unknown
January 24, 2026
‘To say I was the favourite would imply I was liked’: Mark Haddon on a loveless childhood
As a bookish child with a distant father and a disapproving mother, the Curious Incident author retreated into a world of his own. Looking back, he asks what it means to lose parents who never showed you love
TL;DR
- The author expresses a complex relationship with his childhood memories, marked by unhappiness despite a superficial resemblance to nostalgic 60s/70s English life.
- He describes his childhood home and the lack of meaningful conversation and emotional connection with his parents.
- Recurring nightmares and instances of his sister's fear of their father highlight a troubled family dynamic.
- The author's mother is portrayed as fearful of change, critical of others, and uninterested in his writing, prioritizing propriety and conformity.
- His father, an academic failure who excelled in sports, was also distant and prone to anger.
- Both parents are described as having wanted only one child, with the author receiving preferential treatment as the older boy.
- The author felt a sense of relief rather than grief upon his parents' deaths, noting his sister's desire for an apology.
- He questions the societal injunction not to speak ill of the dead, emphasizing the importance of truth.
Continue reading the original article