Fropper.com Blogs – Free Blogging

Hi! there...I write poetry mainly...in 3 languages, English, Hindi and Marathi, my own language

<< A welcome change... | Main | Here I am... >>

Posted on: Mar 24, '08

A writer and a womaniser!

A new and authorised biography of Sir V.S. Naipaul, in which he is said to admit that his “cruelty” to his first wife Patricia as she fought cancer may have hastened her death, is likely to provide more ammunition to the controversial Nobel Laureate’s legion of critics.

V.S. Naipaul, who is portrayed by his biographer Patrick French as a “cruel” and “selfish” man, who visited prostitutes while his wife lay dying, has already set tongues wagging after he told an interviewer that he may not read the biography titled “The World Is What it Is.”

His statement has surprised critics who pointed out that V.S. Naipaul himself chose Mr. French as his biographer and provided him unprecedented access to his papers, including Patricia’s private diaries.

The Daily Telegraph, which will serialise the book from Saturday, commented that it “laid bare” V.S. Naipaul’s “shocking treatment of those closest to him” portraying him as “emotionally immature, selfish and self-pitying.”

He is quoted as admitting that the disclosure that he visited prostitutes while his wife was battling with cancer might have hastened her death.

“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 reportedly told Mr. French.

The book is said to paint a picture of a “bleak, loveless marriage” largely because of his extra-marital affair with Margaret Gooding, a married Anglo-Argentinian whom he met in 1972. Patricia was aware of the affair and although he claimed that she accepted the situation, his sister Savi is quoted as dismissing the claim as “absolute rubbish.”

He abandoned Ms. Gooding after he met a Pakistani journalist Nadira Khanum Alvi, his present wife.

The buzz is that he is likely to fall out with his biographer as “spectacularly” as he did with his long-time friend Paul Theroux who then went on to write a book describing the 75-year-old writer as “almost unloveable, mean and cruel.”

And here is what I feel. Should the Law take notice and arrest Sir V. S. Naipaul for hastening the death of his wife? After all, he himself has agreed to it!

Tags: naipaul, womanizer, writer

11 Comment(s) |

Share | Permalink [?] |

Digg!

Post Rating:

[ Votes: 3 ]

Comments [ 11 Comments ] [ Post your comment | Subscribe (?) ]

notjustart said:
Yes I agree with you about the Karma friend, I agree. And his behaviour is indeed insane! Thanks for your comment.

March 26, '08

Sunshine_Is_Here said:
Hmmm...Thats a tricky one! I'd just say one thing here...What is given,comes back as karma.
So whether the court of law punishes Mr. Naipaul or doesn't...he will have to suffer his share of pain too...And as for the way he treated his dying wife...This is INSANE!

March 26, '08

notjustart said:
Thaks so much for your comment dear but creating controversies has been a habit with Mr. Naipaul, that's what I read recently! So being courageous and all that is I think just trying to be in the spotlight, that's all. What do you think? Thanks again, your comments are most welcome!

March 25, '08

anuATOZ said:
seldom u will find a writer of his calibre
leading a simple life.nd why only writers i think most of the highly creative person have a dual life. i think they get a kick from all this. but i feel sorry for his dead wife. ya one more thing he has shown the courage to accept it.

March 24, '08

alamara2000 said:
I feel that writers of this caliber always have a dual life, and now by publicly owning his faults also he might be getting some sort of high. He should be punished by taking off from him the citation, his h royalty, so many things more , or just ask the public for their opinion. Thanks friend for sharing.

March 24, '08

notjustart said:
I agree with you Nova! Even I have come to a conclusion that the personal lives of eminent personalities must remain a closed book. But then why do they make it public, I fail to understand! Thanks for your comment friend!

March 24, '08

Novacaine said:
Uhh, I think what he did to his wife amounts to mental torture, which can be punishable.

And honeslty I am divided about the personal lives of authors. After knowing what they were personally, it becomes difficult to respect them even if they are great writers. Oblivion is bliss. I want to enjoy good writing without getting judgemental. I feel it's none of my business what they do in their personal life. Think I'm selfish in this regard when it comes to good literature!

March 24, '08

notjustart said:
I agree with you but must not people who write about virtuous living, ethics etc. also must practice it? And why not? I think they must. Thanks for your view and comments friend, I appreciate!

March 24, '08

south9468 said:
a writer is also a normal human being, i am not surprised by reading this article,well as per law if there is any punishment for this kind of act then it has to be implemented.

March 24, '08

creativefront said:
It's very painfull when a writer is having dual faces.We should condemn his act & behaviour.I agree with you.He should be convicted & penalised.

March 24, '08

<< Previous | Next >>

Want to comment on this post?

Register now, its FREE, and share your views.
Already a member? Login now.

About Me

notjustart's ezBlog