Setting

Time period

The novel About a Boy by Nick Hornby is set in the years 1993 and 1994. Throughout the novel, the year is mentioned several times, for example: “How was it possible to spend less than twenty pounds on a haircut in 1993?” (Chapter 2, 1%). 

The story starts right at the beginning of the school year – “During the night after his first day [at school]” (Chapter 3, 1%) – meaning it is September 1993 at the beginning of the novel. Throughout the story, the passage of time is also clearly marked in different ways, such as when Will notes that the first time he hears his father’s song is “November the nineteenth” (Chapter 18, 1%) or when he falls in love at a New Year’s Eve party (Chapter 24, 1%).

There are several clues that offer authenticity to the time setting such as various cultural references, including mentions of music, fashion, and technology. Most significantly, the death of Kurt Cobain takes place towards the end of the novel. In real life, Kurt Cobain died by suicide in April 1994, which offers a clear time setting for the story. The story ends shortly after, while Marcus is still twelve-years-old, which means the novel spans less than a year.

Physical setting

The novel is mainly set in London, offering a contemporary urban backdrop for the characters' lives. London is not just a ...