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Half a Life - Summary


Half a Life
Half a Life is a novel written by V.S.Naipaul in 2001. The novel revolves around the story of Willie Somerset Chandran, whose father is a Brahmin from the Hindu caste system and his mother a Dalit. Willie's middle name 'Somerset comes from the name of an English writer called Somerset Maugham who had visited Willie's father in a temple once. Willie's has a strained relationship with his father and decides to leave India so as to go and study in London, England. He lives the life of a poor immigrant while in London but later writes a book and manages to publish it. The publishing of his book leads [to Willie receiving a letter from a fan called Ana, wh admires the book and wants to meet Willie. Ana and Willie fall in love and Willie goes back with Ana to her homeland in Africa. The novel ends with Willie leaving his 18-year stay in Africa and going to live with his sister in Berlin.
The book was written by the author to explore the life of an immigrant living in London and how they came to adapt to their circumstances. The author also wanted to explore how this can lead to a prosperous future and even allow one to fall in love. The novel was received well by critics and fans alike. In fact, The Observer commented that V.S.Naipaul is "without peer and is a "fine writer The novel was also long listed for the Man Booker Prize Willie Somerset Chandran is the son of a Brahmin father and a Dalit mother. His father gave him his middle name as a homage to the English writer Somerset
Maugham who had visited the father in the temple where the father was living under a vow of silence. Having come to despise his father for giving him a split identity, Willie Heaves India to go to London to study. There he leads a life as a different man with an interesting background 'oriental' and fakes the facts of his life. Later in London he writes a book of short stories and manages to publish it.
Willie receives a letter from Ana, a mixed Portuguese and black African girl, who admires his book, and they arrange to meet. They fall in love and Willie follows her to her country, an unnamed Portuguese colony in Africa, presumably. Mozambique. Meanwhile, Willie's sister Sarojini marries a German and moves to Berlin. The novel ends with Willie having moved to his sister's place in Berlin after his 18-year stay in Africa.
The Book is divided into three Segments In the First Segment called "A Visit from Somerset Maugham, Willie's father narrates his own childhood in India and his relationship with Willie's grandfather. This story telling extends to about 10 years, with information given bit by bit to Willie Chandran by his father. In this segment the story is written in the first person as though Willie Chandran's father is narrating it. The Second Segment is peculiarly called *The First Chapter. This describes the childhood and other activities in India till the protagonist Willie Chandran became 20 years of age. Then he leaves for London on a scholarship arranged by his father's contact in the UK. The story line is presented in the third person. The author takes charge and gives the story of how the protagonist tries his hand at writing to make a living. The last segment is "A Second Translation' which has Willie Chandran meeting Ana, with whom he moves to live in her home-town in Africa and spends 18 years of his life there.
Source: Vasans. A Guide to Half a Life.

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