The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Author(s)	Mark Haddon
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Mystery novel
Publisher	Doubleday Definitions Johnathan Cape
Publication date	2003
Media type	Print (hardback and paperback)
Pages	226
ISBN	0-09-945025-9
OCLC Number	59267481

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a 2003 novel by British writer Mark Haddon. It won the 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year^[1] and the 2004 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book.^[2] Its title is a quotation of a remark made by the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle's 1892 short story "Silver Blaze".

The story is written in the first-person perspective of Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old boy who describes himself as ‘a mathematician with some behavioral difficulties’ living in Swindon, Wiltshire. Although Christopher's condition within the autism spectrum is not stated explicitly within the novel, indeed, the words autism or Asperger's are not used by Christopher at all; the summary on the book's inside cover or back cover (depending on the edition) describes it as Asperger syndrome, high-functioning autism, or savant syndrome. In July 2009, Haddon stated on his blog that the book is not specifically about Asperger syndrome and that he is not an expert on the subject.^[3]

Characters

• Christopher John Francis Boone: The protagonist of the novel, who investigates the murder of Mrs. Shears' large black poodle.
• Ed Boone: Christopher's father, a boiler engineer. Up to the beginning of the story, he has been living with Christopher as a single parent for two years. He is usually very patient and understanding with Christopher, but gradually becomes uncomfortable with his son's investigation.
• Judy Boone: Christopher's mother. Early in the book, Christopher writes that she died of a heart attack two years before the book's events. Not much of an initial description is given, but Christopher describes more about her as the story proceeds.
• Siobhan: Christopher's para-professional, friend, and mentor. She teaches him how society works and how to behave within its complex guidelines.
• Mr Jeavons: the psychologist at Christopher's school
• Mr Roger Shears: One of the neighbours who lived near the Boones, but has left his wife before the story begins and has an affair with Christopher's mother.
• Mrs Eileen Shears: Mr Shears's wife, who attempts to console Ed for a time after Christopher learns of his mother's death.
• Mrs Alexander: an old lady, who is one of Christopher's neighbours, who offers information to help Christopher's investigation regarding his parents and Mr and Mrs Shears.
• Wellington: Mrs. Shears' large black poodle, which Christopher finds dead in her front yard.
• Reverend Peters: the reverend of Christopher's local church.
• Rhodri: One of Ed's friends who works with him in the boiler business.
• Toby: Christopher's pet rat.
• Sandy: A golden retriever given to Christopher towards the end of the book.
• Julie: Christopher's aide before Siobhan

Plot

Christopher, a fifteen-year-old boy with an autistic spectrum condition, lives with his father; he explains that his mother, Judy, died two years ago. He discovers the dead body of Wellington, the neighbour's dog, speared by a garden fork. Mrs Shears, Wellington's owner, calls the police, and Christopher comes under suspicion. When a policeman touches him, he hits the policeman, and is arrested, then released with a caution. He decides to investigate the dog's death, despite his father's orders to stay out of other people's business. However, he is severely limited by his fears and difficulties when interpreting the world around him. Throughout his adventures, Christopher records his experiences in a book: a "murder mystery novel". During his investigation, Christopher meets people whom he has never before encountered, even though they live on the same street, including the elderly Mrs Alexander, who informs Christopher that his mother had an affair with Mr Shears and had been with him for a long time.

Ed, his father, discovers the book and confiscates it from Christopher, after a brief fight between them. While searching for the confiscated book, Christopher uncovers a trove of letters which his mother wrote to him, dated after her supposed death, which his father has also hidden. He is so thoroughly shocked by his father lying about his mother's death that he is unable to move, curls up on the bed, vomits and groans for several hours until his father returns home. Ed realises that Christopher has read the letters and cleans him up. He then confesses that he had indeed lied about Judy's death and also that it was he who killed Wellington, stating that it was a mistake resulting from his anger after a heated argument with Mrs Shears. Christopher, having lost all trust in his father and fearing that Ed may try to kill him since he had already killed the dog, runs away. Guided by his mother's address from the letters, he embarks on an adventurous trip to London, where his mother lives with Mr Shears.

