tˈɑːmpsən dɪdnˌɑːt lˈɜːn tə ɹˈiːd ʌntˈɪl ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv twˈɛlv, ænd lˈɛft skˈuːl wɛn hiː wʌz dʒˈʌst tˈɜːnɪŋ fˈoːɹtiːn, bˌʌt hiː kəntˈɪnjuːd tʊ ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪt hɪmsˈɛlf baɪ ɹˈiːdɪŋ voːɹˈeɪʃəsli.
Thompson did not learn to read until the age of 12, and left school when he was just turning 14, but he continued to educate himself by reading voraciously.