Work-life parallels still exist, however. He is now 44. Since he wrote his last novel four years ago, he has divorced. He has, thanks to Hollywood's partiality for his work, become wealthy rather than merely well-off. And he has had to confront the consequences of his son, Danny, being diagnosed as autistic.
Many novelists like to downplay the autobiographical element of their work.
Hornby doesn't bother. Agonising whether we're doing the right thing all the time - that has entered my experience much more sharply for all sorts of reasons over the last two or three years. A web of issues that spin out of the school. How much I should do, how much I should get involved. Hornby helped to found the school, called TreeHouse, and has become, if not a campaigner, then at least a sort of low-key spokesman and fundraiser for those whose lives are affected by autism.