Stephen Hawking father diaries reveal doubts over his studies

Published: 23 May 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A newly uncovered set of private diaries has revealed that Stephen Hawking’s father once worried his son lacked academic drive and “does not study much”, offering a rare and deeply personal glimpse into the early life of one of the world’s most celebrated scientific minds.

The documents, written by Frank Hawking and partly encoded in a self-devised Greek-based cipher, have come to light through research for a forthcoming authorised biography of the late physicist. They suggest that during Hawking’s student years, his father struggled to understand his son’s apparent lack of direction and motivation, even as Hawking would later go on to reshape modern physics with his groundbreaking theories on black holes and cosmology.

Frank Hawking, a medical researcher specialising in tropical diseases, expressed concern in 1961 that his son “hangs round the house with little initiative and does not study much”, according to entries decoded by biographer and physicist Graham Farmelo. The diaries also reveal family discussions in which Hawking was described as having an “inferiority complex” and doubts about the value of studying physics at Oxford, which his father reportedly feared could hinder his future prospects.

The newly revealed papers form part of a wider collection of family correspondence and personal writings that had remained within the Hawking family for decades. They include journals and letters written by Hawking’s mother, Isobel, and materials preserved by his sister Mary. Researchers were granted unprecedented access as part of preparation for Farmelo’s upcoming biography, titled Hawking, scheduled for publication later this year.

According to the biographer, Frank Hawking’s diaries provide a “raw and honest insight” into both Stephen Hawking’s formative years and the emotional strain the family endured following his diagnosis with motor neurone disease at the age of 21 in 1963. The condition, which gradually paralysed him and severely limited his speech, was initially expected to be fatal within a few years. However, Hawking defied medical expectations and lived until 2018, becoming one of the most influential theoretical physicists of the modern era.

Despite early doubts expressed within the family, Hawking’s later life tells a dramatically different story. He became internationally recognised for his work on black holes and the nature of the universe, and his book A Brief History of Time sold more than 13 million copies worldwide, bringing complex scientific ideas to a global audience. His public lectures and writings inspired generations, particularly through his enduring message encouraging curiosity and perseverance in the face of adversity.

The diaries also reveal the emotional difficulty Frank Hawking experienced as his son’s condition worsened. In a later entry from 1967, he wrote about the challenges of communication and the slow progression of the illness, while also expressing sympathy and a sense of responsibility to support his son despite the strain it placed on family life.

Biographer Graham Farmelo, who previously won major literary awards for his work on physicist Paul Dirac, said access to the Hawking family archive had provided an “extraordinary window” into both scientific genius and private struggle. He noted that Frank Hawking’s use of coded writing reflected his desire for privacy in documenting deeply personal reflections spanning decades.

Farmelo also interviewed members of the Hawking family, including his children and former wife, as part of his research. The resulting biography aims to present what publishers describe as the most comprehensive portrait yet of Hawking’s life, from his academic challenges and personal relationships to his scientific achievements and global legacy.

Stephen Hawking himself often reflected on his journey with characteristic humour and resilience. He once said that life would be “tragic if it weren’t funny”, and famously urged people to “look up at the stars and not down at your feet”, a message that has become closely associated with his legacy.

The newly revealed diaries, however, add a more complex dimension to that legacy, showing that even within his own family, Hawking’s early potential was not always fully understood. What emerges is a portrait not only of a scientific genius, but also of a young man whose future greatness was, at one time, uncertain even to those closest to him.