Paul Theroux Skewers V.S. Naipaul (Again)

One of my favorite Paul Theroux books is Sir Vidia’s Shadow, his memoir of his ill-fated friendship with V.S. Naipaul. In it, Theroux paints an ugly picture of the famed writer, detailing countless character flaws. Now, a new authorized biography of Naipaul is coming out, The World Is What It Is, by Patrick French. That book, writes Theroux in the London Times, “amply demonstrates everything I said and more. It is not a pretty story; it will probably destroy Naipaul’s reputation for ever.” Wow. Talk about twisting the knife. Theroux’s new travel book, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, is due out in September.

 

©2026 World Hum, All Rights Reserved