Author Biography | Interview | Books by this Author | Read-Alikes
How to pronounce Paul Theroux: Thor-ew (which, incidentally, is different to Henry Thoreau which is pronounced like 'thorough')
Paul Theroux is the author of many highly acclaimed books. His novels include The Bad Angel Brothers, The Lower River, Jungle Lovers, and The Mosquito Coast, and his renowned travel books include Ghost Train to the Eastern Star and Dark Star Safari. He lives in Hawaii and on Cape Cod.
Paul Theroux's website
This bio was last updated on 01/23/2024. In a perfect world, we would like to keep all of BookBrowse's biographies up to date, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of it's simply impossible to do. So, if the date of this bio is not recent, you may wish to do an internet search for a more current source, such as the author's website or social media presence. If you are the author or publisher and would like us to update this biography, send the complete text and we will replace the old with the new.
You taught in Africa in the early 1960s. Why did you decide to return after
almost 40 years?
Since leaving Africa in October 1968 I thought of the places I had worked,
the people I had known, and the hope we all had. I constantly thought: What
happened? I longed to return, and I thought I would do it in the year I turned
60. My book represents one mans road. Another person could take the same
trip and would have different experiences. Thats a truism, of course. This
trip was special to mebecause the road was in part Memory Laneand
because I loved the challenges. There is nothing in the world more vitalizing
to me that traveling in the African bush.
It is wonderful for a teacher to meet a former student and see that he or
she is gainfully employedperhaps as a teacher; and is a responsible parent
and homeowner. This happened to me in Malawi and Ugandawonderful memories.
My old friend Apolo Nsibambiwe used to drink and argue in the 1960sis
now Prime Minister of Uganda. I loved seeing him after 30 years. The passage
of time is more dramatic in Africaamazing to witness its effects, for I
first set foot there in 1963, which was another age altogether.
...
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.