VS Naipaul: Chronicling Postcolonial Experience

Author VS Naipaul in his London apartment, 7 April 1994
Author VS Naipaul in his London apartment, 7 April 1994 | © Jonathan Player/REX/Shutterstock
Lindsay Parnell

VS Naipaul, the Nobel Prize winning author known for his rigorous exploration of postcolonial life, has died aged 85. A writer of supreme linguistic dexterity, which saw him win the Man Booker Prize, he drew heavy criticism for his unsparing treatment of postcolonialist societies. He leaves behind a complex literary legacy.

VS Naipaul’s realist fiction and application of postcolonial observations resulted in a prolific literary career spanning over 50 years. A celebrated author and contemporary thinker, Naipaul’s writing was praised above all for its clarity and persuasiveness. Admired for both his wealth of talent and his respect for his art, Naipaul was a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature, a two-time Man Booker Prize nominee (and winner in 1971), and considered a definitive voice of contemporary English literature.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1932 to Indian parents, VS Naipaul found a passion for the written word early in life. Raised in a family of writers and journalists, Naipaul was educated at Oxford where he further explored his literary gifts. His debut novel The Mystic Masseur, a comic novel set in colonial Trinidad, was published in 1957, setting the tone for his career to come.

Although an accomplished debut, Naipaul would not find success until the release of A House for Mr Biswas, which served as his introduction to international fame. Published in 1961, A House for Mr Biswas tells the story of Mohun Biswas. Driven by his desire to break away from the oppressively dominant family which he was forcibly married into, Mohun Biswas’ desire to own his own home proves deceivingly straightforward. Naipaul’s brilliantly crafted novel explores this thematic preoccupation against the shifting terrain of postcolonial and political perceptions.

‘A House for Mr Biswas’ by VS Naipaul

A decade following the release of A House for Mr. Biswas would see Naipaul win the Man Booker Prize for In a Free State. Published to instant critical praise, this free-flowing narrative begins and ends in Egypt. What connects these two plot points are three interconnecting short stories: the tale of a Bombay servant who ventures on an diplomatic expedition with his master to Washington DC; the story of a tumultuous family life in rural Western India; and the story of a young homosexual government official and his colleague’s wife in a recently liberated and independent African state. A well deserving recipient of 1971’s Man Booker Prize, In a Free State is an inspired act of storytelling in its innovative use of both structure and language.

His second Booker prize nomination came in 1979 for A Bend in the River, an existentially troubling story of an Indian from East Africa, set in a newly independent African state. Though it remains one of his most enduring works, the book has been criticised for its hostile treatment of women, a charge also levelled against his 1975 novel Guerillas. Naipaul, however, regarded it as one of his finest achievements, stating: “Actually, I think A Bend in the River is much, much better than Conrad.”

Although known for his stimulating fiction, Naipaul was also an author of essays and travel writing. Most recently he published a number of celebrated non-fiction collections including The Masque of Africa: Glimpses of African Belief, A Writer’s People: Ways of Looking and Feeling and Literary Occasions: Essays. Much like his fiction, the collections explore themes of postcolonial societies in the wake of independence.

He was notorious for his often controversial public proclamations, both in relation to female writers and Indian politics. He was also attacked by leading public intellectual Edward Said for merely restating the categories of colonialism in his work, rather than discrediting them. Following his death, novelist Salman Rushdie wrote this tribute on Twitter, capturing the sense of ambivalence felt by many of his peers: “We disagreed all our lives, about politics, about literature, and I feel as sad as if I just lost a beloved older brother.”

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article