The Nobel Prize-winner VS Naipaul and his former protégé Paul Theroux, who had not spoken for 15 years, had an emotional reunion at the Hay Festival yesterday, helped by the novelist Ian McEwan.
Paul Theroux and VS Naipaul shake hands at the Hay Festival Photo: DANIEL MORDZINSKI
Mr Naipaul and Mr Theroux, the travel writer, first met in Uganda in 1966. Their friendship spanned three decades but came to an abrupt end after Mr Theroux discovered that one of his books, which he had inscribed and given as a present to Mr Naipaul, had been put on sale for $1,500. Mr Naipaul had apparently been angered by an exchange between Mr Theroux and his wife Nadira and broke off all relations with his former friend.
Deeply hurt, Mr Theroux wrote a memoir of their friendship, Sir Vidia’s Shadow, which portrayed the older writer as a brutal, unforgiving man who referred to Arabs as “Mr Woggy” and Africans as “bow-and-arrow men”.
Mr Naipaul claimed not to have read the book but took to damning Mr Theroux in interviews, saying they had barely known each other. He also dismissed his work as “tourist books for the lower classes”.
Festival-goers were intrigued to see that both men were scheduled to appear at the event within in a day of each other, with some joking that they might need to be kept apart. However, yesterday the old friends turned bitter enemies did see each other in the festival green room and – with some help from Ian McEwan – there was a moving rapprochement.
Spotting the man he once worshipped as a literary titan, Mr Theroux said to Mr McEwan: “Oh God, that’s Naipaul, I should say hello but I really don’t want to.”
“Life is short,” said Mr McEwan. “You should say hello.”
Mr Theroux walked forward and offered his hand. “I miss you,” he said. Mr Naipaul glanced at his wife – and then shook it. “I miss you too,” he said.
“After so many years, we’ve finally spoken,” said an excited Mr Theroux later. “I’ve had an experience today with a capital E.”
And Mr Naipaul, after delivering the London Library lecture to a packed audience at the Hay Festival, was gracious. “It was very nice to see him. And I’m pleased things have worked out the way they have.”
Mr Theroux walked forward and offered his hand. “I miss you,” he said. Mr Naipaul glanced at his wife – and then shook it. “I miss you too,” he said.
“After so many years, we’ve finally spoken,” said an excited Mr Theroux later. “I’ve had an experience today with a capital E.”
And Mr Naipaul, after delivering the London Library lecture to a packed audience at the Hay Festival, was gracious. “It was very nice to see him. And I’m pleased things have worked out the way they have.”
