earth); the other 15 books stand alone.

Which William Golding books have been adapted?

1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Lord of the Flies (film, 1963).

William Golding books in order

British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate

Lived: 1911–1993
Country: United Kingdom
Books: 17
Series: 1

William Golding published 13 novels, 2 novellas and 2 non-fiction books, beginning with Lord of the Flies (1954). The series is To the Ends of the Earth (2 books, starting with Rites of Passage).

Updated September 2026

To the Ends of the Earth books in order (2)

Reading order: 1 Rites of Passage (1980) · 2 Close Quarters (1987)

1.
Rites of Passage (1980)
278 pages
Buy
2.
Close Quarters (1987)
281 pages
Buy

Where to start with William Golding

Start here
Lord of the Flies
William Golding's most-read book, rated by 397 Open Library readers.

Standalone novels in order

Lord of the Flies (Sep 1954)
243 pages★ 3.7 (397 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
The Inheritors (1955)
233 pages
Buy
Envoy Extraordinary (1956)
Buy
Pincher Martin (1956)
208 pages
Buy
Free Fall (1959)
253 pages
Buy
The Spire (Dec 1964)
226 pages
Buy
The Pyramid (1967)
217 pages
Buy
Darkness Visible (1979)
272 pages
Buy
The Paper Men (1984)
192 pages
Buy
To the Ends of the Earth (1991)
784 pages
Buy
The Double Tongue (1995)
165 pages
Buy

Novellas in order

The Brass Butterfly (1957)
80 pages
Buy
The Scorpion God (1971)
178 pages
Buy

Non-fiction in order

The Hot Gates (1965)
175 pages
Buy
A Moving Target (1982)
202 pages
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

Lord of the Flies (1963)Film · from Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies (1990)Film · from Lord of the Flies
Das Bus (1998)TV · from Lord of the Flies
Lord of the FliesTV · from Lord of the Flies

About William Golding

Sir William Gerald Golding was a British novelist, playwright, and poet. Best known for his debut novel Lord of the Flies (1954), Golding published another 12 volumes of fiction in his lifetime. In 1980, Golding was awarded the Booker Prize for Rites of Passage, the first novel in what became his sea trilogy, To the Ends of the Earth. Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

William Golding FAQ

How many books has William Golding written?: William Golding published 13 novels, 2 novellas and 2 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read William Golding's books in?: Read each series in its own order: start To the Ends of the Earth with Rites of Passage. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
What is William Golding's last book?: The Double Tongue (1995).
What is William Golding's most famous book?: Lord of the Flies (1954) is William Golding's most widely read book.
Are William Golding's books connected?: 2 books belong to 1 series (To the Ends of the Earth); the other 15 books stand alone.
Which William Golding books have been adapted?: 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Lord of the Flies (film, 1963).

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.