Date:16/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/16/stories/2008051656852000.htm

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Naipaul biography shortlisted for Samuel Johnson award

Hasan Suroor

Bruising book by Patrick French bookies’ favourite among six in the list

V.S. Naipaul

LONDON: A bruising biography of V.S. Naipaul by Patrick French, which explores the darker side of his personality, has been shortlisted for the £30,000 Samuel Johnson award. It is one of Britain’s top prizes, given to a non-fiction book that is deemed to have changed the way people look at the world.

The 500-page biography, The World Is What It Is, takes a warts-and-all approach and has sparked worldwide interest, especially in India and Britain.

It reveals the Nobel laureate as narcissistic, arrogant, selfish and cruel, while acknowledging his brilliance as a writer who overcame formidable hurdles to emerge as one the most compelling literary figures of the English-speaking world.

The bits that have attracted widespread media attention relate to Sir Vidia’s treatment of his wife Patricia (Pat), and his mistress Margaret Gooding, a married Anglo-Argentinian with whom he had an on-and-off affair for nearly a quarter century.

In the book, Sir Vidia admits that his “cruelty” to Pat as she fought cancer may have hastened her death. He is particularly contrite about his clandestine visits to women of vice while Pat struggled with her illness.

“I think that consumed her. I think she had all the relapses and everything after that. She suffered. It could be said that I killed her. It could be said that I feel a little bit that way,” he was reported as having said.

French also highlights Sir Vidia’s treatment of Ms. Gooding, whom he abandoned after he met Pakistani journalist Nadira Khanum Alvi, his present wife.

The biography has a long cast of characters, including many Indian writers, journalists and socialites.

Other shortlisted books

The Samuel Johnson prize, sponsored by BBC 4, recognises the year’s best work in politics, history, biography, autobiography, current affairs, travel and sport. There are five other books on the shortlist but Patrick French is reported to be the bookies’ favourite to win. The prize will be announced next month.

Writer and journalist Rosie Boycott, chair of the jury, said: “All six books are ones which changed the way we looked at the world; they are all ones we are eager to pass on to others.”