V. S. Naipaul: Displacement and Autobiography (Routledge Library Editions: Autobiography)

Book Details

• Author: Levy, Judith

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

• Language: English

• Edition: 1

• ISBN: 9781138942042

• Pages: 176

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions:

  • Length: 9.1 inches

  • Width: 6.3 inches

  • Thickness: 0.0 inches

About The Book

Judith Levy’s V.S. Naipaul: Displacement and Autobiography offers a deep, scholarly exploration of the acclaimed writer V.S. Naipaul through the lens of cultural identity, displacement, and literary form. Originally published in 1995, this insightful work investigates the interplay between Naipaul’s personal experiences as a Trinidadian of Indian descent and his evolution as a post-colonial author writing from the West.

Focusing on five significant works across different phases of Naipaul’s career, Levy examines how cultural dislocation influences his choice of genre and narrative. The study introduces the concept of "deflected autobiographies"—texts shaped not merely by life events, but by an inner negotiation of self, culture, and expression. Drawing on genre theory and Lacanian psychoanalysis, the book presents a nuanced interpretation of Naipaul’s autobiographical impulses and the boundaries between fiction and personal truth.

Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd, this first edition is essential reading for literature students, scholars of post-colonial studies, and anyone interested in the intersections of identity, narrative, and global writing. V.S. Naipaul: Displacement and Autobiography is a compelling academic contribution that sheds new light on one of the most complex voices in modern literature.