This collection of letters reveals a fascinating picture of the bewildered student who arrived in Oxford from the West Indies, intending to forge a career as a writer in England.

Somehow with not-always-helpful introductions and admonitions from his journalist father he achieves his aim. The letters also make an interesting contrast to his rival Paul Theroux's notorious memoir of his (former) friendship with Naipaul, Sir Vidia's Shadow. (Abacus, 9.99)