Empire 315. Controversy, Colonialism, & V.S. Naipaul
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Dec 11, 2025 
In this insightful discussion, Pulitzer Prize winner Ben Moser, biographer of Susan Sontag, delves into the controversial life of V.S. Naipaul. They explore his struggles at Oxford and how his Trinidadian roots shaped his worldview. Moser highlights Naipaul's early comic novels and his evolving stance on race and colonialism. The conversation touches on his critical works about postcolonial societies and the disputes he ignited, particularly with Salman Rushdie. Moser ultimately reflects on Naipaul's complex legacy in literature and the postcolonial landscape.
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A Writer From 'No Background'
- V.S. Naipaul transformed English literature by writing from a background with 'no background', reshaping how readers saw uprooted post‑colonial lives.
- His mastery of English forms let him give shape to experiences missing from imperial literature.
Gentle Mentor Behind A Fearsome Image
- Ben Moser recalled Naipaul as unexpectedly kind to a young publishing newbie despite the writer's fearsome public reputation.
- William Dalrymple also remembered Naipaul being generous and unexpectedly engaging at a Christie's lunch.
English As Both Tool And Ambition
- Naipaul's relationship to English was central: colonially taught English pointed to 'high civilisation' and gave him literary ambition.
- That borrowed language became the vehicle for portraying societies absent from mainstream literature.
