Writing about Naipaul was 'like being a detective,' says biographer

NEW DELHI (AFP) — For British author Patrick French, writing his tell-all biography of author V.S. Naipaul was "like being a detective" as he explored the darker side of the acclaimed Nobel laureate's personality.

French, the bookies' favourite to win on July 15 Britain's 30,000-pound (60,000-dollar) Samuel Johnson prize -- the world's richest in non-fiction -- spent five years researching Naipaul's life.

But he says he never got bored writing about Trinidad-born Naipaul, who laid bare to French in searingly frank interviews all his worst aspects -- his cruelty to those closest, rudeness, narcissism, arrogance and selfishness.

"He's the most remarkable writer of the late 20th century. His life story fascinated me," said French, who recently visited New Delhi as part of a launch tour for "The World Is What It Is: The Authorized Biography Of V.S. Naipaul."

But ...