Sir Vidia Has Died

The controversial Nobel Prize winning author author V.S. Naipaul died on Saturday at home in London at age 85. From BBC News:

Sir Vidia, who was born in rural Trinidad in 1932, wrote more than 30 books including A Bend in the River and his masterpiece, A House for Mr Biswas.

His wife Lady Naipaul called him a “giant in all that he achieved”.

She said he died at his home in London “surrounded by those he loved having lived a life which was full of wonderful creativity and endeavour”.

Geordie Greig, editor of the Mail on Sunday and a close friend, said his death leaves a “gaping hole in Britain’s literary heritage” but there is “no doubt” that his “books live on”.

The full story is here.

January Magazine’s 1999 review of Sir Vidia’s Shadow by Paul Theroux is here.