Home
Naipaul shocker tipped to win British award
Europe News.Net
Thursday 15th May, 2008 (IANS)
The authorised biography of Sir V.S. Naipaul that said his infidelity and mental cruelty may have contributed to his wife's death is tipped to win the richest prize in non-fiction writing.
Patrick French's 'The World is What it is: The Authorized Biography of V.S. Naipaul' heads the shortlist for the 30,000 pounds Samuel Johnson prize, to be announced July 15.
Bookies William Hill have French's book at 5-2, followed by 'The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: Or the Murder at Road Hill House' by Kate Summerscale (3-1); 'The Whisperers' by Orlando Figes and 'Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart' by Tim Butcher (both 4-1); 'Crow Country' by Mark Cocker (5-1); and 'The Rest is Noise' by Alex Ross (6-1).
The book on Naipaul says the Nobel laureate had a 24-year affair with an Argentinian lover in the full knowledge of his wife Pat and visited prostitutes while she was alive.
A day after cremating Pat in 1996 he welcomed into his home a Pakistani journalist he had recently met - and they married two months later.
Journalist Rosie Boycott, who is chairing the judging panel, said: "All six books are ones which changed the way we looked at the world, they are all ones we are eager to pass on to others."
Last year's prize was won by Rajiv Chandrasekaran for 'Imperial Life in the Emerald City'.
 Email this story to a friend
Have your say on this story
|
 |
 |
- And now, Indian etiquette classes in London
London, July 23 (IANS) Kissing Indian women goodbye is out for young British businessmen and professionals flying out to India to explore new job opportunities. [read story]
- Somdev Devvarman ousted from Lexington Challenger doubles
Lexington (Kentucky), July 23 (IANS) India's Somdev Devvarman and his American partner Rylan Rizza went down fighting to Dominican Republic's Victor Estrella and Mexican Santiago Gonzalez in the opening round of the $50,000 ATP Challenger here. [read story]
- Vote over, Geneva welcomes Kamal Nath
Geneva, July 23 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath's arrival here early Wednesday could galvanise efforts to lay down fair rules of world trade, diplomats said. [read story]
- Can natural sugars help create stem cell therapies?
London, July 23 (IANS) Scientists are examining whether the body's natural sugars can be utilised for creating stem cell treatments for heart disease and to repair nerve damage. [read story]
- Family history 'cannot predict breast cancer risk in women'
Washington, July 24 : Refuting claims of previous studies, researchers from Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands have revealed that family history cannot be taken as a strong predictor of breast cancer risk in women. [read story]
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
