V.S Naipaul's first novel. The novel is set in the forties and fifties of the 20th century. During then, Trinidad and most of the surrounding islands were occupied by the British. Ganesh, who had studied his school education at his home town, were being sent to a nearby city to pursue his higher studies. There he was not very comfortable with his living conditions but he managed to do well at his studies.
He had some tryst with teaching profession but it was unsuccessful. When he returned to his home town for his father's funeral, he could see many unknown people at his father's deathbed. He didn't know how to react and he didn't have enough money to do the funeral. Some distant relatives had helped him along with one of his father's friends. After that, he was idle for some months with out knowing what to do.He was just roaming around the town. The people in his place had good respect for him as he was educated and was a teacher also.
His father's friend had a grocery shop and he had some plots and houses in some places also. He had a daughter at marriageable age. Ganesh started to spend more time in his shop as he had nothing to do. As his father's friend had great respect for his father and for him, he wanted him to marry his daughter. The author's description of the marriage ceremony was very funny and it clearly reflected the mindset of the people in those times. He got a house in a remote location as his dowry and some money too.
After moving to the new house along with his wife, he was idle for some time. His wife were always reprimanding him for not doing anything. He wanted to try his hand in writing. He wrote a book but it didn't do well. Then he wanted to start practice as a masseur. But his well wishers advised him not to do that as he was educated and these kind of jobs were being done by quacks and illiterate people.As his house was located in a very remote place, no body came to him for some years. When some one came also, they were not impressed with him. But one day, his fortunes were going to be changed. It came in the form of a young boy who had the illusion of seeing a dark cloud coming close to him day by day. Ganesh successfully uprooted the fear and illusion from the boy's heart. How Ganesh had done that was a very funny and witty part which was very well illustrated. The parents of the boy were so happy that they were heaping praise on Ganesh in their place and many people started flowing in to see him and get remedied from their disturbances.
He became very popular and wrote his second book which did very well and gave him recognition. He then decided to try his hand at Politics where he was challenged by his old friend in school. What were the tricks and plans he had done to get in to the post were written with good humor. That is one of the best parts in this book.
The mindset of the Trinidad people then in the fifties were well illustrated. The protagonist's war with his father-in-law and his methods of politics and his survival tactics were well written with wit and humor. A great book for a debutante! Worth a read!
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