Conversations Trent Dalton on life before Boy Swallows Universe
Feb 26, 2024
Explore Trent Dalton's childhood memories in a housing commission area, the reunion of his parents, and his journey from a troubled past to a successful writing career. Dive into a mysterious encounter in a dark basement, reflections on family, and the unexpected success of his novels.
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Earliest Memory
- Trent Dalton's earliest memory involves a man with tattoos he loved, who lived with his mom.
- This man, not his biological father, had connections to Brisbane's criminal underworld.
Secret Room
- Dalton describes a secret room discovered in his childhood home, containing only a red telephone.
- He later learned this room was likely connected to his mom's partner's criminal activities.
Grandparents' Influence
- After living in a house with criminal connections, Dalton moved in with his grandparents in Sandgate.
- His grandfather, a Rat of Tobruk veteran, and grandmother, a polio survivor, provided a stable, religious environment.