A House for Mr Biswas
A House for Mr Biswas
V. S. Naipaul
Barack Obama
Great novel about growing up in Trinidad and the challenge of post-colonial identity. - Barack Obama
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A House for Mr Biswas

A House for Mr Biswas

V. S. Naipaul
By
V. S. Naipaul
3.8
1412
ratings on Goodreads

In the heart of V. S. Naipaul's masterpiece, "A House for Mr Biswas," lies the tumultuous journey of Mohun Biswas, a man propelled by the singular ambition to possess a home of his own in the lush, tumultuous backdrop of Trinidad. From the shadow of a tragic childhood marked by his father’s untimely demise, Biswas emerges as a figure of resilience and stubborn defiance, navigating through life's vicissitudes with a blend of humor, despair, and an indomitable will. His quest becomes a poignant exploration of freedom and identity, as he wrestles with the constraints of poverty, the complexities of familial ties, and the colonial legacy that shapes his world. Naipaul crafts a narrative that is as much a personal odyssey as it is a sharp commentary on the post-colonial society of Trinidad. Through Biswas's endeavors—his flawed yet relentless pursuit of a symbol of personal achievement and stability—Naipaul weaves a rich tapestry of characters and cultural insights, revealing the universal human struggle for dignity, belonging, and self-realization. "A House for Mr Biswas" is not just a story of a man's quest for a house, but a deeply moving testament to the human spirit's capacity to dream, strive, and ultimately, find a place in the world.

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Released
1961
1 Jan
Length
623
Pages

1

recommendations

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Great novel about growing up in Trinidad and the challenge of post-colonial identity. - Barack Obama
He read political books. They gave him phrases which he could only speak to himself and use on Shama. They also revealed one region after another of misery and injustice and left him feeling more helpless and more isolated than ever. Then it was that he discovered the solace of Dickens. Without difficulty he transferred characters and settings to people and places he knew. In the grotesques of Dickens everything he feared and suffered from was ridiculed and diminished, so that his own anger, his own contempt became unnecessary, and he was given strength to bear the most difficult part of his day: dressing in the morning, that daily affirmation of faith in oneself, which at times for him was almost like an act of sacrifice.
— V. S. Naipaul, A House for Mr Biswas

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