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Photos: Nobel Prize-winning author, VS Naipaul dies at 85

Nobel prize-winning author Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul died at the age of 85, his family said. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001 with an extraordinary career spanning half a century. Overall he wrote more than 30 books, and was one of the first winners of the Booker Prize, now Britain’s leading literary award, in 1971 for “In A Free State.” His nonfiction often provoked much anger, and many were offended by his views about Islam and India.

Updated on: Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM IST

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Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, the Trinidad-born Nobel laureate whose precise and lyrical writing in such novels as “A Bend in the River” and “A House for Mr. Biswas” and brittle, misanthropic personality made him one of the world’s most admired and contentious writers, died at his London home, his family said. He was 85. (John Minihan / Evening Standard / Getty Images)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, the Trinidad-born Nobel laureate whose precise and lyrical writing in such novels as “A Bend in the River” and “A House for Mr. Biswas” and brittle, misanthropic personality made him one of the world’s most admired and contentious writers, died at his London home, his family said. He was 85. (John Minihan / Evening Standard / Getty Images)

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Naipaul was Aley Hasan’s “Guest of the week” in the BBC Hindi Service Programme. Born in Trinidad, the son of an Indian civil servant, he studied English literature at Oxford University before basing his life in England. But he spent much of his time travelling and became a symbol of modern rootlessness. (HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Naipaul was Aley Hasan’s “Guest of the week” in the BBC Hindi Service Programme. Born in Trinidad, the son of an Indian civil servant, he studied English literature at Oxford University before basing his life in England. But he spent much of his time travelling and became a symbol of modern rootlessness. (HT Archive)

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Writer VS Naipaul (2L) looks over his Nobel prize for literature with Medicine winner Sir Paul Nurse (L) and Economics winners George Akerlof and A. Michael Spence (R) at Stockholm’s Konserthuset, after receiving it from Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf on December 10, 2001. When he was awarded the prize, the Swedish Academy described him as a “literary circumnavigator, only ever really at home in himself, in his inimitable voice.” (Chris Helgren / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Writer VS Naipaul (2L) looks over his Nobel prize for literature with Medicine winner Sir Paul Nurse (L) and Economics winners George Akerlof and A. Michael Spence (R) at Stockholm’s Konserthuset, after receiving it from Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf on December 10, 2001. When he was awarded the prize, the Swedish Academy described him as a “literary circumnavigator, only ever really at home in himself, in his inimitable voice.” (Chris Helgren / REUTERS File)

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Naipaul is seen with his wife Nadira Naipaul at Neemrana, Rajasthan. “He died surrounded by those he loved having lived a life which was full of wonderful creativity and endeavour,” Nadira said in a statement. (Sunil Saxena / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Naipaul is seen with his wife Nadira Naipaul at Neemrana, Rajasthan. “He died surrounded by those he loved having lived a life which was full of wonderful creativity and endeavour,” Nadira said in a statement. (Sunil Saxena / HT Archive)

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Naipul reacts while talking with senior BJP leader LK Advani during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 10, 2003. Leaders from across the political spectrum condoled the demise of Nobel Laureate, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, it was a major loss for the world of literature. (Arvind Yadav / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Naipul reacts while talking with senior BJP leader LK Advani during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 10, 2003. Leaders from across the political spectrum condoled the demise of Nobel Laureate, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, it was a major loss for the world of literature. (Arvind Yadav / HT Archive)

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Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (L) poses with Naipaul in New Delhi during the inauguration of the first-ever International Festival for Indian Literature, organized to celebrate the impact of literary writing by Indians on the world literary scene. Naipaul prided himself on his candour, but he had a long history of offensive remarks. His nonfiction often provoked much anger, and many were offended by his views on Islam and India. (Tekee Tanwar / AFP File)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (L) poses with Naipaul in New Delhi during the inauguration of the first-ever International Festival for Indian Literature, organized to celebrate the impact of literary writing by Indians on the world literary scene. Naipaul prided himself on his candour, but he had a long history of offensive remarks. His nonfiction often provoked much anger, and many were offended by his views on Islam and India. (Tekee Tanwar / AFP File)

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Swedish Princess Christina (L) and Literature Nobel prize winner VS Naipaul (R) attend the banquet for the Nobel laureates at Stockholm’s City Hall on December 10, 2001. Overall he wrote more than 30 books, and was one of the first winners of the Booker Prize, now Britain’s leading literary award, in 1971 for “In A Free State.” (Jonas Ekstomes / Scanpix Sweden / AFP File)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Swedish Princess Christina (L) and Literature Nobel prize winner VS Naipaul (R) attend the banquet for the Nobel laureates at Stockholm’s City Hall on December 10, 2001. Overall he wrote more than 30 books, and was one of the first winners of the Booker Prize, now Britain’s leading literary award, in 1971 for “In A Free State.” (Jonas Ekstomes / Scanpix Sweden / AFP File)

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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (C) poses for a picture with former Man Booker Prize winners (back row left to right) Peter Carey, Julian Barnes, David Grossman, Kiran Desai, Alan Hollinghurst, Marlon James, Paul Beatty, (front row left to right) Howard Jacobson, VS Naipaul (accompanied by his wife Nadira Naipaul), Ben Okri and Eleanor Catton at a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Man Booker Prize at Buckingham Palace on July 5, 2018 in London. (Gareth Fuller / WPA Pool / Getty Images)

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 9:20 AM

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (C) poses for a picture with former Man Booker Prize winners (back row left to right) Peter Carey, Julian Barnes, David Grossman, Kiran Desai, Alan Hollinghurst, Marlon James, Paul Beatty, (front row left to right) Howard Jacobson, VS Naipaul (accompanied by his wife Nadira Naipaul), Ben Okri and Eleanor Catton at a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Man Booker Prize at Buckingham Palace on July 5, 2018 in London. (Gareth Fuller / WPA Pool / Getty Images)

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