A biography that demolishes another hero.

Lifestyle supplement in the Sunday Times forms quite a crucial part of my literary Sunday. Always thought provoking, not always well written or researched but always food for thought.

A review of a biography on V. S. Naipaul brought a grin to my face. It seems the man is not so much obnoxious, arrogant and self centered but more, way more than that.

Paul Theroux, who was a protege for years until the wheels came off, had the following to say.

"He was then, and continues to be, an excellent candidate for anger management classes, sensitivity training, psychotherapy, marriage guidance, grief counselling and driving lessons - none of which he has pursued...French's biography amply demonstrates everything I said and more. It is not a pretty story; it will probably destroy Naipaul's reputation for ever, this chronicle of his pretensions, his whoremongering, his treatment of a sad sick wife and disposable mistress, his evasions, his meanness, his cruelty amounting to sadism, his race baiting. Then there is the 'gruesome sex', the blame shifting, the paranoia, the disloyalty, the nasty cracks and the whining, the ingratitude, the mood swings, the unloving and destructive personality."

Quite a mouthful from a man I rate highly as a writer and mentor so I am personally involved in this story whether I like it or not.

However, one has to look at the situation objectively and decide whether these character defects have any impact at all on the writer. In fact, does it really matter that the man is human, all too human?

It certainly won't make me not reread his books and doesn't make me want to read this catalogue of a character assasination masquerading as a biography.

'The World is what it is" by Patrick French published by Pan Macmillan.
Reviewed by Adam Levin who wisely reserves judgement on the book.