"Examining Naipaul's major novels, travel writing and autobiographical work, Helen Hayward traces a pattern of themes and concerns which throw new light on the relationship between the life and work of Naipaul, as well as the creative process itself. She examines key Naipaulian concepts such as cultural alienation, detachment and anxiety, relating them to the narrative of the author's life.".

"What emerges is the portrait of a writer whose whole life has been characterized by a profound distaste for facile judgements on politics, history, art and religion, an artist, who like Swift, is often most witty when most depressed and most ironic when most sympathetic. Born into and raised in a colonial world, he is regarded by many as one of the most trenchant critics of the corruption, greed and brutality of the post-colonial world."--BOOK JACKET.