Quote by Kate Atkinson
My father was an autodidact. It wasn't a middle-class house. Shopkeepers are aspirant. He paid for me to go to private school. He was denied an education - he had a horrible childhood. He got a place at a grammar school and wasn't allowed to go.
Summary
This quote highlights the personal background and sacrifice made by the speaker's father. Despite coming from a lower socioeconomic background and experiencing a difficult childhood, the father recognized the value of education and ensured that the speaker had the opportunity to attend a private school. The mention of being denied an education reveals the unjust circumstances the father faced, as he earned a place at a grammar school but was prohibited from attending. The quote emphasizes the father's determination to provide opportunities for his child that he himself was denied, emphasizing the importance of education and the pursuit of knowledge.