V. S. Naipaul

Date of Birth: August 17, 1932

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: August 11, 2018

Biography

Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, commonly known as V. S. Naipaul, was a Trinidadian-British writer of Indo-Caribbean descent, born on August 17, 1932. He is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished authors of the 20th century. Naipaul’s works encompass both fiction and non-fiction, with novels such as “A House for Mr Biswas” and “In a Free State,” as well as travelogues and essays. His writing is noted for its critical examination of colonialism and its aftermath, cultural dislocation, and the personal struggles of individuals in post-colonial societies. Naipaul’s early life was marked by a strict upbringing in Trinidad and Tobago, where his father, Seepersad Naipaul, worked as a journalist. He won a scholarship to study at University College, Oxford, and after graduating, he settled in England. Naipaul’s career took off with the publication of his first novel, “The Mystic Masseur,” which won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Over the years, he received numerous accolades, including the Booker Prize in 1971 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001, cementing his legacy as a literary giant.

5 Interesting Facts about V. S. Naipaul

1. V. S. Naipaul was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 for his services to literature.

2. He was the first person of Indian descent to win the Booker Prize in 1971 for his novel “In a Free State.”

3. Despite his Trinidadian roots, Naipaul spent much of his life in England and considered himself a British writer.

4. His book “A Bend in the River” is considered one of the most important works of post-colonial literature.

5. Naipaul was known for his controversial views and outspoken criticism of both colonialism and post-colonial societies.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from V. S. Naipaul

1. “The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.”

2. “It’s very attractive to people to say, ‘I am a victim, look at me. I am a victim.’”

3. “The only lies for which we are truly punished are those we tell ourselves.”

4. “The past is deep.”

5. “One isn’t born one’s self. One is born with a mass of expectations, a mass of other people’s ideas—and you have to work through it all.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the height of his career, V. S. Naipaul’s net worth was estimated to be around $3 million.

Children

V. S. Naipaul did not have any biological children. However, he was married twice, first to Patricia Ann Hale, who passed away in 1996, and later to Nadira Naipaul.