farson was born in kensington, west london, the son of american journalist negley farson; his childhood was mostly divided between britain and north america. he visited germany with his father while negley was reporting on the nazi regime, and was patted on the head by adolf hitler, who described him as a "good aryan boy". (this phrase is in his autobiography "never a normal man" p. 19. however, from the writing, it is unclear whether the author is quoting hitler's actual words, or merely saying that he was amicable and fond of him) he briefly attended the british public school wellington college, whose militaristic regime was not to his taste; farson had become intensely aware of his homosexuality, which would sporadically cause him great emotional strain. as a teenager he worked as a parliamentary correspondent, and was pursued in the house of commons by the labour member of parliament tom driberg.