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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