Sir Vidia's Shadow (Paul Theroux, 1998)

ISBN 0-140-28110-X

The subject of Theroux's book is obnoxious – greedy and cruel, ignorant, cowardly, vilely racist and sexist; a scrounging, prissy, inconstant, ego-centric, scumbag. For example: Naipaul's younger brother, Shiva, reminisces to Theroux...

'He took me out and we bought a dog. The dog was an awful nuisance, not housetrained or anything like that. Vidia said "I think that's enough of this dog." We took him some distance from the house and let him go. "Just walk away," Vidia said.' – p.140

Whether this person is V.S. Naipaul, of course, I cannot say.

Despite his being a total swine, Theroux is captivated by Naipaul who in turn provides Theroux with much encouragement in his own writing career. In these early days, Theroux makes a meal of their friendship; indeed, he over-does it. Perhaps he is trying to convince himself of something. But the tide begins to turn when Theroux conceives the idea for The Great Railway Bazaar. The way Theroux tells the story, the reader gets the impression that Naipaul immediately sees that this is a great idea; that Theroux will gain both popularity and success from such a venture. And perhaps he becomes jealous.

'"Who do you think I should visit in India?"
He thought for a moment. He frowned. "You'll find your way."
For the first time in the years I had known him, I sensed a reluctance on his part to help me.' – p.212

The book itself begins with a bizarre first chapter, written in the third person and with invented names substituted for Theroux and Naipaul. I have no idea why. Perhaps some sort of literary device which escaped me, or didn't come off. Or something. But it soon becomes riveting; a brilliant character study – of Theroux himself as much as Naipaul. Especially further on in the book, towards the end, I could hardly put it down.

The ending comes as no surprise; indeed a footnote early on in the book describes how Theroux is denied access to Naipaul's files – even Theroux's own letters to him. In the penultimate chapter Theroux concludes:

'I had admired his talent. After a while I admired nothing else. Finally I began to wonder about his talent, seriously to wonder, and doubted it when I found myself skipping pages in his more recent books. In the past I would have said the fault was mine.' – p.363

Reading this book has made me curious to read Naipaul ... but also utterly determined to get hold of his books in such a way that there is no chance even one cent might reach the author by way of royalties!

Recommendation: Highly recommended.

Look and Feel: My edition is the usual matt-finish paperback.

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