Conversation so far:
Where was Styron born?
Styron was born in the Hilton Village historic district of Newport News, Virginia.
Where did he grow up?
He grew up in the South and was steeped in its history.
Did his family own slaves?
Although Styron's paternal grandparents had been slave owners, his Northern mother and liberal Southern father gave him a broad perspective on race relations.
Did he have a good childhood?
Styron's childhood was a difficult one.
Why was his childhood difficult?
His father, a shipyard engineer, suffered from clinical depression, which Styron himself would later experience.

Question: Was his mother around when he was a child?
Self-contained rewrite: Was William Styron mother around when he was a child?