After a long and event-filled journey, evading policemen, and feeling ill from the overwhelmingly large amount of information and stimuli from the trains and crowds around him, he finally finds his way to his mother and Mr Shears' home, and waits outside until they arrive. Judy is delighted that Christopher has come to her; she cannot believe that Ed would tell Christopher that she was dead. Mr Shears doesn't want Christopher living with them and never did. Moreover, very soon after arriving, Christopher wants to return to Swindon in order to take his mathematics A-level. His mother leaves Mr Shears, their relationship having broken down because of the conflict and his rejection of Christopher. Judy then moves into a rented room in Swindon, and after an argument with Ed, agrees to let Ed meet Christopher for daily brief visits. However, at this stage, Christopher remains terrified of his father and makes repeated attempts to prevent him from talking. He hopes Ed will be imprisoned for killing Wellington. The story ends with Ed getting Christopher a pet dog, which he names Sandy after his colour, because Toby, Christopher's pet rat, had died, and promising that he will rebuild trust with Christopher slowly, "no matter how long it takes". Christopher asserts that he will take further A-level exams and attend university. He completes his first mathematics A-level with top grades and, despite previously wanting to be an astronaut, his ultimate goal is to become a scientist. The book ends with Christopher optimistic about his future, having solved the mystery of the murdered dog, gone to London on his own, found his mother, written a book about his adventures, and achieved an A in his A-level maths exam. Christopher goes on to live with his mother, and occasionally visits his father's house.

Dedication

The book is dedicated to Sos Eltis with thanks to Kathryn Heyman, Clare Alexander, Kate Shaw and Dave Cohen.

Reception

The book was joint winner of the 2004 Boeke Prize, won the 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year award and sold more than two million copies.^[4] Haddon states on his official website^[3] that he knows "very little" about Asperger's syndrome and that Christopher Boone is inspired by two different people. According to Haddon, none of these people can be labelled as having a disability. Haddon added that he "slightly regret[s]" that the term Asperger's syndrome appeared on the cover of his novel. More recently, in an interview with The Independent, however, he stated that he is "now thoroughly irritated" that this term appeared on the cover because people imagined that he was an expert on the subject and kept contacting and asking him to appear at lectures about autism.^[4] The book has been criticised as not accurately depicting an autistic person's thought processes.^[5]

Film adaptation

A film adaptation, written and directed by Steve Kloves is currently being planned.^[6][7]

References

1. ^ "Ethan Frome" (PDF). http://www.costabookawards.com/downloads/Past_Winners_complete_list.pdf. Retrieved 21 November 2010. 
2. ^ Press release from the State Library of Victoria^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b} "asperger's & autism". mark haddon. http://www.markhaddon.com/aspergers-and-autism. Retrieved 21 November 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Mark Haddon: The curious incident of the novelist turned playwright – Features, Books". The Independent. UK. 31 March 2010. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/mark-haddon-the-curious-incident-of-the-novelist-turned-playwright-1931469.html. Retrieved 21 November 2010. 
5. ^ Chen, Eric "Autism Myths - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon", Iautistic, 26 November 2008, accessed 26 July 2011.
6. ^ Stanley, Alessandra. "The-Curious-Incident-of-the-Dog-in-the-Night-Time - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies.nytimes.com. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/441832/The-Curious-Incident-of-the-Dog-in-the-Night-Time/overview. Retrieved 21 November 2010. 
7. ^ "Guardian and Observer Film Season 2010's Power 100: David Heyman". Guardian.co.uk. 24 September 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/sep/24/david-heyman-film-power-100. Retrieved 19 October 2010. 

External links

• Powell's interview with author Mark Haddon