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In a Free State by V.S. Naipaul - 4* - My Review

Published in 1971, and winner of the Booker Prize, In a Free State is a combination of two short stories, one novella, and two segments of travelogue set in countries around the world. The travelogue provides the introduction and involves a trip by ship from Greece to Egypt. It also provides the conclusion, 25 years later, in Egypt. One Out of Many is about Santosh, a servant living in Bombay, who accompanies his employer to Washington D.C. In Tell Me Who to Kill, a Trinidadian in London desires to fund his brother’s education but finds his brother has been deceitful. In the titular novella, two British bureaucrats take a road trip in an unnamed African country (similar to Uganda) in the midst of political upheaval, where they encounter racial divisions and violence.

This is a book that requires a “big picture” mindset. The stories are not connected except in themes, which include displacement, alienation, and different interpretations of “freedom.” The protagonists are unrelated, but all are outside their home countries. I most enjoyed One Out of Many – the adventures of Santosh as he experiences western version of freedom but is unable to replicate the happiness he found in Bombay. In this story, Santosh is a fully developed character, and the reader can follow his gradual disillusionment.

In the novella, two unpleasant British expats, Bobby and Linda, on the road to a remote compound, exhibit their perceived “superiority” to the African inhabitants. I am sure it is intended for the reader to feel tension and discomfort and it succeeds. I appreciate the themes and Naipaul’s brilliant writing style. It is worth reading for its literary merit and effective in its social commentary, but do not expect anything remotely cheery.