Tell me a little about William Golding and how he came to write Lord of the Flies. Is this a "classic" book?

How William Golding came to write the "Lord of the Flies" is dealt with in great detail in Gradesaver's "about" page for the novel. Written during the early years of the Cold War, Golding portrays the conflict between liberal democracy (represented by Ralph's character) and totalitarian communism. Jack's descent into anarchy represents the latter. Through this novel, Golding shows his support for the position of the West in this difficult period of time. Further details can be found at the direct link provided below.

http://www.gradesaver.com/lord-of-the-flies/study-guide/about/