February 22, 2002

Banality is Irritating... ...according to

Banality is Irritating...

...according to Nobel laureate V.S. Naipaul, at a panel discussion on colonialism in India yesterday:

“My life is short. I can’t listen to banalities.”

He continued: “And this thing about colonialism, this thing about gender oppression, the very word oppression wearies me. I don’t know why. I think it is because banality irritates me.”

Vikram Seth, author of the best-selling A Suitable Boy, tried to calm Naipaul by patting him gently on the back, with disastrous effect. “What are you doing!” fumed Naipaul, throwing off his hand.

He added: “If writers just sit and talk about oppression, they’re not going to do much writing. My difference on that kind of attitude is that I have to make a living by writing.”

Posted by Dr. Frank at February 22, 2002 04:29 PM | TrackBack
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