The Midnight Library remains the most widely recognized narrative by the British author Matt Haig, who explores the complexities of life and mental health through his prolific output. Born in Sheffield in 1975, Haig built a career spanning fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature, consistently drawing upon personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence to shape his thematic focus.
Early Development and Academic Background
Raised in the Nottinghamshire town of Newark, Haig was the son of a primary school headteacher, Mary, and an architect, Richard. He spent his formative years alongside his sister, Phoebe Rose. During his teenage years, he experienced incidents of petty crime, including the theft of a tennis ball, an experience that triggered lingering guilt. He later pursued his academic interests by studying English and History at the University of Hull.
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Haig’s adult fiction often employs speculative elements to investigate family life and existential crises. His early works include The Last Family in England, which reimagines Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 through a canine perspective, and The Dead Fathers Club, a modern riff on Hamlet. His 2013 novel, The Humans, features an extraterrestrial who adopts the identity of a university lecturer to observe human instability. Later works like How to Stop Time and The Life Impossible further explore the supernatural, with the latter focusing on a widow who discovers superpowers in Ibiza.
Non-Fiction and Personal Advocacy
The author’s non-fiction catalogue is deeply informed by a mental breakdown he suffered at age 24. Reasons to Stay Alive, a memoir concerning his recovery, achieved commercial success as a Sunday Times bestseller. Other titles, such as Notes on a Nervous Planet and The Comfort Book, continue this focus on mental health. Haig, who identifies as an atheist, often compares the role of libraries to that of a church. He is also open about his diagnoses of ADHD and autism.
Children’s Literature and Media Adaptation
Haig established a substantial bibliography for younger readers, beginning with the fantasy novel Shadow Forest, which won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize in 2007. The sequel, Runaway Troll, followed in 2008. His children's book A Boy Called Christmas saw a film adaptation produced by StudioCanal and Blueprint Pictures. He has collaborated with various illustrators, including Chris Mould and Emily Gravett, on titles like The Truth Pixie and the Evie series.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 July 1975, Sheffield
- Education: University of Hull
- Notable Work: The Midnight Library
- Award: Nestlé Children's Book Prize (2007)
- Non-Fiction Success: Reasons to Stay Alive
- Spouse: Andrea Semple
- Residence: Brighton, Sussex
- Primary Occupations: Writer, journalist, novelist
Questions readers ask
What is the inspiration behind Matt Haig's non-fiction writing?
His non-fiction work is primarily inspired by a mental breakdown he experienced at the age of 24 and his subsequent journey with anxiety.
Where does Matt Haig live?
He resides in Brighton, Sussex, with his wife, Andrea Semple, their two children, and a dog.
Achievements
- Nestlé Children's Book Prize — 2007
- Notable work: The Midnight Library
